Gigabyte Z97X-UD3H-BK BSOD after updating to F8 bios

[dijef]

I have Gigabyte Z97X-UD3H-BK 1.0 with i7 4790K and TeamGroup Xtreem LV 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 on Windows 7 x64. PSU is Corsair TX 650W.
I just purchased MSI Geforce 1070 GTX and when I tested it it was all fine. But I didn't run it for more than 30mins.
Then I updated BIOS (thought it would be good idea) to F8 from F4 and I started to get BSODs while playing or even using Windows. I also get BSODs when using old graphics card (which didn't happen before). I think it could be related to DDRs, seems to happen less with open case. Downclocking memory to 2000 didn't help.
How could I revert bios to F4 (I saved it)? I didn't find a way so far. Is it possible to read configuration from saved bios file so I could compare? I think this is source of the problem, I can provide any information you need, thanks.

[dmdilks]

One thing did you pull the battery and clear the cmos after you updated it. Then set it to the default settings?

The only way you can go back is that you have to do it with a USB bootable drive. It says F7 and higher This BIOS prohibits updating to earlier version BIOS. Put the autoexecut - Efiflash & your bios on the drive and boot to it.

[dijef]

I didn't clear through battery and CMOS switch. I used default settings.
I'll try that, also I will try different DDRs. If that won't help I'll try reverting BIOS as you explained and if that won't help then finally reinstall Windows. I used AMD before.
Any other suggestions still welcome.

[dijef]

I cleared BIOS and CMOS and loaded optimized defaults. That didn't help.
I also tried to flash bios from DOS USB disc using Efiflash.exe, I got same message regarding outdated bios.
Memtest on one ddr reported a error, but other one is fine, and system is crashing on that one too.
I'll try now fresh windows installation.

[dijef]

I installed fresh Windows, tested DDRs from friend. Nothing helped. I still get BSODs. I am certain it is caused by BIOS change. Any suggestions anyone please?

[shadowsports]

Sorry about your troubles. Since you have tested with different RAM and GPU with the same results, I only see one option since there is no dual BIOS_SW. 

Reflash F8, reset and retest.  If you are using Auto settings in BIOS, try manual ones.  The BSOD could be related to stuck setting, CLK, timing, voltage related to CPU or memory.  A new CPU (just different) than what you have now might also work.  But that's a hard pill to swallow and not a wise investment.       

All board revs do not allow backwards flashing after version F7..  If you can't get it to work with efiflash like dmdilks suggests I think you may be out of luck.  Even if you could boot to the second chip, and it was still F4, you can't copy it.  Afraid this is all I have.     

[dijef]

I think it has something to do with CPU. I installed IntelProcessor Diagnostic Tool 64bit, it constantly crashes on CPU load test. I still think it's related to BIOS change, cause it crashes while: installing drivers or even running windows PC classification. I'll try to search for options and BIOS settings that could help. What's strange it can sometime work for a day of playing game and it's fine.

[ElectroStingz]

Hello,

Does the CPU run hot with the newer BIOS?
What are the temperatures before the load test and during the test.

Run hardware monitor at the same time to find out.
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

[dijef]

I think I solved it!!! I don't know if defaults have changed with new bios for 5th CPU generation or mobo just requires more power, but default voltage was not enough: 1.250V. At increased to 1.258V it didn't crash on CPU load tests anymore. Then I set it to 1.3V. I may lower it, but I leave it for now. Also my memories seem to work stable at 2667, which wasn't case before. So been playing long while, run number of tests and kept PC case closed. All works. Shame I sent graphics card back (as it ran 1.5 days stable on old one), but I'll reorder

I'll close this after I will be sure it works.

[dijef]

It looks indeed there is something wrong with Gigabyte's Z97X and i7 4790k. I found number of topics about it, the actual voltage should be lower, like 1.1 or less, so CPU keeps low temps. I set it to 1.13 and solution for crashes is to disable turbo boost in BIOS. PC no longer crashes and and is stable.
Some people reports some manual settings around turbo boost to get it going, I'll look into those and update this thread.

[planetf1]

It looks indeed there is something wrong with Gigabyte's Z97X and i7 4790k. I found number of topics about it, the actual voltage should be lower, like 1.1 or less, so CPU keeps low temps. I set it to 1.13 and solution for crashes is to disable turbo boost in BIOS. PC no longer crashes and and is stable.
Some people reports some manual settings around turbo boost to get it going, I'll look into those and update this thread.

Interesting I just opened a post on the same...... Z97X/4790K ! Should try disabling turbo boost - though one has to question why... surely the motherboard should support it (or cpu is faulty). Hmmm.

[shadowsports]

No problems with my 4790k and Z97 based board.  I haven't checked its idle voltage.  It does run a little warmer than what I'm accustomed to, but I have so much air moving through the case its not an issue.  Using the stock cooler.  I never intended to install a 5th gen CPU so stayed at F8 (which) on my board is pre 5th gen.  I don't think you should have to disable Turbo Boost as an acceptable solution dijef.  I'd go with manual settings if auto wasn't cutting it.  Hard to say if these boards will get another BIOS.  More likely what's out these is final. 

[dijef]

I tried once to manually set CPU to 4.4 settings, I had BSOD while booting Windows. Since then I didn't try anything else.
I didn't had any issues before updating BIOS, so not recommending.