@fust - Did you try larger jump in bclk instead of tiny steps, in case there is some holes? Such as 110-112 / 115-120

Not all CPU's are going to easily do bclk overclock, some might only hit 105, while others can do 120+, and some models are probably better at this than others too, all luck of the draw.
Board and BIOS plays a little into that, but nothing like the CPU does. Are you tweaking settings/voltages that are suggested for Bclk overclocking?

Since you can boot and use the Z170-A BIOS, that may be best way to do, but yes we can do a swap. For this I'd swap out Setup module, AMITSE/PE32, AMITSE/SetupData, and then any related microcodes and the ME

You were correct! I failed to change a jumper on the motherboard that allows voltage adjustment to stay. I thought they were changing, but they were resetting every time. Now I can clock wherever I like!. At least as far as booting to UEFI, I am at 4.752Ghz, 1.41v, 1.3v RAM voltage, RAM set to 2513Mhz. Now to install Windows and see how she does vs Prime95.

I will also be re-flashing the BIOS @Lost_N_BIOS gave me, because it might work to BCLK with the jumper on the mobo set correctly.

This adventure is finally on the path I'd hoped it would be on! THANK YO!!!

@fust - I meant a larger bclk jump, not a jumper, but cool you found this, I've never heard of that! So, there is a jumper that locks voltages, and it allows voltage change if set other way?

On the other BIOS I gave you, it may need updated/downgraded on ME and microcodes, since only certain ones allow non-K OC, but yes we can do that if you want to get back on your original BIOS.

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #31

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Are you tweaking settings/voltages that are suggested for Bclk overclocking?

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Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #33

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I meant a larger bclk jump, not a jumper, but cool you found this, I\'ve never heard of that!

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OK I confirmed that the system cannot BCLK over 102.9 Ghz with the @Lost_N_BIOS bios file like it can with the Z170-A BCLK bios. I'll be installing Windows in a little bit and will report back.

Update: Confirmed board will not boot to Windows with the Z170-A bios that has BCLK active.

@fust - The BIOS I posted on post #2? If yes, I assumed it may have issues, that's stock BIOS and I only posted for you so you could get unbricked quickly, it only has unlocked FD and BIOS lock removed (nothing regarding bclk that I see mentioned here)
It's missing an entire NVRAM volume and the main NVRAM volume is empty except for sparse stock data (This will be same as what came on your replacement chip, since that is how they do those)

Send me any dump you have that is complete BIOS (both NVRAM volumes) If you are unsure about that, send me any dump you have before issues occurred.
Mainly this is so I can get your board specific details to put back into a Z170-A or -AR BIOS for you, I will unlock Bclk and switch in the non-K OC stuff too (ME/Microcode)
Either BIOS A or AR can do the non0K OC/ Bclk OC, just needs to have the correct microcodes and ME in it, so whichever you want to use let me know.
If you do not have a dump of "A" board before issue occurred, I have one here that I can dump from to get you full populated NVRAM volumes, but you'll need to give me your board details so I can put in there for you (serial, UUID, MAC)

On Windows issue, do you mean you can't boot to windows with the Non-K BIOS you posted link to on #21? If yes, then I bet it's some setting you need to change, that BIOS should be OK or tons of people would have mentioned it immediately in the thread where it's posted.
Are you installing onto NVME? If yes, you need to install a certain way. If you are not on NVME drive, then you still may need to install a certain way depending on how you setup the BIOS settings (secure boot enabled, or not and CMS etc). If you have secure boot enabled you need to install to GPT partition, if you do not have it active then you should install to MBR partition.

That is pretty cool about the motorcycle cooler, sweet deal you were in an article like that

Hi, sorry, I leave town every weekend so I was gone, and also sorry for the unclear post!

So, some info to clarify:

1. Re the @Lost_N_BIOS file from post #2: Works as expected. It can boot to windows, but the BCLK is limited to 102.9. I don't have a dump from before all this mess because I followed a guide that didn't mention backing up the bios before flashing, so I don't have anything with the proper serial, UUID, MAC (note: I previously posted a link of what I could pull from the failed-flash chip, in post #21, but it isn't complete). That said, I do know what the serial and MAC are, but I'm stumped on the UUID. Maybe you guys can help? From the stickers, what the UUID looks like this: 0 0 0 825559 - 02646 - MB0N30 - BOB 1902. This is not for sure the UUID, but by process of elimination, I believe it is. However, it isn't in a format that FD44Editor likes. I was able to insert my serial and MAC into the BIOS file from post #2 with FD44Editor, but had to use a fake UUID. Does the UUID even really matter? Anyway:

