1. Overclock wont hold when GPU is installed + can't access BIOS afterward - Need help

JamezL

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Jul 5, 2013
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Hi everyone,

I've recently put together this gaming rig:

Gigabyte AMD Radeon R9 270X 2GB Overclocked Video Card
Intel Core i5 4670K Quad Core LGA 1150 3.4GHz CPU Processor
Corsair Vengeance Low Profile CML8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3
Samsung 840 Pro Series 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive/SSD
Thermaltake Frio Universal CPU Cooler
Thermaltake SMART 650W 80Plus Bronze Power Supply
ASUS Z87-PRO Motherboard


Might I start by saying this is a great bang for buck gaming rig and has plenty of room to move for OC'ing. BF4 on ultra looks amazing even on stock.

However, I've come across a two part problem after overclocking it.

Firstly for some reason when I install the GPU and boot, the display shows no signal and boots straight to windows 8. This is frustrating because for me to access the BIOS I have to do a CMOS reset and then I lose my OC settings.

The second part of my problem, is that when I took out my GPU and fiddled with the OC settings in BIOS running off the iGPU, I could hold a stable OC while stress testing. But whenever I find a stable OC and then go and install my GPU I get a boot to windows and then after a minute it BSOD's - and then low and behold, I have to rest my CMOS because I can't get back into the BIOS with my GPU (see problem above).

Any help is greatly appreciated! :)
Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Pardon me, copied in old part list. Mobo and PSU updated
 
Solution


I'm wondering if it could be that you're using a USB keyboard and that USB during boot is disabled? On MSI boards there is a setting in the BIOS to "Enable Legacy USB". Do you have a USB keyboard? You may want to look for a similar setting in your BIOS and be sure that it is enabled.

Also, with a USB keyboard, be sure that it is plugged into a USB 2.0 port and...

americanbrian

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Your PSU may not be adequate to hold the OC. What are the amps on the 12v rail? Also if you are plugged into HDMI it will boot onto that instead of the DVI/displayport. Unplug your HDMI and you should get the bios up on your monitor...
 

JamezL

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Jul 5, 2013
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Sorry i updated my parts list.

Not sure what the amps were on the 12v rail. I would check but can't get back into the BIOS atm. It is connected via HDMI. So if i connect my PC to monitor via displayport to HDMI the BIOS will show? Its strange because a friend has a similar build with a 7870 and his doesn't boot straight to windows connected via HDMI.
 
First off all. You have a H87 chipset mobo which is NOT CPU overclocking friendly.

WHAT OC method did you follow? The H87 chipset will only allow FSB or bus speed overclocking.

Do not touch FSB or bus speed. That will mess with your PCI-e slot.

EDIT : OK changes seen.

ONLY overclock using the multiplier!
 

JamezL

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Pardon me about the parts list mistake! I never touch the FSB freq. when OC'ing. Only increase the multiplier and then increase the volts by 0.005 until stability is reached :)
 

JamezL

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+12V = 52A
-12V = 0.5A

Edit: has a powerful single 12V rail apparently? "Plus, its powerful single +12V rail ensures a maximum production of 12V power to your CPU"
 

JamezL

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Jul 5, 2013
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"Firstly for some reason when I install the GPU and boot, the display shows no signal and boots straight to windows 8. This is frustrating because for me to access the BIOS I have to do a CMOS reset and then I lose my OC settings."

So I can't access the BIOS while my GPU is installed which is annoying.
 


I'm wondering if it could be that you're using a USB keyboard and that USB during boot is disabled? On MSI boards there is a setting in the BIOS to "Enable Legacy USB". Do you have a USB keyboard? You may want to look for a similar setting in your BIOS and be sure that it is enabled.

Also, with a USB keyboard, be sure that it is plugged into a USB 2.0 port and not 3.0 because the driver for the 3.0 ports doesn't get loaded until Windows boots and so they are effectively disabled until Windows loads.

Yogi

 
Solution

JamezL

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Jul 5, 2013
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Thanks for the reply yogi. Your right I am using a USB keyboard and it's in a USB 2.0 port. However it's not the fact that I can't use my keyboard to get into the BIOS, it's that when I boot, I see no splash screen for Asus (my mobo) where it says "press DEL or F1 to enter BIOS" etc. It just boots up, display stays black and "no signal" all the way up until windows boots. And if I mash DEL when it's got no signal, windows doesn't appear at all. Just sits there on a black "no signal" screen. Hope that gives you more info.
 

JamezL

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Jul 5, 2013
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That's what my mate said, but i don't think it is... because it doesn't fast boot when its connected to the iGPU? It does a normal boot to Asus splash screen and bios enter, then windows. However on GPU it skips it. I did a bit more reading around, and apparently its got to do with the handshake between the gpu and the display as the display wants to show 1080p however the BIOS runs at a smaller resolution and wont display (hence the black screen).

I've got an older display at work i'm going to take home to try and see if i can get the BIOS to at least show on that.
 

JamezL

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Yep, plugged in an older display using DVI, shows the splash screen on the old one while it stays black on my main display. I tried mashing DEL before with only the new display plugged in but all i got was no boot to windows and a black screen... lcd display on mobo said i was in BIOS. So weird...

Anyway, i think i solved my own problem :p Thanks for the brainstorming good people of tomshardware!