Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P - Boot Loop / Cold Boot issue

[Neil79]

At the end of last year I purchased a Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P, It was correctly set up for stable usage and overclock usage with 10hrs of prime testing and 5hours of intel burn test at max. I could play BF3 for hours and such. However it wasn't long till I ran into issues whereby, when I started the system up from cold it would just shut off and just do it again and again. Pulling the psu plug, put it back in and the system would boot up fine and be up for hours. However I wasn't sure if this started when I flashed to F6 or Before..

After talking to Support To get this issue fixed I flashed to F7A, but It took awhile to get the system back up at all it would constantly boot loop not giving me much chance to set the bios defaults. When that was done it finally booted and I was up and running for about 8hrs before I went out. Came back started the system up, straight away it shuts off with the cold boot issue.

I've been back and forward with support and they then released a F7B to fix the cold boot issue, again it took some time to get the system back up and running with the annoying boot loop problem. I read a number of forum threads and found that the possible cause was related to the VTT/QPI voltages not being set correctly on AUTO when using XMP PROFILE 1 for memory. It should be setting to 1.2V however the VTT/QPI remains at 1.056V VTT/QPI which is too low, So i set this manually to 1.2V thinking it would finally fix the cold boot issue. But unlike before it lasted 3DAYS and I thought it was fixed . Yet the cold boot issue started again , this boot loop/cold boot issue can happen at STOCK and Overclocked settings.

Speaking to a number of forum members they told me the correct way to flash, not just flash and be done with it. Support released a F7C bios which every time so far support says " THIS FIXES THE COLD BOOT ISSUE ", Hold on a min support you said F7A / F7B fixes the cold boot, make up your mind.

This was my post using F7C

F7C is the worst bios i've ever used to get it working right with boot loops and a cold boot issue. The Bios still sets the VTT too low when set to AUTO and using xmp Profile 1, the vtt volts don't increase and have to be manually set. But with Bios F7C I had trouble even getting that far!

1. Made sure my bios was set to default settings and used my usb stick to flash to the new F7C.

2. I powered down the system as it told me too, took the psu cable out, pressed the power switch on the psu and system to clear out any left over voltage and also cleared the cmos.

3. Powered up the system and it instantly shut off with a cold boot issue, it did this again after that. So I took out the psu cable put it back in and tried again. I was able to get into Bios.

4. Set to Default settings and rebooted, It hung on the Bios logo so i hit the reset button. Apparently the reset button can cause awful boot loops which it did. It then ended up in a continues boot loop which never happened in any previous bios flash. I was finally able to get back into bios and again set it to default and then it worked.

5. As i was able to set it to default I then proceded to flash the backup bios.

6. Rebooted the system and back in bios it said failed on overclocked settings, even though I had not done any overclocking!. I also noticed again that the VTT voltage as still only at 1.056v when on auto with XMP profile 1.

7. Set my overclocked settings, set the voltages as they should be because VTT and Main memory voltage on Auto doesn't work I was able to get into windows.

I'm using F7C now even though it cold booted last night, It didn't this morning.

Other threads with the issue from other members

http://www.overclock.net/t/1034724/gigabyte-p67-z68-boot-cycling-problem

Other members with the issue Just a few quoted

Originally Posted by MOOGLEYS View Post

Same cold booting issue this morning with either BIOS and stock settings.
Board is going back today and will order a replacement later. Last time I use a gigabyte board. Edit - just rang the retailer for an rma and was told that they have had a lot of these boards returned for this issue?

Originally Posted by nxcess View Post

I get the problem at stock. It seems to make no difference if overclocked or not. It has once again stopped my ssd working and each time I have to put it in an old system to get it going again....

Originally Posted by Jahlord View Post

After experiencing this problem , I googled for solutions.
Seems I'm screwed

However there was this which may help support get this issue fixed!

Mine seems to be resolved after using DVID instead of LLC for overclocking. System booted up on first try.

Come on support get this issue fixed!, it's obviously more of a widespread problem than just me

Intel Core i5-2500K 3.30GHz (Sandybridge) Socket LGA1155 Processor - OEM
OcUK GeForce GTX 560Ti 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3P Intel Z68 (Socket 1155) DDR3 Motherboard
Samsung SpinPoint F4 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache - OEM (HD322GJ)
60GB SSD used a Cache Drive
Corsair V2 600W Power Supply
Kingston HyperX Genesis Grey 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual Channel Kit (KHX1600C9D3X2K2/8GX)

These are my overclocked settings, THE COLD BOOT ISSUE HAPPENS AT DEFAULT ASWELL

\MB - ( M.I.T )/
\Advanced Frequency Settings/

CPU CLOCK - 33X
BCLK - ( DISABLED ) left at default 100mhz
EXTREME MEMORY PROFILE XMP - ( PROFILE 1 )
SYSTEM MEMORY MULTI - ( AUTO )

\Advanced Cpu Core Features/

CPU CLOCK RATIO [33X]
PWN FREQUENCY CONTROL [ AUTO ]
INTERNAL CPU OVER CURRENT PROTECTION [ AUTO ]
INTERNAL CPU PLL OVERVOLT [ENABLED ]
RATIO CHANGES IN OS [ DISABLED ]
INTEL BOOST TECH [ ENABLED ]
RATIO 1 - 4 [ 47 ]
TURBO POWER LIMIT [ 300 ]
CORE CURRENT [ 300 ]
CPU CORES ENABLED [ ALL ]
CPU ENHANCED HALT C1E [ AUTO ]
C3/C6 STATE SUPPORT [ AUTO ]
CPU THERMAL MONITOR [ DISABLED ]
BI-DIRECTIONAL PROCHOT [ AUTO ]