MAC: 38:D5:47:AC:C1:97
Serial: G9M0KC125590
UUID (by process of elimination): 0008255592646MB0N30BOB1902


2. Re the file I posted a link to on #21 (BCLK bios for Z170-A): It will allow unlimited BCLK, will post showing the correct overclocked speed, and I can enter UEFI, but I can't boot to Windows, can't boot to Windows install media. Won't even load an Acronis boot USB. Windows, Windows setup, or Acronis begins to load for a few seconds, then freezes regardless of settings. Since it's the BIOS for the Z170-A (not -AR), I don't think not booting a Z170-AR board is something that would have been posted in the thread it came from. I might even be the only person to have tried?

3. RE a custom BIOS: I tried creating a "hybrid" BIOS (from the -A and -AR BIOS files above) with unlocked BCLK capabilities using a few different approaches (using with UEFITool, AMIBCP, and/or FD44Editor), but it didn't work. I think have the tools I need, but don't really know what I'm doing. I'm a bit cautious too... Not sure if I try something like modify the PCI IRQ table to match, if could I damage the hardware??? Any tips? I'd actually like to know how to proceed rather than just have you do it for me :) But if that's more trouble than I realize and it's just easier for you to put in together for me, then I think starting from the -AR BIOS seems more logical to me.

Thanks!

Edit: OK I'm reading this now so maybe I can figure it out... If anyone feels like modding the BIOS for me in the meantime though, please go for it! It will probably take me a while to get up to speed :)

Edit: A key difference between the Z170-A and the Z170-A is that the -A has a VGA and a DVI port. The -AR does not. From my brief reading, I'm guessing, could that mean it will need an update of the Intel iGPU VGA ROM (vBIOS)? I'm using a discrete graphics card, but one never knows with these things... Maybe that would be a better way to start: use the -A BIOS and fix the video?

@fust - It's OK about late reply, don't worry!

#1 - I can fix this eventually for you in final BIOS, if you send me images from all stickers on the board (be sure to check side of 24 pin and top/bottom sides of PCI/PCIE slots too) Done, never mind on stickers
UUID can't be recreated anymore, it's no longer a mix of anything on the motherboard stickers. UUID only matters sometimes, to certain software, like sometimes windows activation tied to this or other software activations.
UUID you have listed isn't correct, but since I have a Z170-A here I can pull info from mine and generate a new one for you and put it in the proper locations in final BIOS once we figure all the rest out (This info would be kept in same locations for these things on both boards)
Serial from motherboard sticker is not placed in BIOS anymore, this is on PCI/PCIE slot usually (G9M0KC125590 in your case). The actual programmed into BIOS serial = YY/MM of manufacture (4 digits) + first 11 digits from long white sticker

#2 - you may be correct, it could be something different between the two boards causing you to not be able to load SATA +/or it's a VERY OLD BIOS
First result I see for this BIOS in google (not here) is "I can't boot into windows" still first comment there too - https://overclocking.guide/download/asus...-non-k-oc-bios/
Same confirmed by second user replying right there at top of comments too, more of the same repeated all through the comments too (at least 10 times or more), so sounds like this is a bad BIOS mod

#3 - It's easy, you just have to know what all needs done. PCI IRQ tables etc, are not related to any of this. Main thing is the ME version needs to be specific one, and certain microcodes need used, the ones used in the Bclk BIOS for Z170 would be the ones you want to use.
ME needs transferred in following the cleaning guide using the proper BIOS for your board, that has ME already in it, so need a full properly dumped BIOS that contains original ME settings for that board. Then use same version stock ME as source during cleanup steps, replacing with the stock same version during the process.
Then aside from that BIOS needs unlocked or the individual Bclk/OC settings (2-3 related ones I think, not looking at the BIOS right now) need to be made visible.

I have a Z170-AR dump already, so I'll make a fully unlocked + Bclk Z170-AR BIOS for you tonight

** Edit ** Please take screenshots for me of all pages inside AI Tweaker (Scrolled up/down) and inside Advanced (and all submenus etc, scroll up and down too) You can do this to USB via F12 key, then 7zip them all up and upload
Also, please go ahead and include one each of all other main BIOS sections, such as Main, Security, Exit etc. In case it differs from the Z170-A I have.

edit: not sure how to delete a post...

It's OK, I gotcha - I don't think user can delete, only edit, so I'll delete one and leave the other so I'm not replying to myself

Hello,

I don't mind if the UUID is wrong, I don't think I use software that requires it.

