Findings with Asrock W790-WS, Xeon SPR-SP D0, and BCLK OC (and lack thereof)

[Bert]

yes from your pictures is see you want to enable SecBoot with Mode set to "Custom" and empty keys - this should give the error of course.
Factory Key provision is enabled in your screenshot:
this is the default Failsafe option after CMOS clear or BIOS update.
Factory Key provision = enabled means the system is in "Setup Mode"
note: some changes need platform reset = AC off to restart the PCH engine(chipset)

it says you are in "Setup Mode"
there are at least 3 reasons to be in (BIOS or SB)Setup Mode:
1) entered BIOS the first time after CMOS clear - load (optimized) defaults, save & reset to get out.
2) entered BIOS the first time after BIOS update - load (optimized) defaults, save & reset to get out.
3) secure boot mode = "custom" = Setup Mode - change to "standard" to get in user mode.
update:
it seems ASRock made a brilliant move to provide a new BIOS solving this issue.
have they never used Sec.Boot in testing ?

Ah where is the new BIOS? I don't see it here:

 

[Bert]

Ich krieg die antwort.Aus Asrock support.
This is the best manufacturer.
View attachment 38511View attachment 38512

Having a crappy and providing an updated BIOS after weeks of anguish makes them a terrible manufacturer. I am not coming to ASROCK ever again. Stay with ASUS, they have the volume so they can afford proper support and BIOS development.

What a crappy experience with ASROCK here. I am on support more than a week, he is still telling me to disable CSM.

 

[Bert]

@arabus can you please upload the BIOS somewhere for me? My support contact may take another month to escalate and let me have the fix.

 

[arabus]

Flashback bios.
https://file.io/bsBDMZAohCA4

 

[Bert]

Flashback bios.
https://file.io/bsBDMZAohCA4

It says file is deleted.

 

[arabus]

32 MB file on MEGA

 

[arabus]

Stupid Xeon.

 

[DHamov]

Ich krieg die antwort.Aus Asrock support.
This is the best manufacturer.

Interestingly enough exactly the same adress as Asrock Rack adress in their support emails.
For me their support was sort of a lotery, but by extilotterymation was more help from Netherlands (who had to escalate it to HQ) than direct US support tickets.

 

[Kizune]

Ok, ASRock support finally updated BIOS on the R2.0 support page to 3.01 - the same version they flash on the motherboard when they ship it through the retail chain. But that BIOS has the same problem with the secure boot. Fortunately support provided me with the BIOS ver. 4.03 which fixes the secure boot. Right now I’m in a place with funky internet service, I will put this version somewhere for anyone with the R2.0 board that has this issue once I get back home.

 

[RolloZ170]

But that BIOS has the same problem with the secure boot. Fortunately support provided me with the BIOS ver. 4.03 which fixes the secure boot.

wow, they need to get payd for that !
great, you can't make this up

3.01

2024/8/21

10.82MB

Instant Flash

First released.​

 

[arabus]

On Asrock this is the best ES cpu.
105.5 Bclk the maximum.

 

[Kizune]

As promised - here’s the R2.0 BIOS that I got from support. It eliminates the secure boot issue - otherwise it is the same as 3.01 they have on the download page on their servers. Link will be good for at least a month, hopefully ASRock will have it on their official site by that time. Note that ASRock support recommended to do the BIOS flashback operation to flash this version - meaning renaming .rom file to creative.rom, putting it on a USB stick and inserting it into the correct USB port, then doing power on with BIOS flashback button pressed until flashback LED starts blinking then waiting for 10 minutes and do the power cycle. Enjoy. W790-WS R2.0 BIOS 4.03

 

[arabus]

Silverbench online test with 128 Threads?

 

[arabus]

 

[Bert]

I also got the 6.02 BIOS for my Asrock which fixed the secure boot issue. I am using the computer as my primary development machine now with a dedicated TPM chip, which runs more stable then firmware TPM.

I am running this MB with QYK8 CPU with a single 32GB dimm. Still shopping for dimms (bought one, lost during delivery, bought another one, DOA, bought 2 16GB Dimms, I got delivered hard drives instead.).

I probably need to disable hyperthread and perhaps some of the cores to optimize the performance. Not tried BCLK overclocking yet on this one. I am now scared of messing up the system, especially after burning the previous QYK8.

 

[arabus]

 

[stoots]

Bumping to report that I'll finally test Q071 (R0 MCC, 32c64t) and the ASRock W790 WS in the next month or so.

I sold my ASUS W790 board; don't need two. The ASRock and its VRM is one I'd like to keep for overclocking the W-2500 series at some point, or server use with Q071 if its idle power draw is low enough.

I'll get QYFU and ASRock reassembled and push my Xeon X5675 4.61GHz aside; I change platforms lots for amusement.

-
Emerald Rapids WS hopes are dead in the water, Intel having killed those off in what can be interpreted as an official statement on a Youtube video comment on [1]. Seems to check out on Linkedin too.

I would have liked to see unlocked 30 or 32-core MCC 8-channel on W790, but oh well.


[1] Intel Hits Refresh on Sapphire Rapids! Xeon W2595 Tested - YouTube

 

[stoots]

Q071 arrived with no POST. Guessing DOA.

 

[gank noob]

Has anyone tried any of the xeon max sapphire rapids cpus on the w790 boards yet?

 

[RolloZ170]

Has anyone tried any of the xeon max sapphire rapids cpus on the w790 boards yet?

sure. there is no microcode and no BIOS support for SPR-HBM in any W790 BIOS.
and SPR-HBM needs add. voltage to the socket.