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Help: Suddenly no power/signal to monitor or USB devices

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  • USB
  • Motherboards
  • Graphics Cards
  • Asus
  • Systems
Last response: in Motherboards
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February 6, 2014 5:28:48 AM

After 5 days of working perfectly since building, I suddenly lost all video output and USB functions after playing BF4 for about an hour last night. The fans continue to run and I hear sounds from the SSD and HDD, but the screen remains blank with no sign at all of any BIOS screen.

I did get a slight forewarning in the form of a screen freeze during playing BF4 moments before, which forced me to click the reset button (the first time I've ever even had to press it), reboot and then start up the game again. Once I was in the game, the problem happened after 2 seconds and I have had no luck since.

As the red DRAM_LED light is on I have tried moving around the memory into different slots, and using just one memory stick but still there is no signal to monitor. I also removed the battery/CMOS for 10 mins, and tried holding down the MemOK button for about 30 secs, to which there was much red light flashing until it settled on a solid red light again.

I have also tried using a different graphics board, but to no avail. I've been through different cables to check everything is plugged in, and it all seems fine. I am totally bemused for - as I already said - this system has been a dream for 5 days and it has had a few sessions of BF4 and coped perfectly. I am slightly dreading the possibility that heat caused some kind of problem? During BF4 you can certainly feel the heat rising, but I have not done any OCing so I would think everything would be ok? I was slightly generous with the MX-2, but it was all evenly spread and as I say this system has been working brilliantly for 5 days.

I will try and work through the much touted http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/261145-31-perform-s... thread, but many of those seem to be for starting the system up for the first time so does not apply to a system that has been fine for nearly a week?

What else is there I can do? Would it help if I try and do the USB BIOS Flashback procedure? Any help would really be appreciated as I am simply bemused why this happened, and am contemplating taking it to a computer repair person.

My system:

CPU: FX 8350 with Coolermaster 212 EVO
Mobo: Asus M5A97
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 2x4GB 1866 mhz DDR3
PSU: XFX PRO550W
Graphics: MSI TwinFrozr GTX 760



ps. I found a thread with someone having a very similar problem to me, apart from the fact he seemed to get to the Windows loading screen whereas I get no signal whatsoever. Unfortunately, the thread was unresolved.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-1655544/power-si...

ps2. My apologies, I made a much shorter (and panicky) thread last night in the Systems forum but I thought maybe I should write again in more detail in the mobo forum and hope for more answers.

ps3. The mobo came with no internal speaker to check for boot-up beeps.

More about : suddenly power signal monitor usb devices

a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 6, 2014 7:20:06 AM

Did you try reseating the the GPU?
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February 6, 2014 7:30:56 AM

Thanks for replying, Tradesman. Yes, I have reseated several times, and even tried using an old graphics card of mine, but no luck
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February 6, 2014 9:35:03 AM

As the DRAM_LED light is red could this be to do with the memory? The 2x4 gb crucial ballistix 1866mhz ram I have are not listed as compatible with the motherboard in the manual, but have been working fine for the past 5 days. I did have to manually set it from 1333mhz to 1866 mhz in the BIOS, so could this have triggered a problem when the work load was higher than usual?

I really am at a loss here and some replies would be MUCH appreciated!
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a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 6, 2014 4:39:57 PM

Yep, try at 1866 as before and add + 0.05 to the DRAM voltage and set the CPU/NB voltage to 1.2 (it's the MC 9memory controller) voltage
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February 6, 2014 5:02:30 PM

The trouble is I cannot even access BIOS as the computer won't boot, so can't change any settings. I guess there wouldn't be another way to I have been doing some trouble-shooting with a friend and have definitely honed in on the memory as the chief suspect and will take it in to a shop tomorrow for a diagnosis.
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a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 6, 2014 5:07:18 PM

Have you tried with a single stick? do you know anyone you can borrow a stick or two from just to test with, or put your sticks in another rig
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February 7, 2014 11:56:44 AM

Sorry for the delayed response.

I went to a computer store today and they tested it with a single stick, and still no good so that rules out mobo. They weren't sure what was wrong with it.

