Probably most users won't have ME issues on their Intel 7 series boards. It's happening sometimes while you are trying to overclock your cpu or memory. Pushing too hard especially memory is causing ME errors.
There can be also some other causes so it's not a rule that it can happen only while overclocking.
So what is it all about ?
ME = Management Engine , it's part of BIOS/UEFI responsible for adjusting cpu clock, EIST, power saving stages etc.
Most users see corrupted ME BIOS part as:
- issues with overclocking
- locked cpu ratio at some value , like there is no way to change cpu ratio or there is option to change it only up to maximum clock without turbo
- turbo ratios are not working
- board sees Hyper Threading as not supported ( when you use CPU with HT )
- some other issues
I saw some users with similar issues and in most cases all threads about it were ending on RMA what means additional costs and wasted time so here is short way how to solve it.
When I had this issue for the first time then I found thread on HardOCP forums that describes more options but we don't really need much to fix our issue.
So how to do it ?
1. Download FTK software. Latest version is available in original topic ( in russian but it's not hard to find links ) Here is link to DOS 0.9.5 version that I'm using.
2. Create bootable flash drive with DOS. There are many ways to do it. I'm usually using HP USB Stick Formatting Tool. There is also description in hardforum link to other software so I think it won't be so hard.
3. Download your board's BIOS in desired version ( older or newer ) and rename it to bios.bin . So if it's in format .rom or any other then just change it manually to .bin , simple as that.
4. Copy FTK software and bios.bin to the same folder on the flash drive
5. Type reflash and wait till it ends
6. When it finishes, it's recommended to use command poweroff and that's all
In this way you can reflash all BIOS with ME area without need of RMA.
BIOS recovery for some boards even ROG series won't fix it and will flash back only main area of the BIOS/UEFI.
I've checked it on ASUS Maximus V Gene and MSI MPower and it's working without issues on both boards. I can't guarantee it will work on any board but when you have option to make RMA or try this way then I think it's worth to try.
Credits to CodeRush. I just made short version of it.
There can be also some other causes so it's not a rule that it can happen only while overclocking.
So what is it all about ?
ME = Management Engine , it's part of BIOS/UEFI responsible for adjusting cpu clock, EIST, power saving stages etc.
Most users see corrupted ME BIOS part as:
- issues with overclocking
- locked cpu ratio at some value , like there is no way to change cpu ratio or there is option to change it only up to maximum clock without turbo
- turbo ratios are not working
- board sees Hyper Threading as not supported ( when you use CPU with HT )
- some other issues
I saw some users with similar issues and in most cases all threads about it were ending on RMA what means additional costs and wasted time so here is short way how to solve it.
When I had this issue for the first time then I found thread on HardOCP forums that describes more options but we don't really need much to fix our issue.
So how to do it ?
1. Download FTK software. Latest version is available in original topic ( in russian but it's not hard to find links ) Here is link to DOS 0.9.5 version that I'm using.
2. Create bootable flash drive with DOS. There are many ways to do it. I'm usually using HP USB Stick Formatting Tool. There is also description in hardforum link to other software so I think it won't be so hard.
3. Download your board's BIOS in desired version ( older or newer ) and rename it to bios.bin . So if it's in format .rom or any other then just change it manually to .bin , simple as that.
4. Copy FTK software and bios.bin to the same folder on the flash drive
5. Type reflash and wait till it ends
6. When it finishes, it's recommended to use command poweroff and that's all
In this way you can reflash all BIOS with ME area without need of RMA.
BIOS recovery for some boards even ROG series won't fix it and will flash back only main area of the BIOS/UEFI.
I've checked it on ASUS Maximus V Gene and MSI MPower and it's working without issues on both boards. I can't guarantee it will work on any board but when you have option to make RMA or try this way then I think it's worth to try.
Credits to CodeRush. I just made short version of it.