LGA1151 Coffee Mod: Step-by-Step Guide with CoffeeTime 0.99

Socket 1151 is one of Intel’s most successful and long-lived sockets. It first appeared in 2015, and Intel supported it through 2020. Four CPU generations ran on LGA1151, and many SKUs are still fairly relevant.

Unlike most previous sockets, LGA1151 has two hardware-incompatible versions (often referred to as v1 and v2). While both versions share the same pin count and layout, they differ electrically: the first version supports 6th and 7th gen (Skylake and Kaby Lake), while the second supports 8th and 9th gen (Coffee Lake and Coffee Lake Refresh).

Enthusiasts quickly began looking for ways to overcome this limitation. It didn’t take long to discover they’re not so incompatible after all. After many experiments, it became clear that unsupported CPUs can be made to run on both LGA1151 v1 and v2. This process is called the Coffee Mod and requires both software and (sometimes) hardware modding. In this guide, we’ll go over the specifics and pitfalls of the Coffee Mod in detail.

With the Coffee Mod you can:

• Run Coffee Lake processors on 100- and 200-series motherboards
• Run Skylake/Kaby Lake processors on some 300-series boards
• Run Xeon processors on desktop boards
• Run modified mobile processors (“mutants”) on 100, 200, and some 300-series boards
• Run the Intel CC150 on 100- and 200-series boards

All processors for the LGA1151 socket and their specifications can be found here. For the wider picture, including when an upgrade isn’t worth it, see our LGA1151 upgrade guide.

Download CoffeeTime 0.99

📥 Download CoffeeTime 0.99 (ZIP, ~70 MB)

Antivirus software often flags BIOS tools like this one. If that worries you, run it on a spare PC or in a virtual machine: CoffeeTime only edits the BIOS file and doesn’t touch the board. You flash the result separately.

Will it work on your board and CPU?

Check this before buying anything.

Chipsets

Z170 and Z270 boards from the big brands are the safest choice. Z170 and Z270 are also the only 100/200-series chipsets that can overclock.

Other things that can rule your board out:

• OEM PCs (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Fujitsu and similar). Treat these as a gamble. Many have Intel Boot Guard, which rejects a modified BIOS, or firmware that CoffeeTime can’t patch properly. The mod is really aimed at retail boards.
• No BIOS with Kaby Lake support. The BIOS you modify must already support Kaby Lake. If your board never got one, the Coffee Lake route won’t work. In CoffeeTime, a grey PCIe patch can be a sign of this.
• A weak VRM. The mod can make a CPU boot, but it can’t add power phases. See which CPU makes sense for your board.

What each route needs

Xeon on 300-series boards is less tested than the other routes, so don’t count on it working on your exact board.

What you’ll need for the mod

CoffeeTime utility

We’ll use the CoffeeTime utility, a graphical tool for modifying LGA1151 firmware.

With version 0.99 you can:

• Replace the Intel ME firmware and disable ME through the HAP bit
• Update VBIOS and GOP versions
• Update CPU microcodes
• Apply platform compatibility patches
• Apply various additional tweaks and mods
• Do all of this in a graphical interface

Stock BIOS and BIOS dump

We will also need a stock BIOS image to modify. Start from the image on the official vendor site, usually the latest version for your board (the exception is a Xeon on an ASUS 100-series board: see the Xeon section). On a 100/200-series board, it must be a version that supports Kaby Lake. Your own dump is mainly a source for the data unique to your board.

How to make a dump

A programmer reads the whole chip, whatever the locks, so it’s the most reliable way. From Windows you can use Intel FPT v11. Open a command prompt as administrator in the WIN64 folder of FPT and run the command you need:

SPI programmer

Although some boards can be flashed in software, we strongly recommend getting a programmer. If something goes wrong, it’s the reliable way to bring the board back to life.

Must-have Tool

If you experiment with BIOS or work with computer hardware, there’s one tool worth keeping close at hand — the CH341A programmer. It allows you to directly read and flash SPI BIOS chips, often saving motherboards after a failed update.

