ASRock Forums : ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead?

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : Damn, that sucks.Another thing...

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:19:56 +0000

Author: Xaltar
Subject: 8357
Posted: 12 Apr 2018 at 2:19pm

Damn, that sucks.

Another thing we have seen here on occasion is windows updates causing issues. Unlike legacy BIOS of old, the operating system can access and change BIOS info with UEFI. It is remotely possible Windows updated, altered some settings in the UEFI but did not do so correctly and corrupted the settings.

This is why I suggested pulling the battery and leaving the system disconnected from power for a few hours. If windows update messed it up, that should be all it takes to restore it (windows can't reflash your BIOS so it would only be corrupted settings not the actual firmware). For some reason we often see the UEFI retain it's deeper (RTC and related) settings with a standard CMOS clear. The only way to clear this properly is to remove the battery with the system disconnected from power. 10 minutes should ordinarily be enough but I generally leave it for two to three hours to ensure the settings clear and no residual power anywhere retains them.

If you have not tried pulling the battery, you can give that a shot. If you have, that is me out of ideas.

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : Someone on HardOCP recommending...

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 12:51:13 +0000

Author: Flapjack
Subject: 8357
Posted: 12 Apr 2018 at 12:51pm

Someone on HardOCP recommending trying the BIOS flashback procedure. Even though it didn't help, I finally got some different behavior than just LEDs. I'm wondering why ASRock support didn't suggest I at least try that?

Quoting myself from my post on HardOCP:

So... weirdly enough, I unplugged the 8-pin and 4-pin power connectors and left just the 24-pin connector hooked up. Immediately after plugging the AC cord in, the power supply and radiator fans kicked on. I thought maybe this was a safeguard for when you're doing a BIOS flashback, but holding the flashback button did squat. Curious, I unplugged the power and plugged the 8-pin connector back in. As before, no fans when I connected the AC... just LEDs. This time, however, the flashback button started blinking and it read the flash drive. It ran for a few minutes and just like the flashback FAQ said, it stopped when it was done. Still, no post on version 1.30 of the BIOS. I tried everything, including removing the 8-pin connector so the fans would come on. Nothing ever came up on the diagnostic LED, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't even trying to boot (even though the fans were running. I also tried reflashing the 2.00 BIOS, hoping that would help. No luck.

Just for sh*ts, I unplugged the 8-pin power connector and tried the 4-pin one (in addition to the 24-pin, of course). No fans with that either. So if either the 4 or 8-pin connectors are hooked up, the fans don't come on. If I plug in power with just the 24-pin connector hooked up, the LEDs AND fans will come on, but it still doesn't post.

Since it does the same thing even with different power supplies, I wonder if something is shorted on something shared with the 4 and 8-pin connectors? I wonder if a working board would boot without the 4-pin connector.

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : lowdog wrote:Is it working...

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 05:22:01 +0000

Author: Flapjack
Subject: 8357
Posted: 12 Apr 2018 at 5:22am

lowdog wrote:

Is it working now?

No... I wish. It's totally dead.

Even though the reviews on NewEgg are overall good, digging in a bit deeper reveals many with exactly the same issue. ASRock's reply is always the same.

Dear ,

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
Please trouble shoot the mainboard whether the issue is resolved.
- Unplug the ATX power, remove all components from mainboard.
- Remove the mainboard from chassis, place it on mainboard?�s box.
- Clear the CMOS.
- Reseat the CPU and heatsink fan.
- Test with single memory module on A2 slot.
- Reseat video card firmly and 6+6 PCIE power (if applied).
- Connect the monitor.
- Plug the 24 + 8 or 4 pins ATX power.
- Turn on the power (using onboard power button) to check if its post.

If you have any technical support inquiry, please contact us at http://www.ASRock.com/Support/tsd.asp
We will assist you shortly.

Thank you

ASRock Support
Tech Support Email: http://www.ASRock.com/Support/tsd.asp

I got them on the phone fairly quickly (they didn't respond to my online request yet) and they sound like they'll RMA it. Problem is, they don't cross-ship, so this fiasco is going to cost me weeks.

I'll probably run up to Microcenter in Denver, buy a new board (with an extended warranty, as it seems I'll need it with any of the TR boards out there... which all seem to die in a similar manner), and just sell the replacement when it comes back.

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : Is it working now?

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 05:06:22 +0000

Author: lowdog
Subject: 8357
Posted: 12 Apr 2018 at 5:06am

Is it working now?

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : Nevermind the clear CMOS idea......

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 02:02:19 +0000

Author: Flapjack
Subject: 8357
Posted: 12 Apr 2018 at 2:02am

Nevermind the clear CMOS idea... forgot it's a button, lol.

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : I don't believe it's...

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 02:00:59 +0000

Author: Flapjack
Subject: 8357
Posted: 12 Apr 2018 at 2:00am

I don't believe it's the PSU, or a power event. I tried a different PSU (see my above post) and I have a very, very solid UPS between the wall and PC. Nothing else in the house had any issue... this is absolutely an issue with the board.

I can try leaving the CMOS jumper shorted for a while. Who knows... I might get lucky.

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : Ouch.Sounds like some kind of...

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 23:55:57 +0000

Author: Xaltar
Subject: 8357
Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 11:55pm

Ouch.

Sounds like some kind of power event. Try (with a different PSU) removing all power from the board, removing the battery and leaving the clear CMOS jumper bridged for 2 - 3 hours then hook it back up and try again with 1 stick of RAM etc.

If that does nothing, you will need to RMA. I wouldn't trust that PSU either, if you can RMA that too I would. Even if it is working there could be an intermittent fault that killed the system. I have never had a board die on me without either bad caps (not an issues since the switch to solid caps) or another component blowing and taking the system with it, usually PSU.

One more thing you could look at, pull the board from the case and see if there is anything under it that could have caused a short. Try and power it up outside the case. I have actually seen a case where a bug caused a short, it somehow got under the motherboard and shorted out some contacts, it was cooked and smelled like bacon

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : Tried a different power supply....

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 23:42:33 +0000

Author: Flapjack
Subject: 8357
Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 11:42pm

Tried a different power supply. It looks like the freaking board is dead. I honestly cannot believe my luck.

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : u should try different psu, sound...

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 23:36:59 +0000

Author: kerberos_20
Subject: 8357
Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 11:36pm

u should try different psu, sound like something short out

ASRock Taichi X399 suddenly dead? : I tried pulling out half the RAM,...

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 23:15:14 +0000

Author: Flapjack
Subject: 8357
Posted: 11 Apr 2018 at 11:15pm

I tried pulling out half the RAM, but it still won't even recognize the power button being pressed. As soon as power is plugged in, it starts the slowly pulsing LEDs on its own.