Consider this a challenge if you will:
I originally had a
GTX 560 and Asus P8Z77-V LK motherboard. I run an Intel Core-i5 3570k, and have
16 gigs of corsair vengeance, along with a 600 GB Western Digital Green Power hard drive on a Thermaltake TR-2 600W PSU
My system worked fine for two months since I built it, until one day, in a game of Dota 2, my screen went black, and didn't come back on. I was forced to restart my system.
My video never came back on for that card, or the replacement 760 I bought assuming the card went dead. Booting with the monitor plugged into the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics works fine, after an automatic driver install. Unfortunately, this doesn't give me the performance I need for my hardcore gaming sessions.
Even after wiping the Intel HD graphics and reinstalling Nvidia's, the cards are completely skipped over in the boot process, in favor of outputting video through the integrated video (Intel 4000). I returned the GTX 760 after realizing it wasn't needed.
Running out of options, I look through the mobo manual one more time to see if I missed anything. Several settings catch my attention, regarding priority over PCI and IGD. I switched the graphics boot priority to [PCI], as opposed to [AUTO], saved, and exit. At no point in the boot process was a signal reaching my monitor when the cable was plugged into the dedicated graphics card. Restarting my computer with the cable in integrated port reveals that the setting reverts to [AUTO] in bios.
I update bios hoping it's just a bios bug. It could still be, but even the latest bios does not solve my the issue.
It's at this point I assume (wrongly) that the board's PCI slots on the motherboard itself are defective, and request RMA, after verifying that none of the other slots work either.
Now, I don't want to be out of a PC for a couple weeks, so I decide to purchase (planning to return later), a new motherboard (MSi Z77 A-G45). Unexpectedly, (again, after removing all old drivers and installing fresh new ones--chipset, audio, everything), the issue persists. The same bios settings are available (although under slightly different titles) and they do not fix the issue.
The problem is not tied to drivers, as they are all up to date, wiped, and resintalled as several graphics card upgrades in the past have taught me.
The problem is not related to my graphics card hardware, as both the 560 and 760 had the same issue.
The problem is not related to the motherboard or bios settings, as both motherboards with up to date bios had the same issue.
The problem may be related to the PSU, however, the GPUs fans spin, telling me they're receiving power, and the rest of the system is very stable. 600 watts should be enough for my mid-range gaming build (graphics cards both suggest between 450-550 watt PSUs. I have several USB gaming peripherals drawing some power as well. [UPDATE: Since drafting this, I've upgraded my PSU to a corsair RM650. This is more than plenty of power for my system, and still, no dice.]
After using various calculators, I've determined that I should be well within wattage budget, and that there is ample amperage on the 12 volt rails to power the cards.
What then, could be causing this issue?
It's not the bios, it's not the card, it's not the power, it's not the motherboard.
Intel Processor Diagnostic passes in all fields.
The motherboard and processor socket have been inspected for bent pins. There are none. Processor temps are also well within safe levels under load, according to 'Core Temp' utility.
I don't know if RAM could cause an issue. It's a pretty specific, and weird issue for RAM to conflict with. Same with the harddrive.
I'm at my wits end. Please help.
I originally had a
GTX 560 and Asus P8Z77-V LK motherboard. I run an Intel Core-i5 3570k, and have
16 gigs of corsair vengeance, along with a 600 GB Western Digital Green Power hard drive on a Thermaltake TR-2 600W PSU
My system worked fine for two months since I built it, until one day, in a game of Dota 2, my screen went black, and didn't come back on. I was forced to restart my system.
My video never came back on for that card, or the replacement 760 I bought assuming the card went dead. Booting with the monitor plugged into the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics works fine, after an automatic driver install. Unfortunately, this doesn't give me the performance I need for my hardcore gaming sessions.
Even after wiping the Intel HD graphics and reinstalling Nvidia's, the cards are completely skipped over in the boot process, in favor of outputting video through the integrated video (Intel 4000). I returned the GTX 760 after realizing it wasn't needed.
Running out of options, I look through the mobo manual one more time to see if I missed anything. Several settings catch my attention, regarding priority over PCI and IGD. I switched the graphics boot priority to [PCI], as opposed to [AUTO], saved, and exit. At no point in the boot process was a signal reaching my monitor when the cable was plugged into the dedicated graphics card. Restarting my computer with the cable in integrated port reveals that the setting reverts to [AUTO] in bios.
I update bios hoping it's just a bios bug. It could still be, but even the latest bios does not solve my the issue.
It's at this point I assume (wrongly) that the board's PCI slots on the motherboard itself are defective, and request RMA, after verifying that none of the other slots work either.
Now, I don't want to be out of a PC for a couple weeks, so I decide to purchase (planning to return later), a new motherboard (MSi Z77 A-G45). Unexpectedly, (again, after removing all old drivers and installing fresh new ones--chipset, audio, everything), the issue persists. The same bios settings are available (although under slightly different titles) and they do not fix the issue.
The problem is not tied to drivers, as they are all up to date, wiped, and resintalled as several graphics card upgrades in the past have taught me.
The problem is not related to my graphics card hardware, as both the 560 and 760 had the same issue.
The problem is not related to the motherboard or bios settings, as both motherboards with up to date bios had the same issue.
The problem may be related to the PSU, however, the GPUs fans spin, telling me they're receiving power, and the rest of the system is very stable. 600 watts should be enough for my mid-range gaming build (graphics cards both suggest between 450-550 watt PSUs. I have several USB gaming peripherals drawing some power as well. [UPDATE: Since drafting this, I've upgraded my PSU to a corsair RM650. This is more than plenty of power for my system, and still, no dice.]
After using various calculators, I've determined that I should be well within wattage budget, and that there is ample amperage on the 12 volt rails to power the cards.
What then, could be causing this issue?
It's not the bios, it's not the card, it's not the power, it's not the motherboard.
Intel Processor Diagnostic passes in all fields.
The motherboard and processor socket have been inspected for bent pins. There are none. Processor temps are also well within safe levels under load, according to 'Core Temp' utility.
I don't know if RAM could cause an issue. It's a pretty specific, and weird issue for RAM to conflict with. Same with the harddrive.
I'm at my wits end. Please help.