I've already RMA'd this board due to faulty temp sensors, but posting to give both (a) give a heads up as I'm seeing similar issues to others being posted, and (b) seeking ANY info regarding a BIOS problem, as I'm replacing with another DH87MC board, and I don't want a repeat of the BIOS issues.
The short summary:
As best as I can tell, my DH87MC board was defective in measuring memory and VR temperatures, which is why I RMA'd the board.
As best as I can tell, my DH87MC board, or the BIOS, was unable to recognize my 1600mhz memory as 1600. It would only set for 1333.
As best as I can tell, my use of the F9 BIOS reset to default either corrupted the BIOS, or corrupted something, that then made a "normal" BIOS mode boot impossible.
As best as I can tell, once the BIOS was corrupted (or the "something" was corrupted by resetting the F9 BIOS reset to default), the corruption was permanent. That is, there appears to be no way to actually reset the BIOS to its default (or to un-corrupt whatever got corrupted), at least on the DH87 boards.
The background: This was a new build. In addition to the DH87MC motherboard:
CPU: i3, 4340
PSU: Seasonic Platinum 660W PSU (set to normal mode)
Memory: Crucial 2x4GB Ballistic, 1.5v, 1600 DDR3, 8-8-8-24
HDD: WD Black 1TB
SSD: Samsung 64gb
ODD: Pioneer 208 BD
OS: Win7 SP1, clean install
Fans, CPU cooler: PWM on inlet, outlet, and CPU, all connected to fan headers on motherboard.
No graphics card, plan was to rely solely on 4600
The OS install went mostly smoothly:
I intended from the outset to use Intel Smart Response to run SSD as a cache for HDD. Research indicated that best method was clean OS install with one HDD, one SSD, and setting SATA controller to RAID in BIOS before installing OS onto hard-drive.
On the FIRST boot, I entered BIOS, and ONLY changed SATA to RAID. Otherwise, I merely noted default settings and status. The only unexpected status was that the BIOS recognized mt DDR3-1600 Memory as 1333mhz (133x10). Otherwise, no anomalies.
Installed Win7, Intel drivers using Express Installer, Win7 updates, and Intel updates, rebooting as necessary with no re-booting issues.
The only anomaly noted in this process was that Desktop Utilities reported OBVIOUSLY wrong temperatures for Memory and VR. The graphic display for board reported temperatures BELOW -200c. I assumed error was in Desktop Utilities, and continued the install process.
Once all OS and Intel updates were installed, I opened Intel Rapid Storage, and set SSD to cache the HDD. Rebooted, and system appeared to work as expected, except for odd memory/vr temps in Desktop Utilities, and memory running at 1333 rather than 1600.
At that point, I began troubleshooting by researching memory and VR temperature and memory speed issues on the DH87MC board, found this support, and noted some similar issues.
I next re-booted and entered BIOS.
The BIOS reported memory and vr temps that were consistent with other board temps, so I assumed error in Desktop Utilities.
Next, on the Performance page for Visual BIOS, I changed the setting for memory from "Automatic" to "XMP-1600." This was my second BIOS change, and the only BIOS change other than setting SATA controller to RAID. This changed the memory multiplier from 10 to 12, and the reported speed from 1333 to 1600. I saved, exited, and booted into Win7.
Desktop Utilities still reported incorrect temps for memory and VR, AND reported memory was STILL running at 1333mhz (even though I HAD set it to 1600mhz in BIOS).
I re-booted back to BIOS. The memory status reported a multiplier of 10, BUT a memory speed of 1600mhz.
My ONLY change was to an attempt to undo my last change: I changed the memory setting from XMP-1600 back to automatic, saved, exited and booted into Win7. Once in Win7, the fans started operating at nearly full speed. Desktop Utilities now reported the temperature for the memory and VR in the negative 180-200 range.
I went back to BIOS, which now reported the memory temp at 75, and the VR temp at 54. As the only changes so far were for memory, and because I thought I had reverted back to the default memory setting, I used F9 to reset to default, just to make sure that everything was reset to default. I then changed the SATA controller to RAID. In THEORY, this was identical to the state of the BIOS immediately prior to installing the OS, and immediately prior to first change to the memory setting.
That reset to default (and SATA to RAID) was the LAST change I made before this system became unusable. I saved and exited the BIOS, and the computer did NOT boot into Win7, but started instead started cycling between between the Intel BIOS and Intel Rapid Storage Splash Screens.
I could Ctrl-I into the RST config, but I could NOT F2 into BIOS. During this cycle, the all fans cycled from low to high speed.
Ultimately, I discovered:
-- I could enter BIOS ONLY by clearing CMOS for at least 15 minutes, and setting BIOS jumper to configuration. Regardless of any BIOS change made and saved, the system would not directly boot into the OS after exiting BIOS. Temperature for memory reported at 75c, and the fans would run nearly full speed.
-- I could boot into Win7 ONLY by first powering down, unplugging, setting BIOS jumper to lockdown, and powering up. In Win7, Device Manager would always report that SATA controller was set to AHCI, memory at 1333, and Desktop Utilities reported temps on memory and VR either above 180c or below -180c. Fans would run at full speed.
-- Anything else would always result in the Intel RST/Intel BIOS splash-screen loop, with fans cycling up and down.
-- I learned and used all the methods to clear the BIOS.
-- I learned and used a BIOS recovery.
As I said, I RMA'd because the board was obviously not measuring temps correctly, and even correcting the BIOS issue (if possible) would not correct that. BUT, there is a SIGNIFICANT BIOS issue, when an F9 reset to default corrupts a machine so that it is impossible to use, and impossible to fix.
Any ideas on what happened. Any other suggestions on correcting this corruption.