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CoffeeTime interface, settings, and features

When you open the utility, it prompts you to specify the path to the desired BIOS. Select the file and click Continue. Hover over any button to see a tooltip.

After a short loading period, you’ll land on the main screen. This is where the main actions are performed.

At the very top you’ll see information about the board, chipset, BIOS version, and date.

Working with Intel ME

Intel Management Engine (ME) is a separate microcontroller inside the chipset that runs even before the main BIOS. It handles platform initialization, CPU and PCH compatibility checks, security, and many other low-level tasks.

In CoffeeTime 0.99, when choosing ME, you can select from four options: 11.0.0.1168 and 11.7.0.1229 (Consumer, full) or 11.7.0.3307 and 11.8.77.3664 (Corporate, cut). In almost all mods we’ll use a cut Corporate version and then set ME to Disabled through the HAP bit.

In the highlighted area you can see the ME version and its status (Enabled/Disabled).

To change the ME version, click the three dots, then select the desired version in the drop-down list and press Replace.

To disable ME, click the icon next to the status.

In CoffeeTime, Intel ME isn’t removed completely; it’s disabled by setting the HAP bit in the firmware: on startup the system initializes ME as usual, but then it’s immediately put into an inactive state and stops performing its functions. This has two side effects: the PC may take a few seconds longer to boot, and Intel PTT stops working (see Windows 11 and TPM).

Working with VBIOS and GOP

VBIOS is the “video BIOS” of Intel’s integrated graphics (iGPU). It’s a small firmware module that provides basic functions for screen initialization, resolution settings, timings, etc. It runs in legacy mode (16-bit code) and is needed when the motherboard BIOS is in CSM (Compatibility Support Module) mode.

GOP (Graphics Output Protocol) is a modern UEFI driver for the Intel iGPU. It replaces the old VBIOS in pure UEFI mode (without CSM). GOP runs in protected 32/64-bit mode, initializes display output faster, supports high resolutions, and doesn’t require legacy compatibility. This is what most modern systems use when booting Windows 10/11 in UEFI mode.

For the Coffee Lake iGPU to work correctly on 100/200-series boards, you need at least VBIOS 1054 and GOP 9.0.1068 (P0 and R0 CPUs may need VBIOS 1059 or newer). We recommend the newest versions CoffeeTime offers: VBIOS 1062 and GOP 9.0.1107.
Conversely, when running Skylake or Kaby Lake on 300-series boards, updating VBIOS and GOP is usually unnecessary.

In the highlighted area you can see the current VBIOS and GOP versions in our BIOS.

Changing versions is the same as with ME. First click the three dots, then select the required version from the drop-down list and press Replace.

Microcodes

Microcodes are patches for the CPU’s internal ROM. These are small updates Intel creates to fix CPU bugs and improve compatibility. When modifying the BIOS, it’s important to add the correct microcodes for the chosen generation, otherwise the processor may fail to initialize.

In the highlighted area you can see the microcodes present in the BIOS.

Replacing microcodes is similar: click the three dots, choose the necessary microcode versions, and click Replace.

How many microcodes fit depends on the BIOS, and CoffeeTime shows the free space. If there’s room, it makes sense to keep the microcodes for the board’s native CPUs, even if you don’t plan to use them soon. At a minimum, add the microcode of the new CPU. Also keep the microcode of the CPU that’s in the board now, so you can make sure it boots before you swap CPUs.

Which microcodes are needed for LGA1151 processors

• 506E3 — retail 6th-gen Skylake processors
• 506E8 — engineering 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors (e.g., QL2X, QL3X)
• 906E9 — retail 7th-gen Kaby Lake processors
• 906EA — retail/engineering 8th/9th-gen Coffee Lake (6-core die, e.g., QNCT, QNVH)
• 906EB — retail/engineering 8th/9th-gen Coffee Lake (4-core die)
• 906EC — retail/engineering 9th-gen Coffee Lake Refresh (P0 revision, e.g., QQLT, QQLS)
• 906ED — retail/engineering 9th-gen Coffee Lake Refresh (R0 revision, e.g., QTJ2, QTJ1, QTJ0, SRFD0/9980HK)

CoffeeTime 0.99’s built-in microcodes are mostly revision EA. To use newer ones, download them from the CPUMicrocodes repository and put the files in the data\custom folder of CoffeeTime.