When I got back I did a breadboarding and still the same problems persist, which must mean it is either the mobo or the CPU. Hard to tell which one as one person I contacted who had a very similar problem (his thread is below) and very kindly responded and said his problem was the CPU. I am worried I didn't mount the coolermaster EVO212 evenly enough (although there are very good springs. Could that account for why it suddenly went during playing a fairly demanding game?
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1950521/post-b...

I have also seen one or two other threads on this forum with the exact same problem, but it turns out that their mobo was faulty. See below thread for that.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1781796/asus-m...

So I guess my next step is to order a new mobo (the same, I guess, or maybe better go with a different version) and CPU and begin the RMA process?
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a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 7, 2014 4:51:38 PM

Try loosening the EVO then snug it back - may be you overtightened somewhere and it's causing the CPU to sit slightly unevenly on pins so not have full contact with all
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February 8, 2014 7:03:39 AM

I reseated the CPU and took care to fasten the EVO cooler properly, but unfortunately it made no difference. I also connected the main wires from my old PSU to the new mobo and ruled out the very unlikely possibility that my XFX ATX 550w PSU was malfunctioning in some way.

Still the problem persists.
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February 10, 2014 8:48:25 AM

Here is an update.

I installed a new mobo and get he same red DRAM LED light. I managed to get hold of a mobo speaker and the sound it is making is 1 long beep, 2 short beeps.

According to the M5a97 manual this is:

1.4.2.1 Memory issue: Beep (1 long 2 short)

A Clean the Golden Finger of memory

B Clean the memory slots

C Leave only one memory stick to test

D If convenient, please change different memory to test again


I have already tried new reseating, different memory combinations, new memory, cleaning the memory sticks. How can is possibly be memory????? I need help before I go stir crazy. Could it be the CPU all along playing games?
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February 10, 2014 10:08:09 AM

If 2 different mobos suggest RAM then I am going tohave to assume that the brand new RAM I saw being tested on the older mobo was a dud or incompatible. I will have to get new ones to test it with.

Perhaps by altering the RAM frequency from 1066mhz (as it was set to) to 1866mhz in BIOS without changing the voltage I could have messed both of them up?
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a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 10, 2014 5:24:13 PM

Doubtful, could try sort of a mid range 1600, 9-9-9-24 at stock voltage
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February 11, 2014 9:38:01 AM

It was the CPU after all that. I have a feeling I may have been over-zealous with the first thermal pasting and smeared far too much on, causing it to overheat? I also noticed one pin had thermal paste on it, so I tried cleaning that, and then re-aligning the pin or two I bent in the process. Although I fit it back in all clean, the problem persisted.

So in the end I relented and installed a brand new CPU and everything is working well now. I really do appreciate all the help you have given, tradesman. I just hope I will be able to return the CPU as faulty. Strange that the Mobo should insist it was a Memory problem?

There is one more thing - perhaps I should start a new topic on this in the memory section. I picked up 2x 4gb G-Skill 2133 mhz DDR3 for quite a good price and I am in two minds about which memory to keep. My current Crucical Ballistix Tactical 1866mhz 2x4gb DDR3 has reset to 1333mhz on the BIOS. Do I simply alter these in the BIOS back to 1866 (using the voltage levels you wrote earlier)? Or would I be better off with the G-Skill?

Here are the two products

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0050119O0/ref=oh_de...

http://www.ebuyer.com/312042-crucial-8gb-ddr3-1866mhz-b...
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a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 11, 2014 1:00:01 PM

Sorry about having a bad CPU, but glad that's resolved, as for the DRAM, overall I favor GSkill DRAM and the Ripjaws X are one of my two favorites for AMD rigs, the other being the Sniper line of sticks, so I'd have to go with the GSkill ;) 
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February 13, 2014 4:24:21 AM

I would probably go with the G Skill as well, but I have a feeling I may not be able to return the Crucial, unlike the G Skill. So unless they sell for a good price on Ebay, I will probably have to return the GSkill!
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a c 1799 V Motherboard
a c 212 U Graphics card
a c 993 Ĉ ASUS
February 13, 2014 5:07:11 PM

Keep us updated on your progress
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!