Possible BIOS / Motherboard issue?

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Gregz777

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Dec 27, 2013
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Here's the issue...

I've recently installed a new power supply and graphics card into my computer. The Corsair CS750m and the GTX 780ti Windforce Gigabyte edition graphics card.

I uninstalled my previous AMD drivers with driver sweeper, uninstalled the old power supply and graphics card safely and efficiently, installed the new hardware, turned on the computer, so far so good...

However, after installing the latest Nvidia drivers, I was prompted to install "Geforce Experience."

Long story short, Geforce Experience didn't install properly and in the end I force shut it down and un-installed it. Ever since that moment things started going wrong.

Next time I started up my computer, it took a long time to boot up. I then noticed my time and date were wrong and most of the bottom right icons next to the time were missing.

"November the 3rd, 2011." which I assume is the date when the motherboard was manufactured. I noticed most of my icons (antivirus, headset, steam, Nvidia control panel, internet signal icon, they were all gone) The only icons remaining were the volume controls and my cloud backup icon.

This disabled me from using Google as it said "Ticket expired, your computer could be at risk."

I set the time back to the 6th of Januray, 2014 and Google worked again. My icons were still missing, so I reset the computer. Strangely enough everything was back to normal.

But it's not over yet. Upon starting up my computer again the next day, well I'll be, wrong time and missing icons again!

I wiped my drivers and re-installed them again. This time Geforce experience worked and I even downloaded the absolute latest drivers from them. But then something else happened.

I wanted to check my BIOS, "maybe the date and time was set wrong in there?" I thought. But of course it wasn't simple. Sometimes when I start up my computer, the screen displays "Advent" (the make of my computer) and sometimes it displays "American megatrends" and I cannot access the BIOS through either of them, attempts to do so result in a black screen.

Needless to say the problem still persists. What is going on? Why does the time reset and my icons disappear whenever I turn on my computer? Why does it seem there are TWO BIOS'?

And before you go ahead and say "CMOS battery needs replacing."
I'm rather skeptical. It could be the problem, but everything was working fine until I installed the new card and power supply, and when the Geforce experience came along.

Could it be a motherboard issue? This computer was a pre-built model from PC world (big mistake) and I can't help but feel that the motherboard isn't compatible with my powerful 780ti?

I have only told you this much because I want you all to know everything that happened to the computer to cause this problem, and there are too many different possibilities to what caused it and what's wrong, so here it all is layed out on the table.

Please help.
 
Solution
Shaun o
What I am saying is, before you upgraded the PSU, and fitted the 780 ti card.
Was the system stable, and kept the right time.

If the answer was yes.

You can try a new C moss battery by all means.
Also have a look to see what revision of the bios firmware your board has.
And based on the Advent tower model number if on a sticker of the case.

Go to the advent site and check out the support section.
See if there is a higher version of bios firmware for the board. that may resolve problems with types of hardware added to the board.

That is about all I can say to help you. But I have a feeling you may have to think about a new mother board if the problem is not resolved by either sorry to say.

A 780 Ti draws quiet a bit of power from...
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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I can tell you what is going on.
The board, or I presume is a bit older than most of the parts in the system.

You have to remember as in your case with the likes of advent, that they were not in fact in some cases made to cope with the power draw from the 780ti card you have just installed. The board was made in 2011, a 780 ti did not exist. so it`s power draw would not of been considered for the board. And that is the problem.

So does the board only have a four pin atx block connected near the cpu socket.

You see as much as buying a new PSU to run the new graphics card.
The the other limiting factor is the amount of power the board can provide to components.

And example is old boards had one four pin atx block to the board.
Where as new ones need eight to keep enough power going to the board to support the cpu and any graphics card like a 780ti you have.

If the time has reset and you are having difficulty with the board after installing the 780 ti card then the board is at fault not being able to deliver enough power to components connected to it.

The great tell tale sign will be as soon as you install the Nvidia driver, and you get a restart or a freeze at desktop, or as soon as you play a game it does the same within seconds or minuets of playing.

Since you have a 750w PSU the culprit will be the motherboard and its power distribution, or lack of it.

Some times it can be down to the age of the board and the state of the electrolytic capacitors worn out, If they are domed on the top then it can cause bad power flow.

To be honest, I would think about getting a new motherboard.
 
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Gregz777

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Dec 27, 2013
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Maybe this info will help some more. The motherboard has a 24 pin plug, but only a 4 pin CPU slot so I had to seperate the initial 8-pin cable coming from the power supply. The exact name of the motherboard is: Foxconn H61MXL/H61MXL-K. I was told by multiple reliable sources, such as Scan computers (the guys I bought both components from) that the parts would be compatible and would not cause any issues.

Whenever I restart my computer, everything returns to normal, but it always requires me to set the time and date first, then restart. Not being able to access my BIOS is odd too, I don't suppose this indicates anything else?

This is a pre-built computer as previously stated, so some parts are actually welded in, impossible to remove, the motherboard is one of these components.

All in all, if you're telling me the motherboard simply cannot supply enough power to all of it's components, such as the CMOS battery I'd assume, then what's the next step? I would imagine replacing the CMOS battery to a new capeable, up to date version?

I cannot get a new motherboard. It's impossible to replace and it costs too much.

Oh and when I play games after the computer has been restarted, there are no problems at all. It almost seems all that needs to happen is to set the time each time it powers up, restart, and it will return to normal. No other issues exist.


 
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Shaun o

Shaun o

Illustrious
Oct 7, 2007
6,113
1
41,960
What I am saying is, before you upgraded the PSU, and fitted the 780 ti card.
Was the system stable, and kept the right time.

If the answer was yes.

You can try a new C moss battery by all means.
Also have a look to see what revision of the bios firmware your board has.
And based on the Advent tower model number if on a sticker of the case.

Go to the advent site and check out the support section.
See if there is a higher version of bios firmware for the board. that may resolve problems with types of hardware added to the board.

That is about all I can say to help you. But I have a feeling you may have to think about a new mother board if the problem is not resolved by either sorry to say.

A 780 Ti draws quiet a bit of power from the Pci-e slot of the motherboard as well as the extra Pci-e power plugs to the top or side edge of the 780 Ti card.


 
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Solution
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Gregz777

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Dec 27, 2013
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I understand. But what's bios firmware? What does it mean, what does it require me to do?

I have a model number: DT1412.

 
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Gregz777

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Dec 27, 2013
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Also I don't have any random freezes with my desktop or games. The only freezes I experienced was with the Geforce experience interface, and that is fine now.

 
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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Oct 7, 2007
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When a board is made it has a Bios chip, the firmware, or software it holds is used to control the board.
The firmware can also be updated so it can support more cpu models in the cpu socket provided on the board.

It can often be updated to later versions of the firmware/ software of the bios chip to resolve any problems that may happen with hardware build or inserted to the board where a lower version of the bios may not be able to support the new hardware.

That is why often a bios update may be required.
There will be a Bios revision and updater software on the advent site if needed.

Download the bios flasher and the correct bios version for the advent model number.
Run the flash program and select the bios file. and flash.

Make sure you have the correct bios, for the make, model number of the system or the foxconn motherboard used.

The model number of the board should be printed in white print on the motherboard it`s self.
 
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Gregz777

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Dec 27, 2013
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I can't see the code printed on the motherboard, but I'll give what you say a go.

 
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