Most of the time, higher clock is faster.

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Added on December 17, 2012, 11:24 am
I saw this on another website. This trick works perfectly!

u running 4.5 daily? i change it to normal back since not really need 4.5ghz for now

Are you sure that the debug code is 29?
I couldn't find this code in MVG Manual
Or could it be the more common "b2" code which denotes Installation of the PCH Runtime Services and related to RAM.
Try booting with one single module of RAM.

Are you sure that the debug code is 29?
I couldn't find this code in MVG Manual
Or could it be the more common "b2" code which denotes Installation of the PCH Runtime Services and related to RAM.
Try booting with one single module of RAM.

Try to boot with iGPU (without VGA)

Remove any sound card/LAN etc.

Try backflash BIOS method.

1. Download the latest BIOS from Asus website.
2. Format a USB pendrive to FAT32.
3. Extract the BIOS file and rename the file to M5F.CAP.
4. Put the BIOS file on your USB pendrive.
5. Shutdown your system.
6. Connect the USB pendrive to the white USB port.
7. Press the USB BIOS Flashback button/ROG Connect button for three seconds till the LED begins to blink, then release.
8. Wait till the LED stops blinking.
9. Power on your system using the Start button.

What "big GPU" is yours?

Try to boot with iGPU (without VGA)

Remove any sound card/LAN etc.

Try backflash BIOS method.

1. Download the latest BIOS from Asus website.
2. Format a USB pendrive to FAT32.
3. Extract the BIOS file and rename the file to M5F.CAP.
4. Put the BIOS file on your USB pendrive.
5. Shutdown your system.
6. Connect the USB pendrive to the white USB port.
7. Press the USB BIOS Flashback button/ROG Connect button for three seconds till the LED begins to blink, then release.
8. Wait till the LED stops blinking.
9. Power on your system using the Start button.

False sensor? 
No idea on the CPU stepping but from your pic it looks like Intel is going to release C3 stepping.
So far we only have details on the Z87 chipset stepping which will be launched with C1 stepping. C2 stepping which fixed the USB3.0 problem will be in mass production in mid-August.

Sorry I quoted wrongly i was referring to stasio's post earlier.
Alright, I don't know what's wrong with your PC, if not OCed do you have this boot issue.
What did you mean by PC can't start normally? Can post or not?

I think there's no better way than RMA it.

Like raydenex said, you may try another PSU, RAM, GC, or even CPU if you have spare 
Now, two of my 7970s are not working properly, not detected correctly as HD7900 series in device manager, causing sudden shutdown after booting into windows.
I suspect it's either my GC, mobo PCIe slots, or PSU problem.
Good job! We got another success story here.
My chip also has some scratches on PCB, but fortunately it's still alive & rocks.
Pls share some OC results or cooling improvement of the delidded CPU. CLU is the best TIM after CL Pro that I have ever owned. CLU outperforms Arctic MX-4 by 9-10C: Proof
Good luck!
Nice try. But prime95 25.x is kinda old and doesn't have AVX instruction to stress the overclocks accurately.
Without this AVX libraries it's like stressing half of the performance of the Ivy. The latest one is posted in Post#1.

The buzzing noise came from coil whine, which is normal for mos/some PSUs.
I had 4x Corsair AX1200, 2x HX1000, TX750 all suffered from this buzzing sound.
XFX Black 750W and Aerocool Strike X 1100W didn't have this issue.
Can I say this is due to Corsair or OEM poor manufacturing, poor PCB contact, poor soldering & poor glue contact? HAHA

Coincidentally, gold price is also dropping worldwide lol.

How about try Platinum PSU?