FM2A88X Extreme4+, W10 and BIOS 2.60 freezing

Hi there,

finally I found a posting, which describes all the trouble, I have had the last three weeks. I'm about to go crazy, but I want to share my story in hope, it could help others.

My setup was the FM2A88X Extreme4+ with AMD A8 7600 APU. Additionally I use one more pci express usb 3.0 card, Thermaltake Munich 430W, G.SKILL F3-17000CL9D 8GB (2x4GB), Samsung SSD 250 GB and 6 additional internal HDDs. The system is running on Win10 Pro 64Bit (upgraded since Win8.1) and is used as a low power consumpting media server running PLEX.

The trouble began by freezing while surfing. I had to hard reset the computer for the first time since that setup was running. The UEFI came up automatically and so I decided to update it (just because I've been inside UEFI :D). After that first freeze, the system started to freeze randomly. I tried everything possible, disconnected all of the hdds and pci express card. I booted up a live cd - you guess - it froze as well. So what to do? There must be a problem with the hardware. I replaced the RAM for test - freeze. I decided to order the sameds mainboard again and replaced the old one - freeze. (I didn't check for bios version!) So I decided to redo that config, sent the mainboard back. Still freezing. I ordered a new cpu, A10 7800 (?), replaced it and again freezes. So I replaced the power supply, but freezing again. After I put my A8 back again, I tried to run the mainboard without cables of the case connected - freeze. I buyed a new case, replaced everything again - freeze. I was going crazy!

I reinstalled Windows 10 on another ssd and it seemed to run fine until it froze again. Yesterday I did another bunch of troubleshooting. I replaced the power cable, network cable, used another port on my fritzbox. Maybe the problem has anything to do with the network port?! I disconnected a switch which is used for tv, ps3, bluray in the living room and connected the tv directly to the fritz box, I disconnected every hdd again (except the system ssd).

Since yesterday there was NO FREEZE. My plan was to connect one thing a day again, to see when it will freeze again.

On my way searching the web for any freezes caused by a fritzbox, I found THIS thread! And it seems to be exactly the same issue, I'm troubleshooting for over three weeks now.

Ok, I need to try that C6 option in bios, hoping that it will solve my freezes.

I will let you know whatever happens. If that C6 state will be the answer,

      DEAR ASROCK SUPPORT, SPREAD THAT SOLUTION!!!

Greetz
Andre


Edited by Andre.Zi - 02 Jun 2016 at 2:18am

Andre.Zi wrote: On my way searching the web for any freezes caused by a fritzbox, I found THIS thread! And it seems to be exactly the same issue, I'm troubleshooting for over three weeks now.

Welcome to the infamous "give-me-back-the-last-three-weeks-of-my-life club" Andre.Zi.

Since this problem seems tied to bios version, please update your post with your current and previous bios version. If you don't know what previous version of the bios your motherboard had, look for a very tiny sticker on top of one of the component of the board. It should indicate something like "P2.8" for bios 2.80 for instance.

Regardless : best of luck with those freezes.

To be fair to ASRock : I checked the online manual for the FM2A88X Extreme4+, and it indicate that the default position for Package C6 should be "disabled". Unfortunately, by default, the settings on my motherboard enabled PC 6 state.

This might come from the fact that my motherboard was provided with bios 2.80 and that I later upgraded to 3.20, rather than have the 3.20 out of the box : if they changed the default position of the option on one of the later bios, my motherboard would have retained her PC6 state settings, despite the default position changing to avoid new motherboard owners with one of the later bios to experience the same bug.

Due to the fact, that my pc is still running, I can say, that the package C6 setting was my solution.

Thanks Madmartigan for sharing that!

Greetz
Andre

Andre.Zi wrote: Due to the fact, that my pc is still running, I can say, that the package C6 setting was my solution. Thanks Madmartigan for sharing that! Greetz Andre

Yay ! ^^

Although, all the thanks should be directed to L0405 and digithom, without whom, I too, would have been left with an overpriced paperweight in lieu of a computer.

numbnuts wrote: An update.  I have found a solution that has me running rock solid for the last two months. I have thrown my ASRock FM2A88M Extreme4+ motherboard to the sh#thouse and installed a Gigabyte F2A88XM-D3H board and the freezing no longer occurs. I will never buy another ASRock board again.

Sorry to hear that this solution came too late for you numbnuts.

So 2 years(?) later and the random freezes are still unresolved, for me anyway.