@bagus - Wow, what a steal!! What did the listing say?
If it does not boot, make sure to get a flash programmer and try to recover BIOS, in case it’s just a bricked BIOS.
Sorry, I can’t answer your questions, hopefully others will chime in soon
Hi @Lost_N_BIOS ,
Thanks for your reply. I thought it was a scam, but I gave it a try anyways.
The listing says that it is open-box item. The only thing that is missing is the I/O shield. All of accessories are intact. I checked the warranty and it says that it is still under warranty until 2023. I guess it is really new motherboard? If it won’t turn on, I plan to ask for RMA.
I ordered two Intel Xeon Platinum 8153 ES QJW0 CPUs for $50 each and maybe two sticks of RDIMM DDR4 to test this motherboard. I plan to use the your modded BIOS in page 17.
I also read the programmer thing that can flash the BIOS through the SPI port. What items should I need to order for the BIOS programming?
1. MSI JSPI External Flashrom module 1 set?
2. NANO USB Programmer for PC M/B BIOS repairing?
3. BIOS chip (I am not sure which one that fits the motherboard).?
Thanks!
Wow, very nice you picked it up and no body else fought you to raise price and steal it. How’s the CPU socket look?
Yes, you may be able to just RMA, not sure how Asus is about wanting invoices or not though, but I know you MUST package it will or they will easily deny claim, damage the board themselves etc, and say poorly packaged/damaged on arrival (I see that mentioned a lot, even on well packed items)
If BIOS is in a socket on this board, that will be much easier than via cable. If it is, then you need U Type Flat IC extractor + CH341A
@Lost_N_BIOS I look for the BIOS chip and it is soldered.
The board comes with the original package inside a brown ASUS box as the outer box.
As far as I can see, both Sockets are fine, no bent pins or anything.
So I guess, it will be safe for sending it back for RMA. I may need to put another box as the third layer 
I will test the board once the CPU arrived and let you know more about it.
Thanks for your time.
Sounds like Maybe already RMA’d once then 
So maybe not, hard to say? Yes, I would double box it if you send it back, and make sure there is a good layer of padding, bubbles, air pods etc between the outter and inner box
And make sure you get good images of both sockets from several angles, before you package up if you go that route too, so they can’t say you damaged socket (another one I hear often)
Good luck, hopefully it’s working once your CPU’s arrive! You can flashback in mod BIOS now without CPU’s installed, at least then you can see if it’s powering on etc.
Since BIOS is soldered you will need SOIC8 test clip (if 8pin BIOS), or to do the cable method (kinda hard since header pins are small)
@Lost_N_BIOS I am still waiting for the CPUs to arrive.
Previously, I was unable to use the flashback to flash the modified BIOS. I tried multiple USB Sticks and format them into FAT32.
It took me some days to figure out what was wrong. I decided to format the USB stick to FAT (Not FAT32). Since it has 32GB of capacity, I needed to create smaller partition of 4GB and it worked!
Hopefully, the CPUs will arrive soon as I can’t wait to try it!
@bagus - Try FAT32 and 1GB partition, that may work as well 
Anyway, glad you figured out a way, yes, some USB are a pain, and some are not compatible no matter what you try.
@Lost_N_BIOS I have tested the motherboard. I can see both of the CPUs are detected in BIOS as well as the 8GB RDIMM stick for each processor. Unfortunately, I am unable to boot to Windows; it stucks at Windows logo with Q-Code of B1. Do you have any idea what the problem is?
@bagus - Try remove one stick of memory, or try with other memory, or only one CPU. From page 19 linked below, it looks like that may be an ME FW issue, you need to use the ME FW in the mod BIOS, and Flashback doesn’t downgrade ME FW
Unsure on this though, because someone tested latest ME FW recently too without issue, so not sure? Allow B0 stepping on Asus W621E Sage (19)
^^ See posts by @adhss_phil - I think he said there is a ME jumper, then it will flash ME FW from the BIOS I made.
@Lost_N_BIOS
Thanks for your suggestions!
I have followed the post to use older ME firmware, but it causes problems. Most of the time the motherboard won’t boot, the red LED near the chipset is turned on, and the Q-Code stuck at 00. So, I flashback your BIOS with the ME as well.
I am able to run memtest86 with both CPU installed. After running around 5 hours, I don’t see any errors.
After I change BIOS setting on MMIOH Base from 56T to 24T, I am able to install Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. Then, I run a stress test on both CPU for 2 hours and find that the system is stable.
Unfortunately, I am still unable to install Windows. It always stuck the Windows boot logo with Q-Code B1. Do you have any other suggestion?
Thanks!
Yes, sorry for any confusion there, I was not sure either, and it looked like that only helped him initially, then he programmed in BIOS I made including updating to that BIOS included ME FW too.
How are you trying to install windows, and onto what kind of drive? Make disk RAW and then try again
@Lost_N_BIOS So I have updated the ME into the newest one from BIOS version 6102 and flashed your BIOS after that (without reflashed the ME).
It is able to boot to Ubuntu as usual.
For Windows, it is the same thing. I cannot even get the installer to boot.
Still finding out why 
@bagus - Maybe due to your settings (secure boot, CSM etc) and how you have the disk currently configured?
If NVME, disk must be RAW or initialized as GPT. If regular SSD/HDD, and secure boot enabled then it must be initialized as GPT, if CSM enabled you must use MBR initialized disk
But really, either way, it’s best to make the target disk RAW and then point the installer to the RAW disk, then win10 installer will setup the initialization and partitions properly for the current BIOS configuration.
