**Official** Asrock Z68 Gen3 Extreme7 & Extreme4 thread

[gareth170]

As I said, I'm not commenting on the topic further, but I do strongly suggest you re-read my post because you clearly haven't read it properly.

lol

I have read it properly.

it's clear you don't like W8. that's fine. but no point moaning about it. I don't like vista but I didn't moan about it and say oh it's sucks and its crap, because it won't chance anything.

[apatch]

There are people who care about win8 support and people who don't, second group don't need to have a freedom of choice but I need it.
I hate win8 so far but because of my work, I need to at least know this system and I'm sure some initial problems with it will be resolved.

To not spam this topic I recommend to write somewhere where at least there's a chance that someone will hear our voice and will do something with it.

Let's try here http://forums.tweaktown.com/asrock/5...-good-bye.html

[fullerms]

W8 absolutely sucks unless you have a touchscreen display, I really don't know why anyone would bother with W8 if they don't have a touchscreen monitor.

I'm using this touchpad with Win8 on my desktop and its pretty good. Regardless of whether Win8 is good or not, Asrock must support their products for at least two generations.


Not good PR if they drop support once the next gen chipset / processor is released.

[presjar]

Hey Guys,

Just thought I would let you know I followed the info of the thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthre...2281849&page=1

Turns out the OP was correct and Trim can be enabled on our z68 and p67 boards with just some bios tweaking to include a modded OROM 11.6 and use the latest Intel RST software.

1. Get a modded UEFI for the correct board here: ftp://thoosa.no-ip.org/ note your old UEFI settings down somewhere. You shouldn't need to rebuild the RAID array in the OROM. The previous one of mine worked fine but make a backup in case.
2. Set up the UEFI how you had it (RAID) etc.
3. Install / Re-install the new Intel RST drivers 11.7.0.1013 - http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Deta...?DwnldID=22194

Now, to check TRIM is working follow the really easy guide:
http://www.station-drivers.com/forum...hp?f=32&t=4023

All done!

Enjoy!

[apatch]

Thank You presjar, I was waiting for this few months, my main HDDs are working in Raid mode on Intel controller, so my 2 spare SSD drives must to work in raid mode too, now Trim will help them.

[Scoty]

A new beta Bios for Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 is out with full Windows 8 Support.
http://www.pctreiber.net/asrock-bios-downloads?did=607

[SnakePL]

A new beta Bios for Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 is out with full Windows 8 Support.
http://www.pctreiber.net/asrock-bios-downloads?did=607

Works great, except my video card , evga 570 gtx, doesn't support fast booting (there is no bios update and never will be, according to evga).
Contacted evga and they basically told me to buy a 670.

[Scoty]

I have the same problem. I use a Gainward GTX570 Phantom and there is no Bios Update available. I will buy now a GTX670 with 4gb and i hope Fast Boot work.

[zoomee]

I have the same problem. I use a Gainward GTX570 Phantom and there is no Bios Update available. I will buy now a GTX670 with 4gb and i hope Fast Boot work.

Fast boot definately works fine with my asus dcuii 670. Halved my boot times

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[RatusNatus]

Ill do a small upgrade and add an agility4, 7950 and double the memory.

Almoust forgot, i do have a X3 E3.
Will i have problem with the crucial 2x8gb VLP with 1.35v?
Its $5E more than the regular one.
Also there is a g.skill c10 cheaper but the ugly crucial is 9 and with a small heatspreader that is important to me on that small board. My cpu cooler is touching my g.skill memory with the same heatspreader.
Do anyone use that low voltage memory around here?
I cant return if it wont work.
.

[apatch]

Fast boot definately works fine with my asus dcuii 670. Halved my boot times

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Please tell me what video card bios you got, I'm using ASUS GTX670 DirectCUII Top with 80.04.19.00.2B (P2004-0005), what I read to use fast boot new firmware for video card - GOP UEFI or hybrid bios/UEFI is needed or it is needed only for ultra fast boot ?

It's the only thing that holds me before updating to this new 2.31a UEFI, are you using it only with win 8 or it helps with loding times in win 7 too ?
And the most important thing, what about ASRock's 'Restart to UEFI' application ? We don't have any working version for this mobo, so how to get to UEFI config after update ?

[zoomee]

sent you a vid bud, BIOS version is stock 80.04.19.00.17
Definately noticed a boot up time improvement as shown in the vid, and yes I'm using its exclusively on Windows 8 (dont think fast boot is available on windows 7 is it!?!)

thanks.



(Turn off the sound unless you wanna hear my daughters annoying fake cough lol)

specs are in sig except I now have a Asus DCU II 670GTX instead of the ATI 7970.

20 seconds total boot time - Sure it was a tad longer prior to this BIOS, as that windows logo used to go around at least a couple of times before.
Let me know how to check if its on ultra or fast boot etc and I'll look into it bud.

[apatch]

Thanx but your video is marked as private so I can't see it, maybe I'm wrong but I suspect that you are using fast boot which works with Win 7 some way too.

