MSI Z97 Gaming 3 may have bricked motherboard?

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Chris Lefroy

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Sep 4, 2014
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Hi all, basically I think my mobo might be a no go, but will set out the issue below:
(This is a long one, but wanted to post it as I did it)

System:
Win 7 Pro SP1
Motherboard: MSI Z97 Gaming 3
CPU: i5 4690K
RAM: G.Skill Sniper DDR3-1600 4x 4gig
Video: MSI Radeon R9 290 Gaming
HDD: 1x Samsung 120gig SSD
1x Samsung 500gig SSD
PSU: Antec 750w
Cooler: Thermaltake Water 3.0 Extreme
Keyboard: Logitech G510
Mouse: Cyborg RAT 7

Ok, all the above is brand new, was delivered yesterday morning. Had system built by lunchtime
Proceeded with software instal, in this order

Windows 7
Motherboard driver disc
Graphics driver disc
Keyboard drivers
Mouse drivers
All available win 7 updates

Ok, everything running smoothly, downloaded Unigine Heaven benchmarking tool, let it run through several times then did 3 benchmarks, working up to ultra settings. So far no issues.

About now MSI's liveupdate tool popped up asking if I want to check for updates.. I say ok, it finds about 8 (usb drivers, etc) and I click download and instal. I also noticed a BIOS update ticked as well (v2 to 2.3) Didnt think much of it, it is MSIs own tool afterall.

Its now about 5pm and the family wants to go out late night shopping, so I leave it to itself and head out.
Get back home, do the bed time thing with the kids and about 10pm check on the PC. It looks like it is in hybernate, tap keyboard, click mouse and pc spins up but screen stays off. Give it a few minutes and no change so power it off and back up. Everything is fine, get to the windows logo and screen goes black, wait a few minutes nothing happening, no windows logon sound either.

Reset a few more times, get worried, start googling.

Cleared CMOS with jumper and power cord out and CMOS battery out, no change.

Ok, since then I have found MSI's forums and how to do a bios update via USB.
I have updated BIOS manually to 2.3 (said successful) but still black screen after windows logo.
Figuered it may not have worked properly so re did update (again successful) and immediately re-install windows.
Ok, thats ok, am in windows now. Re-install all drivers, so far so good
(have noticed now on reboot I have an A2 code bottom right of screen and it takes 30 seconds or so to get a POST screen)

Everything seems ok with mobo drivers and graphics drivers in, start to wo a windows update and screen goes black. restart and I'm back to Windows logo then black screen

Out of desperation, got the old BIOS and took it back BIOS 2.0 but still get windows logo and black screen

Anyway, I'm suspecting the original BIOS didn't work and screwed it all up.
I guess I'm a bit worried it may have broken something else too..
Would just like some smart people's opinions on the issue.. is it the board, do MSI offer waranty if their software broke it?

Very frustrating as I am in a remote area and a RMA will probably be several weeks

 
Solution
Tradesman1
Thank could be, yes, question, what drivers are you using? might try using 13.251 - I've had some odd ball problems with the 14.4 and beta 14.7 drivers and my 290X and a couple other AMD cards...if you try - completely uninstall and check the drive under x86 programs and if need be delete the AMD folder - Uninstall doesn't work for crap
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feelingtheblanks

feelingtheblanks

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Jan 3, 2014
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Well, everything sounds fine apart from it takes 30 secs to post.

Also getting A2 code bottom right is normal. But that shouldn't take that long to post.

Since it boots up fine without the gpu, i suspect that it might be the gpu. Try another discrete gpu if you can borrow from a friend or something. So you can find out if it's the gpu or the pci ex slot. Also you can try with a different BIOS.

And never update your BIOS on windows even if with an official software. Never seen those softwares working as intented on any brand.
 
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Chris Lefroy

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Sep 4, 2014
5
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4,510
Thanks for the advice, I'm starting to think it is the GPU.. its fine without drivers but install the drivers and it wont go past the win logo.
Tried moving to my 2nd PCI slot and I get pixilated bands through the screen.

Have done a swap with my old PC, using my old ATI HD6970 and with drivers that seems fine in the new system. Have just done a 3dMark Vantage on it with no prob. Put the R290 in my old mobo and was fine until I installed the drivers, its doing a similar thing, but on this pc I get right up to the windows is logging on screen then it goes blank.
Thought it may be drivers, but on the new PC I used the older drivers on the CD, but on my old PC I downloaded the newest version, so Looks like it is the GPU.. am going to stress the HD6970 on the new system a bit to make sure it doesnt fail before I contact the vendor about a faulty GPU :)

if it IS the GPU and not mobo, should I re-upgrade the BIOS again to v2.3 or leave it on 2.0?
 
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feelingtheblanks

feelingtheblanks

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Jan 3, 2014
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Yeah sounds like it might be the new gpu, and looks like your new mobo is fine since the gpu is not working on your old mobo as well.

Just to be sure, you using the 8 and 6 pin power connectors for the gpu right? Sometimes using adapters might cause stability problems too.

About the BIOS update... Well, usually I check the BIOS update notes. And If I feel like I can gain something from updating, I do it. Other than that I wouldn't touch it, if everything runs OK. So if there isn't any important bug or performance fix on the newer bios don't bother with it. But you might need to try newer BIOS versions often in the future if you decide to overclock.
 
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Chris Lefroy

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Sep 4, 2014
5
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4,510
yeah, I did use a single cable from PSU that had both a 6 pin and a 8 pin on it, but also put a 2nd 8pin cable in as well, same thing. Its just strange it was all fine before the bios update.. coincidence I guess!
 
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feelingtheblanks

feelingtheblanks

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Jan 3, 2014
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Yeah that's really strange but also black screen issues are kinda common between radeon cards lately.

It might be caused by anything actually and it's really hard to troubleshoot. I even saw a usb mouse causing a black screen crash on certain usb port at windows start up or an hdmi cable causing that kinda problem while it's working fine with another gpu.

So well, There might be someone around internet who has several solutions for this though, but best thing to do is to take the card where you buy or a RMA, if these basic troubleshooting steps don't help.

And yea like Tradesman said, it's better make sure everything is ok with bios settings.
 
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Chris Lefroy

Reputable
Sep 4, 2014
5
0
4,510
Thanks for the input Tradesman :)
Will double check the BIOS setting, but it does boot fine in safe mode and even in normal mode until the drivers are installed and it ramps up to the full res (nothing major btw, just 1600x900) then it has problems. I think the fact its doing similar things on a complete different PC says a lot too.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
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Thank could be, yes, question, what drivers are you using? might try using 13.251 - I've had some odd ball problems with the 14.4 and beta 14.7 drivers and my 290X and a couple other AMD cards...if you try - completely uninstall and check the drive under x86 programs and if need be delete the AMD folder - Uninstall doesn't work for crap
 
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Solution
MartinNixon0422

MartinNixon0422

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Apr 27, 2014
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ya, I will always suggest to upgrade Bios with usb
sometime to upgrade the bios from windows, it may cost some problem and dont know why

after you upgrade bios from use, then you log on the Windows and upgrade the VGA and other drivers
 
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