\Advanced Memory/

EXTREME MEMORY PROFILE X.M.P [ PROFILE 1 ]
SYSTEM MEMORY MULTI SPD [ AUTO ]
PERFORMANCE ENHANCE [ STANDARD ]
DRAM TIMING SELECT SPD [ AUTO ]
CHANNEL A - B [ AUTO ]

\Advanced Voltage Settings/
MULTI-STEPS LOAD-LINE [ LEVEL 6 ]
CPU VCORE [ 1.340V ] ( TEST WITH PRIME 95/INTEL BURN TEST AND THEN LOWER THE VOLTS UNTIL UNSTABLE TO FIND YOUR LOWEST STABLE VOLTAGE )
QPI/VTT VOLTAGE 1.050V [ 1.190v - 1.20v ]
SYSTEM AGENT VOLTAGE 0.920V [ AUTO ]
DYNAMIC VCORE [ AUTO ]
GRAPHICS DVID [ AUTO ]
CPU PLL VOLTAGE 1.800V [ 1.750-1.800V ]
DRAM VOLTAGE 1.500V [ 1.550-1.616V ] ( LOWER OR HIGHER DEPENDING ON MEMORY REQUIREMENTS )
DRAM VREF 0.750V [ AUTO ]
DRAM TERMINATION 0.750V [ AUTO ]
CH-A/B ATA VREF 0.750V [ AUTO ]
CH-A/B ADDRESS VREF [ AUTO ]

\Misc Settings/

ISOCHRONOUS SUPPORT [ ENABLED ]
VIRTUALIZATION TECH [ ENABLED ]

\Power Management/

HPET SUPPORT [ ENABLED ]
HPET MODE [ 64BIT ] - 64bit windows versions

\Pc Health/

CPU SMART FAN CONTROL [ DISABLED ]

[spurst]

I have a Z68X-UD3H-B3 w/ i5 2500k with the same problem. If the system is literally cold and has been sitting for a while, and I turn it on, the system goes into a boot loop, where it powers up for 5-7 seconds and then shuts off prior to the POST / display kicking in. In fact, the monitor never gets a signal. Magically, it will all the sudden fire up after 3-15 boots and work perfectly until I shut the system down for an extended period of time.

[Neil79]

I have a Z68X-UD3H-B3 w/ i5 2500k with the same problem. If the system is literally cold and has been sitting for a while, and I turn it on, the system goes into a boot loop, where it powers up for 5-7 seconds and then shuts off prior to the POST / display kicking in. In fact, the monitor never gets a signal. Magically, it will all the sudden fire up after 3-15 boots and work perfectly until I shut the system down for an extended period of time.

Is an odd one for sure, just doing a search on this forum picks up a lot of results regarding COLD BOOT and BOOT LOOP issues

[P . P . L .]

Hi.

I had the same problem with an Asus board, ended up replacing the PSU with a new one and i haven't had any problems since. If you can do that, it might be worth a try.

It seems that one of the voltages wasn't just right when it was cold, so it would just keep boot cycling.

good luck.

[Neil79]

Hi.

I had the same problem with an Asus board, ended up replacing the PSU with a new one and i haven't had any problems since. If you can do that, it might be worth a try.

It seems that one of the voltages wasn't just right when it was cold, so it would just keep boot cycling.

good luck.

To be honest i'd agree with you if it was just me but read this

http://www.overclock.net/t/1034724/gigabyte-p67-z68-boot-cycling-problem

That's alot of dodgy psu's :p, I have a Corsair V2 which is a good psu

[runn3R]

Hi Neil79

1. So this problem also exists if you use Optimized Defaults in bios? Please confirm.

2. Load F7A bios to both Main and Backup BIOS using below mentioned step by step procedure:
- Load Optimized Defults
- Flash the Main BIOS using Q-Flash
- After Main BIOS flash load Optimized Defaults, save and exit.
- Restart your PC. During restart under POST, immediately press “ALT + F12”. Please mind sometimes it's needed to press a few times to enter special function as below described.
- You should see the message "Press [Enter] to start copying Main BIOS to Backup BIOS". Then press Enter and wait when until copying finishes. Then restart.

3. Verify if both BIOS chips (Main and Backup) have the same version using this tool under DOS:
- Copy unpacked exe file into the bootable drive.
- Boot from this drive
- Under DOS type: dualver
This utility will display the versions of both BIOS'es. They must be the same.

4. Then check the behaviour of your system. If still not solved do change the RAM and PSU into other vendors for checking.
Thanks

[Neil79]

See here, it's already been done
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,7895.15.html

The only thing Gigabyte have done so far have said OH TRY F7A, no wait try F7B ermmm try F7C, no wait go back to F7B. If we can't fix the issue as clearly we have an issue because it's affecting many people then give us your board!.  Runn3R it would be pointless to change the RAM and PSU as you can see by that thread others have already done that, they are using a different RAM and PSU to me, some even changed and got the issue still. It's the z68 boards that are problematic and most likely down to the bios.


Btw

Restart your PC. During restart under POST, immediately press “ALT + F12”. Please mind sometimes it's needed to press a few times to enter special function as below described.

, sometimes the video display doesn't show for that to happen and straight away goes into the boot loop or it's already booting into the ssd/ide check screen. Though the back up bios was done before

Question, Is backing up the bios the solve all issues response?, because that's pretty much all that's being said so far apart from bios releases

[Neil79]

Can a moderator please close this thread, i'll stick to this one

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,7895.15.html