If you are not sure how to make disk RAW, do it from the win10 installer, either at the first screen where you choose language hit shift+F10 to get CMD prompt, or from repair/troubleshoot options in the installer/setup
Remove all other drives, so you have only USB and target win10 drive. Then from CMD prompt do the following
1. Diskpart
2. List Disk << Here, identify what your target disk is by size/name etc, and make note of it’s #, you will use it’s # next
3. select disk # << Here, instead of #, put target disk #, example >> select disk 0
4. clean
5. Exit
Reboot and run the installer again, then point it at the raw/blank drive, do not load any drivers or create any partitions etc, just select drive and click next
If this is a NVME, and you are using NVME mod BIOS, not sure if this system has NVME native compatibility, or you have to use mod NVME BIOS
anyway, if mod NVME BIOS, follow all steps exactly as noted at step #4 in the “This is what you should do” section of this guide. This does not strictly apply if BIOS is native NVME compatible, but you can still use this method/info
[Guide] How to get full NVMe support for all Systems with an AMI UEFI BIOS
It also sounds like possibly your installer setup/source is messed up, confirm on another system with this USB that you can run the installer/setup and it starts OK.
Guys,
I am receiving a factory new ASUS C621E SAGE Motherboard tomorrow. I do have one Xeon 6130 ES (arrived last week) - QL1M
What is the best option for me to proceed?
Shall I go for the latest stock BIOS (6201) and then install CPU and try it ?
Or shall use the modded by Lost_N_BIOS BIOS from post 241 (5503 based) BIOS and FlashBack it ?
I have read the whole thread, but I was unable to find a recommendation on how to proceed with a new board
I am quite techie, but I also do not know what tools and software are needed for direct BIOS flashing - is it CH384 (I used to BIOS mod some Lenovos in the past) or is it something else ?
@fallen2109 - new board is same as old board, if using ES/unsupported CPU you’ll have to use mod BIOS, flash it via USB Flashback.
You’re CPU 50652 CPUID, is certainly not compatible with stock BIOS, so you’ll have to use BIOS from #241
CH341A + Dupont or other cables are needed to connect to the SPI header and flash this BIOS with programmer, but none of that is required here due to USB Flashback is possible
You may also be able to SOIC clip with programmer too, I can’t remember and I don’t have one of these boards so I don’t know what kind of BIOS chip is there, or if it’s soldered/in-socket etc - Someone else would have to answer you about that
But USB Flashback is all you need so really nothing to worry about further here in regards to a flash programmer.
@Lost_N_BIOS So - I will simply use your modded BIOS (based on stock 5503) from post #241 - correct ?
And I can do the flashback WITHOUT any CPU or RAM installed on the Motherboard?
By reading throughout the whole thread - I was left with the impression that ASUS stock BIOS 5602 or later also supports ES processors. Apparently - I got it wrong 
.
I do have CH341 programmer and all the cables clips that come with it - I believe an SPI cable is also part of the set I bought on eBay for my Lenovo unlock project couple of months ago.
Keep up the good work.
@fallen2109 - That’s the only one that will work with your CPU
Yes, flashback works without CPU or memory installed, well not 100% sure about no memory (I think so), but no CPU for sure it works that way.
No, later BIOS do not support ES CPU, I thought I made one that should work but once tested it was a fail, so everyone is back to the one from #241
I just did it. There was no CPU and RAM installed (I am still waiting for my 192 GB RAM to turn up from the post ). The BIOS update led flashed for about 5 minutes or so and the USB stick LED was going flashing / constant lit. Now the BIOS LED is off. Can I presume that the process was successfully completed? The USB stick is a 1GB formatted as FAT32 and has only the BIOS file on it (properly named). Thanks for your help and sorry for being PITA 
.
Ah - one more question. If re-programming via the SPI - do you need to power the mother board or not ? I do not have experience with SPI programming - I am asking out of curiosity.
@fallen2109 - Wow 192GB! How much $$ was that, and how many sticks in that? 
Sounds like it went correctly, you should be good to go 
No, if ever programming via programmer, DO NOT power on the board or force power on the PSU etc
Here is a good guide with lots of images since you’re not familiar with using programmer, but you do not need and should not do any of this (You’ll loose serial, UUID, MAC ID etc if not done correctly)
[GUIDE] Flash BIOS with CH341A programmer
Well the RAM came cheep - I convinced someone to sell it to me for 10 USD a stick (6 x 32 GB sticks) on eBay. The sticks are Samsung ones and are on the approved list for this mobo. Keep fingers crossed that it will work. Otherwise - I will try to do an RMA with Samsung . I really do not understand why RAM should be so expensive these days. And I have read somewhere that this year the prices are going to get higher (at least in the nVME / SSD market segment) as they say that the demand is greater than the production yield.
Thanks for the CH341 Programming guide link - I will go through it - as I am a curious guy (always want to try something new). Anyway - I am not trying to do SPI programming unless explicitly needed. With the Lenovo I unlocked (with the help of a technician who is providing this service on WhatsApp for a small fee) - I remember now that I have sent him my BIOS image and he have sent me back a properly changed BIOS image - and even after that I had to answer to a randomly generated string with a specific key sequence he provided in order to remove the BIOS Setup password.
Keep up the good work 