Very confusing 8700k build problems.

[Kaidesa]

Current hardware list:

Motherboard: ASUS Maximus X Hero (wi-fi AC)

Processor: Intel Core i7 8700k

RAM: G.Skill TridentZ RGB 3200MHz - 16GB (2x8GB)

Power Supply: Corsair AX1200i

Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS): CyberPower 1500PFCLCD

 

And that's really all you need to know that's relevant to the issue.  Three main problems:

1. UPS reports 0 battery on Windows login.  Takes a few minutes for it to show 100%.
2. Ethernet adapter cannot connect prior to Windows login - causes lots of errors to show when programs that try to use it boot up.
3. Any USB devices connected to any chipset-related USB port on the board, at random, will disconnect and reconnect immediately.

Stock settings, no overclocking done, not a thing aside from default settings.

 

When booting into Windows, from moment one, on the login screen at the bottom right, you'll immediately see the battery icon showing a red cross through it as well as the Ethernet adapter showing not connected.  A second later, Ethernet shows as working okay.  Twenty seconds later, the battery finally says "Hey, I'm full!"

 

Any time when running the OS, period, anything connected to any of the USB front panel connectors (both IN a case as well as through an external adapter, either through the 3.1 Gen 1 front panel connector or the USB 3.1 Gen 2 front panel connector) can instantly drop off and then reconnect at any moment. 

 

This happens across multiple hard drives with multiple clean reformats, running all the latest drivers for the motherboard and using the latest BIOS.  I have RMA'd the processor three times, the motherboard has been replaced multiple times, and the power supply has also been replaced.  Tried with multiple sets of compatible DDR4 RAM.  I've exhausted all the possibilities I thought to check.  Hopefully, someone here has some reasonable ideas? 

 

ASUS support specialist Abraham (apparently a level -3- support specialist, because... reasons?) suggested I stop pissing off the wrong gypsies. Completely reasonable, yet exceptionally irrelevant advice.

[Jurrunio]

Try use the system without the UPS first. Pick a good time when the electricity supply is stable.

[Kaidesa]

12 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

Try use the system without the UPS first. Pick a good time when the electricity supply is stable.

The UPS works fine, though I've already thought to remove it from the situation.  It still suffers from the other two problems, so it's unrelated to the delayed response of the battery. Worth noting that the same hardware (minus the processor and motherboard, obviously) on my x99 board, works flawlessly.

[Jurrunio]

3 minutes ago, Kaidesa said:

The UPS works fine, though I've already thought to remove it from the situation.  It still suffers from the other two problems, so it's unrelated to the delayed response of the battery. Worth noting that the same hardware (minus the processor and motherboard, obviously) on my x99 board, works flawlessly.

Then return the mobo for repairs or swap? Gonna try out everything that doesnt take that long first.

[Kaidesa]

12 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

Then return the mobo for repairs or swap? Gonna try out everything that doesnt take that long first.

Already tried this, and am still having problems.  As I said in the original post, this is the fifth motherboard I've gone through in attempts to get this build up and running.  I highly doubt I got five bad boards in a row.  Also the second processor I've gone through with this board.

[Jurrunio]

11 minutes ago, Kaidesa said:

Already tried this, and am still having problems.  As I said in the original post, this is the fifth motherboard I've gone through in attempts to get this build up and running.  I highly doubt I got five bad boards in a row.  Also the second processor I've gone through with this board.

How about a mobo from another brand?

 

Why are you upgrading from X99? Not like 8700k is all that much better.

[Kaidesa]

Also tried a Gigabyte Aorus Gaming 5.  Bought two this go, just in case.  Neither of them worked perfectly.  Both had problems.  In the Gigabyte case, replace the USB issues with Ethernet issues.  Same deal.  Random drops throughout usage.

[Kaidesa]

12 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

Why are you upgrading from X99? Not like 8700k is all that much better.

 

To answer your second question, I had a rogue power supply decide to fry both the motherboard and processor. I had a spare motherboard laying around from when I needed a slightly different feature set and was able to get it running, but with the processor far from stable.  Rather than spend $900+ on replacements, I decided going for the cheaper z370 upgrade would be worth it.  Sure, it's only a 10% gain, but at $300 less...