Anyway, I'm not sure if the Z170-AR with Z170-A BIOS no-boot issue is because it can't detect the SATA system, because Windows starts to boot, but freezes regardless of BIOS settings (I tried many setting combos, including disabling all hardware I could). The only apparent difference between the A and AR boards is that the -A has VGA and DVI out, the -AR doesn't. But who knows, might be more different than they seem.

The -A bios is very old (Version 0050, while the newest is 3802), and I think it's "leaked" from Asus, rather than being a "mod." From the forum where I got the -A BIOS:

"der8auer
January 2, 2016 at 4:35 pm
My contacts are back in office next week. Will let you guys know as soon as I have news."

And:

"der8auer
January 6, 2016 at 11:41 am
ASUS will release BIOS soon for the other boards. Stay tuned."

So that makes me think they were being pulled from Asus directly. Regardless, der8auer said later that s/he would not be releasing the Z170-AR BCLK BIOS. So maybe it can't be done...

I read in some other forums about people "disabling" the ME in order to use a Xeon processor with boards that don't support them (can't remember where). Could "disabling" the ME help here?

Zitat von Lost_N_BIOS im Beitrag #38

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** Edit ** Please take screenshots for me of all pages inside AI Tweaker (Scrolled up/down) and inside Advanced (and all submenus etc, scroll up and down too) You can do this to USB via F12 key, then 7zip them all up and upload
Also, please go ahead and include one each of all other main BIOS sections, such as Main, Security, Exit etc. In case it differs from the Z170-A I have.

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@fust - I think that was just badly modified BIOS, as I mentioned I read at least 10x or more other users with that same complaint about that BIOS as mentioned/linked at #2 on post #38

Disable ME might be an option, if you have flash programmer, but we should leave that for last resort, since it will mess up much if not all of what you want (Me controls the Bclk/OC)
I've had test BIOS almost ready, but paused and was just waiting on your images to unlock all currently missing BIOS settings. Will edit in bclk unlocked + full unlocked BIOS soon!

Yeah, I saw all the no boot posts in that thread, so you're probably right, a bad mod. Or maybe an engineering pre-BIOS never meant for public release. Either way, doesn't work so yeah... thanks so much for being willing and able to put this together for me!

Side note, I got my flash programmer working completely now, in fact I think the problem was that the programmer didn't like the USB 3.1 port(s) I was using. On my old Win7 machine with only USB 2.0, it works flawlessly. I was even able to flash the original chip that I couldn't flash before!

@fust - I do think it was, for some reason, or at least bad copy of that same file others might have a good copy of from some other source.
That, or since the BIOS is so old, maybe there is some bug/incompatibility with some drives or the use of some slots etc and no one ever debugged it down and figured out the issue?
You're welcome, hopefully we can get it sorted out! Great find about the flash programmer, sorry I didn't think to ask about that before I use on 3.0, but on Z87 so older USB3.0 OG

Try this one, if it fails, then we'll go to ME 11.00 instead of 11.6 - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...964293594641504
Also, main thing before testing, ignore bclk value shown in BIOS, not the setting area but wherever you might see "Current Bclk" like "current CPU speed", always apply and check with CPU-z, some string made me think it might always show 100 bclk no matter what.
Second, let me know right away if you don't see Bclk option in Ai Tweaker page, if you don't see it then I need to unsuppress + make visible << Only made visible right now

For the record, I tried the programmer on the Z170-AR board via the 3.1 ports again, and sure enough, got the same error as before. Went back to my old USB 2-only machine, and it looks like it's working fine. It's not Windows 10 either, because I just put win 10 on my old USB 2 machine, and it's working exactly like it did with Win7. So now I'm pretty dang sure this programmer isn't compatible with USB 3.1 ports, and that was the problem all along.

I'm flashing the new @Lost_N_BIOS file now, crossing my fingers, will report back when it's done.

Danke!

EDIT: Flash completed successfully on USB 2.0. Wow, this BIOS has way more things than the official version! Will be educating myself as to the settings presented, will take some time. From my initial test, it will boot to Windows at stock speeds. Further testing to come re: BCLK.

Thanks so much @Lost_N_BIOS!

EDIT: OK, can't seem to BCLK past 102.9, as before. :( Setting voltage to 1.41, which should at least get me into BSOD territory when booting Windows, but I'm getting no POST. Does boot to Windows if the clock is set to under 103 though. CPU-Z shows the 102.9 OC.

I may be an oldskool overclocker, but to be honest, this is my first OC project in years. Any tips?