Patches and fixes

The highlighted area shows the patches and fixes: applied items are green, the rest are red; a grey item isn’t available for this BIOS. Some may be applied by default.

Patch descriptions:

• PCIe (PCIe x16 patch) — Fixes PCIe slot initialization when installing Coffee Lake (8th/9th-gen) CPUs on older 100/200-series boards. Removes the host-bridge Device ID check in the CPU. Without it, the graphics card often doesn’t work in the x16 slot.
• SKU hack — Hacks SKU identification so the platform accepts 6-core and larger dies. Required for U0, P0 and R0 CPUs.
• Sync cores — Syncs the frequency of cores 5–8 with the other cores to reach full performance.
• Init 8+ CPUs — Lets the system initialize more than 8 CPU threads. Required for all CPUs with more than 8 threads, except on MSI boards (see the note in the mutants section).
• ACPI tables — Patches ACPI tables (DSDT/SSDT, etc.) so power and performance features (C-states, thermal control, throttling) work correctly with more than 8 threads. Required for all CPUs with more than 8 threads, except on MSI boards (see the note in the mutants section).

Fix descriptions:

• 16t support — Adds support for 12- and 16-thread CPUs and is required for them. On MSI 100-series BIOSes it also fixes the module that stops 6-core CPUs from starting.
• PCIe 1440 — Fixes the PCIe lanes for BGA1440 mutants. Only the 6-core/12-thread ones need it (QNCT, QQLT, QTJ2).
• NO_CAP fix — For ASUS 100-series BIOSes (versions 1xxx and 2xxx): stops the board from getting stuck on a .cap image request after ME is replaced. It won’t help if the board already shows that request; flash any original BIOS first.
• ME Recovery — Removes the ME recovery module, which can block booting without the original ME on some ASUS and Gigabyte boards.
• FD locks — Unlocks the flash descriptor: removes all hardware write locks on flash regions (ME, GbE, Descriptor, etc.). The unlock lives in the modified file, so it only takes effect after that file is on the chip: it doesn’t help you write that file to a locked board. This fix also cures the “one-boot bug” with Coffee Lake Xeons on some ASUS 100-series boards.

Personal Data

This section allows you to transfer MAC addresses and unique identifiers from the original BIOS into the modified one. Do it on any ASUS board and on any board with an Intel NIC. On other boards you can skip it.

Open the stock BIOS in CoffeeTime first, then load your backup in this section: a full dump, or the BIOS-region file for the S/N and UUID. Don’t open a BIOS-region file as the main file. A full dump can be a base, but the stock image is the cleaner start. The MAC can also be typed in by hand, or taken from the running PC if that’s the board you’re modding.

EXTRA tab

“Other” section:

• MSI abnormal ME warning — Removes the ME abnormal warning on MSI boards with ME disabled.
• Clevo auto shutdown fix — Special fix for Clevo Z370. Removes the automatic shutdown when ME is disabled.
• RAM 128Gb support — Unlocks support for up to 128 GB of RAM.
• SPD Write Protection — Removes write protection from SPD (data on memory modules). This lets software write to the SPD chip.
• HEX to DEC CPU count — Converts the core/thread count display from hexadecimal to decimal in BIOS Setup (so instead of “0xA” it shows “10”, etc.). Cosmetic patch only.

“NVRAM” section:

• BIOS lock — Sets the default state of the BIOS lock. When it’s on, FPT stops with Error 368.
• HT (Hyper-Threading) — Sets the default state of Hyper-Threading.
• Default RAM frequency — Allows you to set the memory frequency that will be used by default on first boot or after clearing CMOS.

