"BIOS ID CHECK ERROR" GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3

[livbythegun]

Hey guys,

So basically, I'm trying to install new RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104461. Since I put in the new RAM my PC went into an endless bootloop. Weird because the voltage, timing and everything is suppose to work on my motherboard.

So I googled the problem and people said I should try updating my BIOs.

I checked my bios version and its 2011...So I went to http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3907#ov to see if I could find the latest bios.

So I download the new bios and extract it to a FAT32 USB drive. Restart computer. Go into Q-flash by hitting END. Pick update bios, then click on my USB then on the file but an error comes up that says, "Bios id check error"

I'm looking through google and that error only comes up when its the wrong version. But I triple checked the version I have and the rev.1 version and it still gives me the error.

What's going on? I basically tried all the available bios but none of them work.

[shadowsports]

Greetings,
If the info you've provided is correct, these are the BIOS images available for your board.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3907#bios

I'd try re-downloading the file you are trying to flash as well as reformatting the USB stick on a different machine before trying again.

Have you tried resetting the BIOS, CLR_CMOS, or battery pull before flashing?

[livbythegun]

Have you tried resetting the BIOS, CLR_CMOS, or battery pull before flashing?

How do I go about reseting the BIOS or CLR_CMOS?

I'm pretty sure I pulled the battery out because I accidentally switched the boot primary to the usb. So I had to reset some things.

I'll try formatting it on my roommates computer.

I'll keep ya posted.

[absic]

Check which motherboard revision you have. The number is printed on the motherboard in the bottom left hand edge and will be: Rev x.x

You may be trying to update with BIOS version for wrong revision number.

[livbythegun]

Check which motherboard revision you have. The number is printed on the motherboard in the bottom left hand edge and will be: Rev x.x

You may be trying to update with BIOS version for wrong revision number.

It's rev.1.0

[livbythegun]

soooo....I recently moved and had my motherboards manual on hand. I noticed something while looking on the cover....

My newegg account "order history" from 2011 showed that I purchased the GIGABYTE GA-970A-UD3, so I would always refer to that as my motherboard.

Well turns out my manual says, GA-Z68XP-UD3. This whole time I've been trying to update my bios and it turns out its the wrong motherboard...I never expected something like Newegg to make a mistake like that. These 5 years I've been using a board I never thought I had LOL

Here's the board http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3892#ov

I updated the bios to the one below the BETA.

Now here's the problem, I took one of my 4GB ram sticks out and put a 8GB one in its place. So it's running 8GBx4GB. The computer boots up fine and I'm typing now with it in. Now, if I remove the other 4GB and put the last 8GB in that slot, my PC goes into a bootloop.

Any reason why I can't run these 8GB 1866 DDR3 ram sticks together?

[livbythegun]

Okay, so update. I put the 8GB in the 2 other (same color) slots with the 4GB in the same positions and it booted up!

Is this real? I can really run these 2 different RAM cards together? Here's a link to the 4GB ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231417 and heres my new ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104461

It has different timing (1333) and my new ram has 1866

update 2: Seems like my timing is still 1333...I can't up that to 1866 because the 4GB 1333 is holding me back right?

[shadowsports]

Memory speed will only be as fast as the slowest stick.  Suggest you not mix if speed is that important to you.

[livbythegun]

Memory speed will only be as fast as the slowest stick.  Suggest you not mix if speed is that important to you.

I tried to remove both 4gb sticks but the computer goes into a boot loop if I remove both.

PC boots up fine even with just one 4gb ram stick in the slot and the 2 8GB in theirs

Any idea on what this problem could be?

[shadowsports]

Z68 chipset with Sandy or Ivybridge CPU.  In most cases these processors like to run at 1333/1600 Mhz FSB stock speeds.  While you get support from 1066~2133, the default speed will be dictated by the CPU you are using.  Using XMP could get you somewhere between 1333~1866, but not with all memory kits, and again depending on your CPU.  Is ALL of the memory on the QVL for your board?  I suspect the slower ones are since you boot with them no problem.  To avoid additional expense, you can run the two together and attempt running with a XMP profile.  You won't get the slower RAM to run at 1866, but you could likely get everything to 1600.  This is without OC.  I do not recommend even trying OC in your case since you are using using mismatched memory.