Taichi Ultimate Z390: Question about pins and BIOS
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11736
Printed Date: 05 Aug 2025 at 12:59am
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Topic: Taichi Ultimate Z390: Question about pins and BIOS
Posted By: CHnuschti
Subject: Taichi Ultimate Z390: Question about pins and BIOS
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2019 at 7:56pm
Taichi Ultimate Z390: Question regarding BIOS LEDs, unidentified pins and restore BIOS B->A
a) According to the manual, both BIOS have a LED, signaling which of both BIOS is active. Are they supposed to work, that is, emit light? On my new mainboard, nothing of the sort happens.
b) Also that backup BIOS thing is somewhat inconclusive. How does it work exactly?
In the BIOS settings there is just one entry, saying backup BIOS from A (the active BIOS) to B. Tried it, and I had the impression that a backup to B was indeed made, according to the messages.
The BIOS interface gives also no clues IF AND WHAT version of such a backup is present at all. Of questionable usefulness.
The tiny manual says in case of corrupted BIOS, after several tries, the mainboard automatically switches to the B BIOS, and then you're given the possibility to restore B to A. So we are at the mercy of that automatic switch without any possibility to intervene in active manner? Doesn't seem very thoughtful to me ...
c) finally. I got my mainboard June 2019 (in Switzerland) and it had BIOS v4.00 pre-installed. Odd enough, since that version came out end March 2019. BIOS A and B are covered with a kind of glued on paper, no idea what I should make of it.
Nevertheless there are 2 sets of pins (once 2, the other 9 pins) in the suspected area. They are not documented at all in the manual. The Taichi Z390 (not Ultimate) also has them, according to pictures of reviews.
What are they for? What is their function?
See included pic, click to expand
https://www2.pic-upload.de/img/36489356/taichiz390biospanel_detail_bearbeitet.jpg
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Replies:
Posted By: CHnuschti
Date Posted: 27 Jun 2019 at 1:36pm
Well, thank you for your support that wasn't.
As to a) there seems to be no BIOS LEDs indeed to be on, although they are listed in the overview scheme in the manual and also mentioned in the BIOS chapter. I guess this can happen when copying&pasting constantly manuals from one to the next generation.
http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10212&title=z390-taichi-bios-led
As to b) and c) these unidentified pins indeed seem to be connected to the BIOS as suspected. Taichi z390 has the very same unidentified set (1x 2pin set, 1x 9pin set). Not suprising, but also other Z370 Asrock board have the same thing, placed somewhere around the DrDebug LED. And likely more mainboards too.
Example for the Z270:
https://imagescdn.tweaktown.com/content/8/3/8333_15_asrock-z270-taichi-motherboard-review_full.jpg
This thread gives some insight on the possibility of their use to manipulate the BIOS (I have not tested them). So at least it seems one has not to rely entirely on asrocks "automatic procedures due to safety reasons". Did they mean financial safety? as one shall buy a new board if the "automatic procedure" f***s up?
http://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4473&PN=1&title=z270-supercarrier-09-d0-cant-go-to-backup-bios
Well at least my mainboard works. But the "first impression" of Asrock was not really thrilling ...
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Posted By: badbri
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 2:17am
That 9 pin (2 rows of 5 with one missing) is also called the BIOS PH which is used to program the BIOS during board manufacture. There is nothing an end user can do with that header UNLESS you happen to have a special programmer (costs about $500). That is why there is no documentation about it in the User manual. Hope that helps
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https://www.passmark.com/baselines/V9/display.php?id=99573335296
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Posted By: CHnuschti
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2019 at 3:03am
Yes thanks. Was answered also in the same way in another forum by an AsRock "professional", with picture ;)
https://www.computerbase.de/forum/threads/asrock-taichi-ultimate-z390-fragen-zu-bios-pins-sata-und-leds.1878688/#post-22812533
The question about the possibilities of/with the other mentioned (undocumented) 2pin still waits for a qualified, clarifiying answer beyond guesses and try&error experiences.
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Posted By: CHnuschti
Date Posted: 21 Jul 2019 at 6:38pm
According to JZ, who is also moderatore here in this forum, the use of the mysterious undocumented 2pin set is as follows:
Short (=connect) the two pins, then start. The (backup) Bios B will be copied to Bios A, then the motherboard restarts.
https://www.computerbase.de/forum/threads/asrock-taichi-ultimate-z390-fragen-zu-bios-pins-sata-und-leds.1878688/#post-22818591
But was able to unintentionally witness such a backup, as stated to work without outer active handling.
Was checking a faulty graphiccard, the system did reboot several times on his own, then suddenly that backup mechanism went into action. So at least it DID work as promised.
https://www2.pic-upload.de/img/36512101/WP_20190711_002.jpg
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