Pinmod and Coffee Lake CPU revisions

Pinmod is the isolation and bridging of contacts on the bottom of the CPU. Pinmod is required to run Coffee Lake CPUs (U0, P0, R0 revisions) on 100- and 200-series boards; in other scenarios it isn’t needed.

Isolation is done with Kapton tape, or with electrical tape if that’s all you have. The bridge is made with metallized tape or foil on double-sided tape, or with a pencil as a temporary solution.

Which contacts to bridge and isolate

It depends on who made your board:

The CoffeeTime pinmod map below also says you can do all the colors for the best compatibility, so that’s the option if your vendor isn’t listed. Isolating the yellow area is optional: the community guide to the mod hasn’t found a board that requires it.

IMPORTANT: Be meticulous when doing the pinmod. Incorrect connections or a bridge that shifts unexpectedly can damage the CPU or motherboard components.

What happens if it goes wrong:

• No bridge on a board that needs it: the board won’t power on. The bridge connects #SKTOCC to ground, which is how the board knows a CPU is installed.
• The bridge shifts and touches other contacts: the system may not start, and in rare cases the iGPU or DDR memory channels can be damaged.
• Contacts not isolated, or the tape moved: the matching socket pin can burn out like a fuse. The system keeps working, but the pin is gone.
• Gigabyte, red area not isolated: the socket pins survive, but one CPU power phase on the board burns out.

Key points for the pinmod:

• For B0 revision CPUs, no pinmod is required.
• The simplest way to make a bridge is to stick a small strip of kitchen foil onto double-sided tape. Conductive tape or conductive glue will also work. As a temporary solution, a soft pencil will do — draw a trace between the required contacts.
• Make sure the bridge doesn’t move when you close the socket latch and doesn’t touch other contacts.
• For isolation, use Kapton tape or acrylic lacquer. Electrical tape works too, but is less convenient to use.
• Do not use nail polish for isolation — it’s not durable or heat-resistant enough.
• Before applying tape or installing the CPU, wipe the pads with an alcohol wipe.

Additionally: LGA1151 pinout diagrams

Coffee Lake CPU revisions

There are four Coffee Lake revisions. The revision determines whether a pinmod is needed, and each revision requires specific microcodes. Note that some models exist in multiple revisions. To tell them apart, check the S-spec printed on the CPU lid and find it in the table below.

• B0 revision — microcode 906EB, uses a 4-core die and the “old” Kaby Lake substrate. The only revision that doesn’t require a pinmod.
• U0 revision — microcode 906EA, uses a 6-core die, pinmod required.
• P0 revision — microcode 906EC, uses an 8-core die, pinmod required.
• R0 revision — microcode 906ED, uses an 8-core die; visually the substrate doesn’t differ from P0, so check the S-spec on the lid against the table below. Pinmod is required.

Running Coffee Lake CPUs on 100- and 200-series motherboards

Key points:

• You can run Coffee Lake (Refresh) processors on most retail boards with a 100- or 200-series chipset.
• You can run both retail and engineering CPU versions.
• On a modified BIOS, retail Skylake and Kaby Lake will still work if you keep their microcodes (506E3 and 906E9 respectively).
• iGPU, PCIe x16, and NVMe normally keep working after the mod. If NVMe boot disappears, see Troubleshooting.
• After modification, overclocking rules don’t change: a Z-series chipset is required to overclock K-series CPUs and RAM. On other chipsets, memory runs at the CPU’s rated speed: up to DDR4-2666, or DDR4-2400 on models rated for it, such as the i3-8100.
• Coffee Lake works with DDR3 and DDR3L memory; prefer 1.35 V DDR3L.

