Hi all -- I have an Asus Maximum IX Extreme that I'm trying to mod to run an extra 9700K I have on hand. I've done the pin mods (shorting plus isolating) on the CPU. I also used Coffee Time to build a 9700K compatible BIOS for my MB. I flashed the new BIOS using the Asus BIOS flashback feature and that flashback behaved normally. However, when I boot the machine I get a half second of power and post code "00" before it shuts off.

I also have a CH341A SPI programmer. However, I've been unable to read my BIOS chips (soldered) when I clip in to them. Anyone have experience with this board and able to provide me with some help? Thanks in advance.

@svarmod i gonna buy a MSI z170a gaming m3, i can put the i5 8600k only with two isolated pins from pin mod pic? No need short two pins for MSI mobo, right?
Pin mod pic: https://yadi.sk/i/V_O01qKYKV6GpA

@ccassidy39 : I was able to read my Maximus VIII UEFIs with CH341A 1.4/1.31free Tools, but not with earlier versions. Beware of trojans, though. Post code 00 with a compatible 9700K UEFI suggest incompletely flashing, most likely descriptor region is locked.
Note that for some Maximus IX there are modified Maximus X UEFIs available. While the process to make these is much more complicated and specific, it is the superior solution if you can find a ready made version, as these UEFIs contain all coffee lake optimisations of a proper Z370 UEFI. (They still require CH341A of course)

Something with your bios, look in this side , just use early coffetime, just try

Darkslayerbr
MSI Z170A_Gaming_M3 will not work with U0/P0/R0 Coffee CPU (8600K = U0).
It's better to choose board from other manufacturer.

ccassidy39
In most of cases 00 post = ME region not reflashed.
M9E normally works with 9700K.
- Update vbios to 1059 in Advanced mode of CoffeeTime by manual (required 1059+ vbios for iGPU in P0 Coffees)
- M9E bios flashes normally with attached clip. Make sure that you found right chip on board and clip connected correctly
- Use only v1.18 software for CH341A
- Completely match for bios chip names not required - different chars at the end of ID isn't problem in most of cases
- Clear CMOS by button after SPI flashing

PCGH_Torsten
Unfortunately, M9E hasn't bro from Z370 lineup. I tried make ports from all other Z370 boards (A, C, H, F) with similar VRM and they all partially works, even can boot in OS and work under load... But PCIe, USB and SATA lines has completely different configuration, so system didn't work after restart.

Zitat von Jest im Beitrag #884

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@Wolf Larsen I saw that you have Asrock Z270 Gaming K6 with 9700k. What modifications did you do and how did you flashed bios? I'll probably replace my 7600k with 9600k, but not until i'm 100% sure that i can modify everything without much hassle.

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Zitat von Wolf Larsen im Beitrag #891

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Zitat von Jest im Beitrag #884

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@Wolf Larsen I saw that you have Asrock Z270 Gaming K6 with 9700k. What modifications did you do and how did you flashed bios? I'll probably replace my 7600k with 9600k, but not until i'm 100% sure that i can modify everything without much hassle.

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I used the CoffeeTime and the CH341a programmer.

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ez flash won't work

may be a dumb question but is it retrocompatible once flashed?
i.e. can I try to flash the bios without having the proc yet?

That's no problem. Just make sure that microcodes for Kaby Lake/7000 seriers are included and your current system will work fine. Note however that you cannot test successful modding without new CPU. E.g. if descriptor is not flashed, Kaby Lake will (continue to) work fine, but Coffee Lake won't work despite the new microcode being included in the UEFI.
(If you use CH341a you can obviously check what has been successfully written into BIOS/whether parts are missing. But if you use CH341a you can mod anything anyway.)

Just ordered a Z270 Asus Apex IX board that was onsale for a really good price. Want to do a coffee lake mod for the fun of it. Wonder what processor would be best?

Thanks

Would this work if you use UEFITool to copy paste the ME region body as is from an older bios version with the need 11.7.0.1xxx ME onto a newer bios file with newer ME essentially overwriting that ME from the official bios files available on the manufacturers site?

Just got my Apex IX and preparing to start this mod. Going to use the Flashback port on the rear of the motherboard to flash... but got a couple Asus specific questions:
1. Can you flashback without a cpu installed?
2. Chance of success...

Wish me luck..

Thanks

@davidm71 - yes, you can flashback without CPU, that was it's main designed purpose. - 100% success rate

On the ME question, in general if you do that ever, extract ME as-is, replace as-is. For your specific question, make sure that ME region is from the same model board, then yes it can be swapped like that in the BIOS file, but may/may not be flashed in depending on how the BIOS update is done
and if ME Re-Flash is enabled in the BIOS currently on the board (usually disabled by default) So you need to enable ME Re-Flash in the onboard BIOS first, then USB Flashback and it may update the ME. If not, once ME Reflash is enabled, you can use ME FW Update to flash in older as long as it
does not go against the ME SVN/Etc rules, otherwise you normally would need to pinmod to unlock FD and then unlock FD/ME region and reflash that FD, then FPT the older ME region, or use flash programmer.

Hello,
After bios modification, its set up on motherboard and after starting it, everything is fine. BUT after turning off the computer and when you turn it on I have post code 00 and motherboard does not start. Cpu i5 9600k.
I am looking forward to receive any kind o help with this issue.
Kind regards and thanks in advance.

@Lost_N_BIOS Thank you for the explanation. So before modding any board you got to make sure that ME Re-Flash is enabled.. Do you check with MEInfo? Wonder how you check?

Also is a 9350KF compatible with this technique assuming you don't want to do any pin mods?

Thanks