I have two crossfired HD 6990s video cards and with three ASUS VE278Q monitors setup in Eyefinity configuration. The monitors are connected to video cards using three display port cables.

The monitors, video cards, and cable are all proven items from my prior build.

I have three following issues:

I cannot switch to the second BIOS via the BIOS button – this happens even on default BIOS settings.

Randomly disappearing USB 3.0 controllers – this happens even on default BIOS settings.

Code 00 cold boot problem if any CPU related performance options (clock, blck, etc) are set to any values other than defaults. As I had stated previously anything besides turbo=auto does not work regardless of memory settings or turbo ratio settings.

Root cause:

Disconnecting two of three display port cables resolves all three problems.

It does not matter which of the two cables I disconnect or which of the two video cards I use. I have tried every permutation of video cards, crossfire settings, cables, and monitors with exact same results.

I still think it is somehow related to the chipset, motherboard, or the BIOS. Bizarre issue…

Asus support and community has been very responsive.

Last night I installed the new Rampage IV Extreme motherboard number three. The install went very smooth, sadly except for results. The first post was flawless and the device manager was showing four Asmedia controllers. This is with all stock BIOS settings apart from the SATA RAID. I booted into BIOS and set BCLK = 101.

Everything booted without any issues. After performing a shutdown from windows, waiting 60 seconds and pressing the start button on the motherboard the post got stuck with code=62. After waiting for few minutes I unplugged the power, reset the BIOS, restarted, and booted into windows without any issues.

Another soft shutdown resulted in the same code=00 post. I reset the bios to defaults and rebooted without issues. The devices are only showing 3 Asmedia controllers and two of the back ports are not detected.

With this motherboard even with the default BIOS settings the PC consistently results in code=00 after a windows shutdown (with power connected). Code 00 is cleared by disconnecting power for 30 seconds and rebooting. Once booted PC is 100% up to 4.5MHz.

Bluetooth is working OK.

The BIOS button is not working. When the BIOS button is pressed LED 1 remains lit.

I am officially stumped.

At this point I have to agree with Asus engineer Shamino and the support staff that CPU is the next suspect.

In summary:

Consistent code 00 after a warm shutdown.

1 Asmedia controller is not recognized in windows 7 Ultra.

BIOS button does not work.

Yesterday I used my remaining USB 3.0 controller to copy a large file on to my thumb drive, this morning my remaining USB 3.0 controller was no more! 🙁

Should be able to install my new RMA motherboard by the end of this week. Hopefully it will correct all of my issues.

While waiting for RMA for my second Rampage IV Extreme motherboard I upgraded to a dual Enermax Patimax PSU setup.

ENERMAX Platimax EPM1200EWT 1200W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Modular Power Supply

ENERMAX Platimax EPM850EWT 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS PLATINUM Certified Modular Power Supply

Working on my next RMA directly to Asus. Keeping fingers crossed and hoping third time’s the charm…

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1038277309

So far the RMA board is worse than the first.

List of issues:

Cold boot code 00 bug (same as the previous board)

http://roadczar.com/th10/?p=271

One of USB 3.0 controllers is not working (same as the previous board)

http://roadczar.com/th10/?p=297

Second BIOS will not boot. Also cannot switch to the second BIOS using the BIOS button on the motherboard. This is a new bug that was not found on the first board.

What’s next RMA or refund?

This has been the most problematic build for me…

Is anyone using both internal USB 3.0 20 pin headers? I’m using Bitfenix USB 3.0 front panel with 4 USB 3.0 ports. The two ports that are connected to the USB3_56 port one next to the 24 pin motherboard connector works without issues. The two ports that are connected to USB3_78 (next to USB 2.0 connectors) do not work. Either set works when connected to the USB3_56, so it is not a front panel issue.

I tested this on two separate Rampage IV boards with the same results.

This is the USB 3.0 connector that is not working:

Looks like one of the Asmedia USB 3.0 controllers is defective (there should be four ports pictured instead of only two)

Newegg RMA’d my old board and sent the one with next day delivery.

After spending couple of hours replacing the motherboard I was disappointed to discover the new board has the exit same issue.

I’m getting the feeling that Asus will be getting complaints about this cold boot bug. I hope this will be corrected in a BIOS release and not motherboard revision.

Here are couple of pictures I took during the replacement.