Workflow: determine CPU revision > dump your BIOS and save your MAC > modify the stock BIOS > flash it with your old CPU still installed and make sure it boots > do the pinmod (not on B0) > install the new CPU > clear CMOS > boot

CoffeeTime settings

What to change:

• Change ME version to 11.8.77.3664 (on ASUS, 11.7.0.3307 is the safer choice if you might need to downgrade ME later)
• Switch ME to Disabled
• Update GOP and VBIOS to the latest versions
• Apply the patches and fixes for your CPU (see their descriptions above)
• On Gigabyte and some ASUS boards, apply the ME Recovery fix; on ASUS 100-series boards with a 1xxx or 2xxx BIOS, also apply the NO_CAP fix
• Add the necessary microcodes
• Transfer personal data (ASUS boards and boards with an Intel NIC)

Which CPU makes sense for your board

Boards in these series were designed for 4-core CPUs, so the VRM usually decides how far you can go, not the mod.

• Good Z170 and Z270 boards: most can run 8 cores at around 4.2–4.5 GHz. Pushing an i9-9900K harder takes a top-end board and active VRM cooling.
• H110, B150 and other budget boards: stay with 4- and 6-core non-K chips, and set a power limit if the VRM gets hot. Check the VRM of your exact board first.

For specs of every model, see our complete LGA1151 CPU list. For VRM, power limit and cooling advice, see the common upgrade pitfalls.

Running Skylake/Kaby Lake CPUs on 300-series boards

The reverse process — running older CPUs on newer boards — isn’t as popular, but it’s possible. The main limitation: it only works on Z370, B365, and H310C (H310 R2.0) chipsets. All other 300-series boards won’t work with older processors. Even on models with compatible chipsets you can’t be 100% sure everything will work; in some cases there may be issues with XMP, Turbo Boost, or overclocking.

Why only these three chipsets? Z370, B365, and H310C are the 22-nm chipsets of the 300 series. They run ME 11, the firmware family Skylake and Kaby Lake need; the 14-nm 300-series chipsets use ME 12. Only these three allow the ME downgrade, which is why CoffeeTime can patch their BIOS.

Workflow: dump your BIOS and save your MAC > modify the stock BIOS > flash it with your old CPU still installed and make sure it boots > install the new CPU > clear CMOS > boot

CoffeeTime settings

What to change:

• Change ME version to 11.7.0.3307
• Switch ME to Disabled
• On Gigabyte and some ASUS boards, apply the ME Recovery fix
• Add the necessary microcodes
• Transfer personal data (ASUS boards and boards with an Intel NIC)

Running Xeon E3 v5/v6 and Xeon E-2100/E-2200

Server processors for LGA1151 are not very different from desktop ones. Architecturally they mirror the desktop Core SKUs based on Skylake (v5), Kaby Lake (v6), Coffee Lake (E-2100) and Coffee Lake Refresh (E-2200). These models support ECC memory and Intel vPro and TXT (Trusted Execution Technology), but on consumer chipsets don’t count on ECC or vPro working. Intel deliberately restricted server processors from running on consumer motherboards. These Xeons are officially intended only for workstation chipsets (C232/C236 for v5/v6 and C242/C246 for E-2100/E-2200).

Learn more about the Xeon E3 v5 and v6 series.

Getting them to run on regular boards is relatively straightforward. The steps match retail CPUs of the same architecture: for E-2100/E-2200 on 100- and 200-series boards, use the Coffee Lake settings; for E3 v5/v6 on Z370, B365 or H310C, use the Skylake/Kaby Lake settings; for E-2100/E-2200 on those boards, change ME as described below and add the microcodes. On Z370, B365 and H310C, also apply the PCIe x16 patch, which CoffeeTime switches to Xeon mode on these boards. For E3 v5/v6 on 100- and 200-series boards, follow the screenshot below. Whenever you replace ME for a Xeon, also apply the board-specific fixes: ME Recovery on Gigabyte and some ASUS boards, and NO_CAP on ASUS 100-series boards with a 1xxx or 2xxx BIOS. With any Xeon, use ME 11.6–11.8 Corporate and set it to Disabled, so Intel PTT won’t work.

ASUS 100-series boards have two separate Xeon problems. With a 3xxx BIOS, a 12-thread Xeon may boot only once (the one-boot bug): a 2xxx BIOS avoids this, and the FD locks fix also cures it on some boards. With a 2xxx BIOS and ME disabled, many top-end boards, such as the Maximus VIII series, Z170-Deluxe and Z170-A, were reported not to boot at all, with no fix known.

