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Asus Z690 ProArt Creator WiFi (Thunderbolt 4) + i7-12700K + AMD RX 6800 XT

The pack (in Google drive and the copy in attach here) includes 3 files ("ProArt-Z690-CREATOR-WIFI-ASUS-9901" in .cab, .cap, .rom). Strangely the version is 9901 (also shown in my BIOS dashboard after flashing). I'm not sure whether I can flash to other BIOS afterwards (during contact, I mentioned that my current BIOS is 1720 with ME 1735. I don't know if the BIOS is a modification of 1720 or not). As far as I tested, the .cap file works no problem with EZ Flash, my Thunderbolt firmware went back to NVM 31, and my Focusrite interface went back alive! For me, I probably would not attempt to update BIOS and ME afterwards (in order to mantain compatibility). Regaring Asus HK, I could not appreciate more for their diligence and helpful service.
Welcome to the forum, and thanks for a very valuable contribution! You set a high bar for first post. This is a very important warning for all users of old Thunderbolt 1/2 devices with any motherboard featuring Maple Ridge—not just Asus.

The other question I have is: what about nvm38 for z790? In my testing, the same buggy mess that we experienced with z690 nvm36 is also present in nvm38. At least for z690 it appears we can downgrade back to nvm31. But what about z790? For those experiencing problems there’s no nvm to downgrade back to…
Based on this report, you could contact Asus, explain your issue… and hope you'll get a custom NVM-downgrade BIOS for the Z790 ProArt.
Or maybe a sorcerer (@Elias64Fr ? @CaseySJ ?) can extract just the code to downgrade to NVM31 from the 9901 BIOS?
 
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If intel can’t implement Tthunderbolt properly, then perhaps it is time to sunset it and turn development over to a different entity. Titan Ridge worked well enough but Maple Ridge has been very problematic.

Perhaps alternate USB4 implementations from non-Intel vendors might result in improved compatibility and stability.
Uhm... it's not so simple... Asus Titan Ridge EX3 is one of the "hardest" card to flash with modded firmware, and the only viable solution it's been CG Titan Ridge so far. Which is - to my little understanding - the last one which ensures full compatibility with Mac's implementation, if flashed.

Asus Ex4, which is Maple Ridge, doesn't have any modded firmware just because Apple is not using Intel's chips anymore, and I really don't know any other vendors in the Intel world - where we live - that have some USB4 card with full Thunderbolt capabilities.
 
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Will you try it on your machine? I was thinking that - just maybe - if it's a special bios perhaps has to possibility to be installed even in 2xxx systems, taking them backwards where the compatibility issues are far less in general and not only regarding the Thunderbold devices.
 
Some kind of conspiracy by myself:
1. If I'm not mistaken, Apple's Thunderbolt controller is in the SoC. The achievement of developing their own controller may speak of the desire to integrate everything into the SoC as much as the will to remove dependency from Intel.

2. Planned obsolescence is indeed a plausible explanation. A more benign option would be that Intel simply wants to reduce its development and validation costs by eliminating testing with older devices.

3. I suspect that manufacturers just push through whatever updated code comes from Intel.
If so, there's still hope that complaints may be answered by options to downgrade.

Perhaps alternate USB4 implementations from non-Intel vendors might result in improved compatibility and stability.
How many implementations are there, beside Intel's and Apple's?
If Intel were to drop development, I'd rather expect Thunderbolt to quickly fall into oblivion.
 
1. If I'm not mistaken, Apple's Thunderbolt controller is in the SoC. The achievement of developing their own controller may speak of the desire to integrate everything into the SoC as much as the will to remove dependency from Intel.

2. Planned obsolescence is indeed a plausible explanation. A more benign option would be that Intel simply wants to reduce its development and validation costs by eliminating testing with older devices.

3. I suspect that manufacturers just push through whatever updated code comes from Intel.
If so, there's still hope that complaints may be answered by options to downgrade.


How many implementations are there, beside Intel's and Apple's?
If Intel were to drop development, I'd rather expect Thunderbolt to quickly fall into oblivion.
I want Intel to win. I've been rooting for it to come back.

But TB4 on z590 had all sorts of ho tplug and compatibility problems. Which were never resolved.

And while z690 nvm31 was mostly fine initially (except for hot plugging not working for jhl6240 devices), nvm36 is causing major widespread issues according to my ongoing technical support with Asus. No resolution yet. These are production nvms with major problems. Ruining user experiences. Causing plenty of frustration.

My attitude is if you’re going to be a steward of a technology like Thunderbolt, then, in my opinion, you have to do serious QA. With nvm36, since the tb controller dies during sleep/wake, I’ve lost an nvme drive. SMART errors. First ever nvme drive I’ve ever lost. Luckily it was a relatively empty test drive. But it could’ve been a drive with terabytes of data including source code or music. I know we ought to have backups yes and I do, but this is a severe issue in my opinion. Why did intel feel the need to release nvm36?

Asmedia has been rumored to be releasing the ASM4242 USB4 controller.
 
Why did intel feel the need to release nvm36
I’m not exactly sure what I started on when I bought this board, but I am booted in Windows now and just checked. I am now showing NVM 38.0 on Z790 ProArt. o_O
 
I’m not exactly sure what I started on when I bought this board but I am booted in windows now and just checked, and I am now showing NVM 38.0 on Z790 ProArt. o_O
Z690 started on nvm31 and BIOS 2204 updated it to nvm36. With all the widespread problems it now appears 9901 is rolling it back to 31. Z790 launched with nvm38.
 
"Never attribute to malignancy what could be explained by stupidity."

1. If I'm not mistaken, Apple's Thunderbolt controller is in the SoC. The achievement of developing their own controller may speak of the desire to integrate everything into the SoC as much as the will to remove dependency from Intel.

2. Planned obsolescence is indeed a plausible explanation. A more benign option would be that Intel simply wants to reduce its development and validation costs by eliminating testing with older devices.

3. I suspect that manufacturers just push through whatever updated code comes from Intel.
If so, there's still hope that complaints may be answered by options to downgrade.
Maybe you're right. I'm actually a kind of pessimistic person, hhh.

Whatever, I sincerely hope that the new BIOS can help the talents in Hackintosh community for research. It is already proven that a seperate shell efi tool for TB FW update can be extracted from the motherboards' BIOS by @Elias64Fr (check #412, page 42).Before the final reply from Asus HK, I spent days trying to modify the efi, skip version check, but failed. I've never learnt about x86 assembly codes, efi structure and reverse-enginnering. My goal far exceeds my ability.

Theoretically, a TB firmware flash efi can be made, not only for Z690 Proart, but for all Asus motherboards with JHL8540 controller intergrated. For Z790 motherboards (like Z790 Proart), it seems Asus did not even provide an official BIOS with NVM 31. This would be a chance to solve compatibility issues for those part of users.

Btw, I would be greatful of anyone can share some materials for self-learning efi related things. These things are really hard to collect. Maybe one day I will be able to solve problem like this independently.
 
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