Asus Prime X299-A Bios 3006 Update Warning

[macattackjack]

Don't update to version to bios 3006

It caused Kernal panics in every single working build I tested 10.13, 10.4 and 10.15. There was no setting in the bios I found (after about 4 hours of trying) that solved the kernel panics. While I am curious what caused the panic, and why, after 4 hours my curiosity went away, and I just wanted the motherboard to work again.

To remedy, I used the Asus flashback tool on the motherboard detailed here, and flashed back to version 2002.

Neither bios updater in the bios itself nor using a USB with the Bupdater in dos allowed a rollback of the bios.

That's what happened to me. Your mileage and performance may vary.

I am curious if anyone else has an Asus Prime X299-A and has updated to 3006 and has come across the same problem.

[yapan4]

Many x299/C422 users (including me) had / have different troubles on new Cascade Lake BIOS version (3003, 3006, etc). It's interesting what is yours one. Do you have saved kernel panic log/screenshot?

Thank you.

 

And sorry my google translated English

Edited May 8, 2020 by yapan4

[macattackjack]

Sorry I don't.

It was one of those situations, it was 2 am, and I thought "let me just update this confirm it still boots, and go to sleep." At 4 am I was still trying to see what I could change in the Bios that might be causing the KP.

Luckily, the ASUS flashback button and USB flash drive allowed me to go back to 2002, which I did after a semi sleepless night/morning.

Are you getting any UNSYNCRONIZEDTSC errors with your setup?

Everything works, except for those errors, which is affecting overall performance, again on 10.13, 10.14, and 10.15. 10.15 is the only OS that recognizes the CPU, but I get the errors on all. It's aggravating that my i7-3820 X79 Rampage IV Gene is still more efficient overall than my current setup.

Edited May 10, 2020 by macattackjack

[yapan4]

7 hours ago, macattackjack said:

Are you getting any UNSYNCRONIZEDTSC errors with your setup?

No, I'm not because C422 chipset has no TSC problem. 
For x299 you need installed properly configured VoodooTSCSync.kext or TSCAjustReset.kext (best way - read appropriate x299 topic)

 

Also if you own Cascade Lake (i9-10xxx), only Catalina support this CPU since version 10.15.2

[macattackjack]

I have tried various methods of solving the problem.

VoodooTSCSync.kext or TSCAjustReset.kext both allow booting, but do not solve the problem.

I have contacted MaLd0n, and after trying with some of his patches, he has said to ignore the errors.

I have noticed that my Catalina Build does show an I-9 8 core CPU in About this Mac, while 10.14 and 10.13 show unknown.

I've tried Piker-Alpha/ssdtPRGen.sh, and it seems it has no effect in solving the problem.

I can't find anyone using the i7-9800X. I was thinking of getting a i7-7820X and seeing if that would solve the problem, but I'm afraid it will just be more of the same.

Edited May 11, 2020 by macattackjack

[macattackjack]

I just tested all three OS, 10.13, 10.14 and 10.15, and the all show the same errors

GPE _L6B has no implementation

ACPI error AE_NOT_Found

No Arguments are initialized for method [_STA]

[yapan4]

Try to find users with success on exactly the same motherboard + CPU. before change CPU.

 

But ACPI error from your screen is very similar to my one on BIOS v3003. In this BIOS ASUS used new RTC standard named AWAC instead old RTC. MacOS still remained on RTC. Some motherboards has bios switcher for old/new RTC device. If not(as in my MoBo), you can try SSDT to fix this(credit @hardcorehenry)

SSDT-AWAC.aml

Edited May 11, 2020 by yapan4

[macattackjack]

Thanks

Do I need to change anything in my config file to read this SSDT, or I can just put into the clover/ACPI/patched folder and it will read it?

I was reading one of the links to patch SSDT and is said something about changing settings in the config file

Also, I forced the error to get the boot to freeze there, by removing the ncpi= 0x2000 boot argument so I could take a picture.

Otherwise, the build still boots.

[yapan4]

No additional config needed, just put this file into clover/ACPI/patched and try w/wo npci=0x2000

[macattackjack]

Without ncpi=0x2000 it freezes.

With ncpi=0x2000 it boots but can still see TSC errors, etc, as the verbose boot scrolls

 

Edited May 11, 2020 by macattackjack

[yapan4]

Ok, now you can delete AWAC-SSDT.aml, probably is not your solution, npci=0x2000 must be.

 

You need the help of more qualified experts with knowledge of your configuration.

[hardcorehenry]

Out of curiosity, could you post untouched DSDT from 3006.

[yapan4]

@macattackjack

You can press F4 button in Clover GUI and all you untouched ACPI tables will be dumped into CLOVER/ACPI/origin

Edited May 11, 2020 by yapan4

[macattackjack]

Hi, Sorry, I can't post that. As I said, after trying to get it to boot for four hours, I used the Asus Flashback button on the back of the motherboard and went back to bios version 2002. I was never able to get it to boot, and don't want to risk updating it to 3006 again and possibly messing up the board.