Don’t forget that running Xeon E-2100/E-2200 on LGA1151 v1 also requires a pinmod. On Z370, B365 and H310C boards you don’t need a pinmod, but you still need the modified BIOS.

Check the PCIe slots after the first boot, especially with E-2100/E-2200 chips. Some users report x16 slots not working with these CPUs on Z370 and B365 boards.

Running “mutant” CPUs

These models were originally designed for laptops using BGA1440, but aftermarket manufacturers adapted them for desktop motherboards using special interposer/adapter boards. There are Frankensteins built on all “native” 1151 architectures: Skylake, Kaby Lake, and Coffee Lake (Refresh).

We have a dedicated article about BGA1440 mutants for the LGA1151 platform.

Workflow: dump your BIOS and save your MAC > modify the stock BIOS > flash it with your old CPU still installed and make sure it boots > install the new CPU > clear CMOS > boot

Key points:

• No pinmod is required
• They can run on all 100- and 200-series chipsets; only the Z370, B365, and H310C chipsets are compatible from the 300-series lineup
• These CPUs are more finicky (especially ES models); success isn’t guaranteed
• It’s recommended to perform the first boot with one memory module, and it should support the stock frequency for your mutant

Which settings are needed in CoffeeTime?

Base settings are identical to retail CPUs of the same architecture: set ME to 11.6–11.8 Corporate, disable it, add microcodes, and update VBIOS and GOP where the retail route calls for it.

Important: The PCIe 1440 fix is a must for 6-core/12-thread mutants (QNCT, QQLT, QTJ2). It’s best to apply all other patches and fixes as well, even if enabling them may not seem strictly necessary. The exception is MSI: CoffeeTime blocked Init 8+ and ACPI tables there as useless and potentially harmful (the ACPI patch could break the BIOS). Version 0.99 has a corrected ACPI patch for MSI 100-series boards only, so don’t force these patches if CoffeeTime doesn’t offer them. Also, it’s recommended to set memory frequency to 2133 MHz on the EXTRA tab to avoid RAM issues on first boot.

Flashing the mod BIOS

Once the BIOS is modified, save it as .bin and flash it. The mod needs the BIOS and ME regions written. U0, P0 and R0 CPUs also need the flash descriptor. So does setting ME to Disabled: CoffeeTime uses the HAP bit, which is stored in the descriptor. The exception is a B0 CPU on a board that already has a suitable ME (11.0.x.Nxxx to 11.7.x.Nxxx, where N isn’t 3), if you leave that ME unchanged and enabled: there the BIOS region alone is enough.

• Avoid built-in BIOS flash utilities for modded images; they often fail or may even soft-brick the board.
• Some boards can be flashed in software (usually via Intel FPT v11 or AFU 3.05.04) — typically Gigabyte, MSI, and Maxsun models.
• Most models from ASUS, ASRock, Biostar, and many other vendors block writes to the FD and ME regions, so for these it’s best to use an SPI programmer (mind the voltage: see our CH341A voltage fix). ASUS boards also have a BIOS lock.
• AFU won’t tell you if it skipped a locked region: a successful run doesn’t prove ME was written.

There’s no 100% guarantee the board will boot successfully after flashing. Even if your board can be flashed in software, we still strongly recommend having an SPI programmer on hand. It’s the only method that works on every board, and if something goes wrong, returning to stock BIOS is usually only possible with it.

After a software flash, don’t simply restart: it can brick the board. Run fptw64 -greset. If it gives an error, which is normal when ME is disabled, shut down, unplug the PC from the wall and remove the battery for a few minutes. After any flash, be sure to clear CMOS — for example, with the CLR_CMOS jumper or by cutting power and removing the battery for a few minutes.

