Thursday, September 1st 2022
ASRock X670E Steel Legend Motherboard Needs Hundreds of Seconds at First Boot or Clear CMOS to Train Memory
At this point, we don't know if this is a limitation at AMD's level or ASRock's, but someone with access to a retail ASRock X670E Steel Legend motherboard, with all its packaged paraphernalia in place, spotted an interesting sticker covering the board's four DDR5 DIMM slots. The sticker has some info on the ideal DIMM slot selection for dual-channel memory (4x sub-channels); but what catches our eye is a table which states just how long the motherboard will take to train the memory the first time it's booted up, or after a clear-CMOS operation (where your BIOS settings are erased).
The table says that a typical setup with two 16 GB modules (read: two single-rank modules in a 1 DIMM per channel/1DPC configuration), takes 100 seconds to train (or until first boot). Two 32 GB modules (typically a pair of dual-rank modules in 1DPC configuration) take 200 seconds, as do four 16 GB modules (four single-rank modules in a 2DPC configuration). The least optimal config, four dual-rank modules in a 2DPC configuration, takes a whopping 400 seconds (almost 7 minutes) to train. That's 100 to 400 seconds of a black screen, or no display signal, enough to unnerve anyone and assume something is DOA.
Update Sep 2nd: The source behind this story confirmed that this is an ASRock-level issue, and that it's been "fixed" with the latest BIOS.
Update Sep 8th: This has been fixed according to ASRock.
Here's the kicker—since UEFI BIOS updates typically clear CMOS, you'll have yourselves some nerve-racking hundred(s) of seconds until the display lights up, letting you know that the BIOS update went through. Interestingly, we haven't yet seen anything to suggest that memory overclock (which involves dozens of reboots and re-training of memory), takes hundreds of seconds—not unless you clear CMOS for some reason.
Source:
HXL (Twitter)
The table says that a typical setup with two 16 GB modules (read: two single-rank modules in a 1 DIMM per channel/1DPC configuration), takes 100 seconds to train (or until first boot). Two 32 GB modules (typically a pair of dual-rank modules in 1DPC configuration) take 200 seconds, as do four 16 GB modules (four single-rank modules in a 2DPC configuration). The least optimal config, four dual-rank modules in a 2DPC configuration, takes a whopping 400 seconds (almost 7 minutes) to train. That's 100 to 400 seconds of a black screen, or no display signal, enough to unnerve anyone and assume something is DOA.
Update Sep 8th: This has been fixed according to ASRock.
Here's the kicker—since UEFI BIOS updates typically clear CMOS, you'll have yourselves some nerve-racking hundred(s) of seconds until the display lights up, letting you know that the BIOS update went through. Interestingly, we haven't yet seen anything to suggest that memory overclock (which involves dozens of reboots and re-training of memory), takes hundreds of seconds—not unless you clear CMOS for some reason.
89 Comments on ASRock X670E Steel Legend Motherboard Needs Hundreds of Seconds at First Boot or Clear CMOS to Train Memory
edit: both are asrock boards with 2x8gb ram.
These newer motherboards have added more functionality more layers more ports and also more latency.
Long memory training isn't unheard of. I've seen a Kaby Lake machine taking >1 min.The BIOS is fine-tuning the memory timings to "ensure" stability.
If the current settings fail, it will try a different set of timings, repeatedly until it either finds a working setting or stalls. Retraining is usually not needed until the PC fails to POST (or the BIOS is reset). As the memory controller and RAM eventually degrades, it will after months or years try to retrain, resulting in gradually slower speeds.
If you want to avoid this, just stick with a memory kit matching the highest JEDEC speeds of the platform and it should just work reliably. Be aware than many expensive "OC" memory kits are not certified for higher JEDEC speeds, so the fallbacks are often very slow. If/when your memory OC fails, it will likely revert to this speed.
I havent played with them in a long while.
I'm going with a 64gb ddr5 in the coming build, waiting 800 sec (more than 10 min..) will be a deal breaker.
AMD has left the chat..
Also this is more like related only to Asrock not with all vendors and it could be fixed by the release.
If this is happening only on CMOS clear, I don't see big problem. For normal overclocking you won't need more than 2-3 times to reach close to the sweet spot and even if your system is unstable, it would be enought to go in the BIOS and change the settigns. I learned it after switched to 3070 that make the removing of the battery impossible and after my mobo does not have button for this I must to short the pins that reset the CMOS manually which is very big pain with the postion of my PC.
This could be problem only for extreame overclockers that tunning the RAM to the best possible settings, but as I said, this most likely is asrock's problem and will be fixed fast
I'd assume it was dead and have it packed away for an RMA by thenAnd you're already proven wrong, it's an asrock only bug that's already been fixed in a BIOS update