In 2.30 bios there was an option to use PCI ROM Priority to Legacy ROM or EFI Compatible ROM like here :

http://www.madshrimps.be/files/users...e4/uefi/15.jpg

Now there are options to use Normal Boot, Fast Boot and Ultra Fast Boot, these 2 options will only work if you disable CSM option, I suspect that you also need to install some certificates (before Win 8 installation) and enable Secure Boot.
Last thing you need is GOP firmware/UEFI in your GPU, so far only MSI and EVGA made such, so in your case it must be a fast boot working.

http://communities.intel.com/communi...ng-secure-boot

Don't take this things for granted I could be wrong but I also suspect that Normal boot is just old option from bios to use PCI ROM Priority set to Legacy ROM, and new Fast boot is just PCI ROM Priority set to EFI Compatible ROM.


Big red warning should be used before recommending to update new 2.31a UEFI, it also updates Intel MEI, so don't remove your usb stick after first flashing procedure, leave it in usb port after restart ! Remove only after you can enter to UEFI settings.

I have upgraded to 2.31a (modded with newest TRIM-RAID OROM) and now I'm pissed, but it's another problem, Inte MEI was also flashed correctly but my 2 volumes of raid0 are gone after this restart, one of disks was marked as non-raid-member so now I'm trying to recover 3TB of data, because retrieving volumes was impossible.

[zoomee]

oops my bad - not used to sharing videos lol. Added a funky soundtrack so you don't have to hear my kids screaming in the background and made it public

[SnakePL]

...I have upgraded to 2.31a (modded with newest TRIM-RAID OROM)...

Where did you get the modded bios?

I'm interested in trying it out.

[st0ck73]

Guys, have any of you had memory problems since updating to 2.30? My Crucial Tactical Tracer kit won't work in dual channel now (works fine in A1/A2) but either DIMM in B1/B2, just jumps straight to code 55

I bought a Dom GT kit (1866, C9) and that works fine in dual, but neither works using the XMP setting (Crucial XMP 1.3, GT's XMP 1.2) I can only get the GT's to work if I set manually. Also since >2.30 I'm not sure all my BIOS features are there...would anyone be good enough to upload some SS of their OC Tweaker section as I have no option to set a pre-configured clock, the only option is changing the multi (which I'll use but just wanted to know if it's been removed or whether mine is missing?)

HNY all

[apatch]

Where did you get the modded bios?

I'm interested in trying it out.

Little late, but You can get it here

Here's my modded 2.31a UEFI (link will be active 15 days)

Beware that it has IME update, so 2 or 3 restarts will be made before you can remove USB stick from port after update, if you're using raid arrays on intel ports, first remove your sata cables from ports, do update and reconfigure your raid settings in UEFI, restart and connect it again. Maybe it's coincedence but I didn't do it and loose 2 raid0 volumes, after almost 2 weeks of trying to recover my files and arrays with any available software, I found this topic and easily recovered 2 my raid0 volumes with testdisk so be on a safe side.

If your raid0 volumes settings are more complicated, take a picture of it's settings (strip size, offset start/endbyte, correct size in bytes) in Intel OROM bios and IRST.

[src]

I see Asrock have updated the page for Asrock Z68 Extreme4 Gen3 with Windows 8 driver support :- http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.as...xtreme4%20Gen3

I wonder if these drivers will work ok with the Extreme7 Gen 3 that I have, I have been thinking of updating to Windows 8 but scared of with updating to 2.30 BIOS with the problems that some people have had, My system is currently running W7 with the 2.10 BIOS.

[terminatertom]

Just a quick question , whats the latest bios for this z68 gen3 extreme4 MB that works with the i7 2700k and still allows overclocking. currenty still using the P 1.20 bios

[src]

ASRock have updated their Beta Page support for the Extreme 7 Gen 3 with Windows 8 Drivers as well as a new BIOS (L2.33A 2/25/2013) that is Windows 8 Ready.
http://www.asrock.com/mb/beta.asp?Model=Z68 Extreme7 Gen3

[ajdaho]

hi all , sorry for my poor english
my friend have problem with his z68extreme4gen3 , motherboard and i5 2500K , whatever he put in bios : offset voltage , or 1.35V fixed voltage , or 1.31V , asrock always give him 1.371V for vcore 2500k processor when frequency is set to 4,5ghz , he can get any way to lower this voltage for this cpu speed (for 4,4ghz for example this is 1.366V , for 5ghz is 1.42v) he can raise voltage how he want , but he cannot decrease voltage under in this case 1.371V

can you help with this ?

[mxthunder]

Just flashed my Ex 7 gen 3 to the latest 2.30 UEFI. That was a huge mistake.
I lost my ability to do a secure erase on any spare SSD in my system.
Now my base frequency clock will not lock at 100.00 like i used to, it floats between 99 and 100.8 throwing my clock speed all over the place.
I am experiencing random lockups within the UEFI forcing me to do a hard reset
Also getting random lockups in windows.
USB devices do not work every other reboot or so.

I understand I cannot flash back to a previouss bios? What kinda crap is that?

[RatusNatus]

Just flashed my Ex 7 gen 3 to the latest 2.30 UEFI. That was a huge mistake.
I lost my ability to do a secure erase on any spare SSD in my system.
Now my base frequency clock will not lock at 100.00 like i used to, it floats between 99 and 100.8 throwing my clock speed all over the place.
I am experiencing random lockups within the UEFI forcing me to do a hard reset
Also getting random lockups in windows.
USB devices do not work every other reboot or so.

I understand I cannot flash back to a previouss bios? What kinda crap is that?

I thin u forgot to disable Spread Spectrum...
Im using this bios. So far so good.