Different POST Error Codes Before & After Flashing BIOS

BerenElendil · January 9, 2023

CPU: 5950X

GPU: EVGA 3090 Ti FTW3 (RIP EVGA graphics division)

RAM: CL16 3600 MHz G.Skill Trident V (16×2 GB)

MOBO: ASUS ROG Crosshair VIII Impact (Mini-ITX with DIMM.2 riser card)

SSD: 2×1TB M.2 - RAID 0

Before I flashed the BIOS for the motherboard, I was regularly getting an error code 07 -- an issue with USB connections. I figured my BIOS hadn't been updated in a while since I used a RAID 0 array and didn't want to risk losing my precious data, so I backed up my files during the blue-moon chance that I had when the computer properly booted, then powered it off and flashed the BIOS (cleared CMOS beforehand too).

I then started to get two different error codes -- 42, an issue related to RAM, and 97, an issue related to a PCIe lane conflict between the M.2 SSDs and the GPU. Just now, I'm also getting a third error code -- B2, related to CSM boot and legacy boot support (I'm assuming this is linked to the RAID 0 array getting gummed up with a BIOS flash, as I feared).

All of these issues, even those related to the RAID array (lesson learned, hardware RAID is better than software or firmware RAID), can all be traced back to the motherboard itself. I'm wanting to make sure I've done my due diligence, and that I've done all I can -- is it time for me to get a new motherboard?

RONOTHAN## · January 9, 2023

45 minutes ago, BerenElendil said:

lesson learned, hardware RAID is better than software or firmware RAID

Firmware RAID yes, software RAID no. Honestly, software RAID is probably the most robust form of RAID you can find, especially something along the lines of ZFS.

Anyway, on to the actual issue at hand. All the POST codes you're listing generally are very late stage boot codes that are very normal to hit when turning on. B2 is something like 2nd to last before the system actually POSTs, and 97 is not that far before that. It's not like you're getting one of the actual error codes, something like F9 or 0d, so IMO it's more likely that the board is crashing when trying to boot up (had this happen to me on one of my older boards a while ago, though that did occasionally make it into the BIOS, even if it would crash eventually when it got in there). First thing I'd be doing is reseating the RAM and trying just single sticks to see if that can get the system any more stable and possibly make it into Windows.