First boot

• Before the first start with the new CPU, fully power off the board for a short time and clear CMOS again.
• Check that all cables and devices are connected correctly.
• If the PC starts, just wait: the time to first image output can be quite long. The system may also reboot by itself several times.
• Be sure to check all voltage readings and test system stability and temperatures in stress tests, games, and benchmarks. Cinebench shows peak power draw well, and OCCT is good for stability.
• Set PL1 and PL2 (Long and Short Duration Power Limit) in the BIOS if the VRM is getting hot or clocks drop under load.

For ASUS motherboard owners:

On ASUS boards, check voltages manually after the Coffee Mod. In Auto, VCore can run too high (up to 1.5 V).

It’s recommended to set IA AC Load Line and IA DC Load Line to 0.01.

Windows 11 and TPM after the mod

Windows 10 runs fine after the mod. With Windows 11, the CPU check passes on retail 8th- and 9th-gen chips, but the TPM check is a problem. Intel PTT, the firmware TPM on these boards, runs on ME. Disable ME and PTT stops working, even if the option still shows up in the BIOS.

If ME is disabled, you have two options:

• Install a discrete TPM 2.0 module, if your board has a TPM header. Check that it works with tpm.msc.
• Skip the requirement: Rufus can do this when it writes the Windows 11 USB drive.

Troubleshooting

If the system doesn’t start after flashing:

• Make sure you cleared CMOS via the jumper or by removing the battery
• Try booting with one memory module
• If you did a pinmod, double-check it was done correctly
• Make sure ME was actually written: a software flash can skip a locked region. This is a common cause when the board still runs the old CPU.

If it still doesn’t start:

• Try a different ME version in CoffeeTime (ME 11.0 is only for Coffee Lake on 100/200-series boards and may limit RAM to 16 GB; Xeons and mutants need 11.6–11.8 Corporate)
• Try modifying a different BIOS version

The PC starts, but there’s no image (CPU with iGPU):

• Make sure you updated VBIOS and GOP versions
• Try other versions, e.g., VBIOS 1059 (P0 and R0 CPUs may need 1059 or newer; some ASRock H110 boards work with 1054 but not with 1059)

If NVMe boot disappeared after flashing the mod BIOS:

• If the drive is already GPT, just switch to UEFI mode. If it’s MBR, boot from a Windows USB drive, open the command prompt, find the drive number with diskpart (list disk), then run mbr2gpt /validate /disk:N and mbr2gpt /convert /disk:N (back up first), and switch to UEFI mode. The drive still won’t appear in the BIOS drive list, but Windows Boot Manager will be selectable as a boot device.

If the graphics card drops out or PCIe misbehaves:

• Early P0 engineering samples (QQC0, QQBZ, QQBY, QQM5, QQM6) may have a faulty PCIe controller. If you buy one, test PCIe before you confirm delivery.
• With a Xeon, check every x16 slot: one user with an E-2246G on B365 lost one slot, and later the second.

If the board won’t start with XMP or a memory overclock:

• On ASUS boards, try setting both Boot Voltage VCCIO and Boot Voltage System Agent to 1.1 V or 1.2 V.
• Non-K engineering samples have memory limits: U0 up to 2666 MHz, P0 up to 3333 MHz.

Useful links

• Win-Raid (Main International Forum)
  • Easy Automated Mod Tool for Coffee Lake BIOS (Main Thread)
  • Guide: Coffee Lake CPUs on Skylake/Kaby Lake Motherboards
  • Reverse Mod: Skylake/Kaby Lake on 300-series
• Overclockers.ru (Russian Community)
  • BIOS Modification for Coffee Lake (Main Thread)
• Other English Resources
  • Linus Tech Tips — Coffee Lake Guide
• In French
  • HardWare.fr — detailed CoffeeTime tutorial
• Useful Video Guides
  • YouTube: CoffeeTime on ASUS Z170/Z270 (ENG)

Written by

Dmitrii Sadikov

Senior Hardware Specialist proving you don't need top-tier gear to game. Expert in smart upgrades and budget-friendly PC restoration.

Published: March 30, 2026 Updated: November 3, 2026