Upgrading from Pentium G3258 to i5-4690 Computer Won't Boot

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

Alright so I may have been too eager to research a ton before I decided to upgrade my processor. I was running an Intel Pentium G3258 and wanted to upgrade to an Intel i5-4690. I have a MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate motherboard.
I shut down my computer, uninstalled the cpu fan and the processor and properly installed the i5 as well as the heatsink/cooler it came with. I booted the computer up and the computer fans and all worked fine as well as the LEDs and graphics card fan inside the computer. The LEDs on my keyboard did not light up though. The computer seemed to be okay but all I got was a black screen as if the computer were off and the monitor was on.
Hoping to revert back to the Pentium, I uninstalled the i5 and reinstalled the Pentium. Same issue: black screen.
What do I do?

Main Specs (Aside from Processor):
MSI Z87-G41 PC Mate Motherboard
Thermaltake TR2-600W PSU
MSI Radeon HD 7850 2GB Video Card

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

You need to bios with the G3258 in the PC. The 4690 requires a Z97 board OR an updated Z87.

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

Oh and the i5 has integrated graphics. Try and see if display is coming out of the motherboard.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

Alright well I have the G3258 in the computer at the moment but when I boot up, it simply gives me a black screen. How do I go about fixing that so I can do a BIOS update?

jimpz · Jan 21, 2015

Amazingly, the bios for the G3258 is NEWER than for the 4690, so that shouldn't be an issue,
both CPU's are supported on this mobo.

st3v30 · Jan 21, 2015

Try to clear your CMOS
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/tp/clearcmos.htm

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

Tried clearing the CMOS using the battery method multiple times and no change. Still a black screen. I even used the motherboard VGA output as opposed to my graphics card.

st3v30 · Jan 21, 2015

have you discharged your motherboard before clearing CMOS??Pull all cables out of mobo and HOLD POWER button for 20 sec,then clear CMOS.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

I'll try that and let you know what happens. How long should I leave the CMOS battery out?

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

A minute.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

Still nothing. Black screen.

st3v30 · Jan 21, 2015

Maybe you bent some of pins when you switched CPU try to get good light on them and see if every one of them is alright.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

All the pins look fine.

st3v30 · Jan 21, 2015

Ok one last option that work for me on my old pc with same problem.Pull out all cables and parts from mobo let is just sit alone in case for 1 night and try to put it all together day after,worked for me.Rly donno what happened but next day when i put then all in it just powered on like nothing happend.Soon as it boots go into BIOS and do reset to Default Settings.

Update:Try to Install RAM sticks in different slots,1st try just 1 stick and if it boots try 2nd if you have 2 or more.

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

Take off all non essential equipment just to boot to bios. Just use the CPU, motherboard, and 1 stick of ram. Remove EVERYTHING else. That way you know the problem is in between the ram, CPU or motherboard. Because you do not have fans, or a heat sink running, make sure to turn the computer off shortly after boot to make sure the components do not overheat.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

Alright. I took out all the non-essentials and it booted with one stick of RAM. I have three. I reinstalled all three and it gave me a black screen again. I unplugged the last stick and it booted and told me to change my setting in the bios because my memory changed.

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

You may be shorting something in your RAM or need a bios update. Use one stick of ram for now and update your bios. Also completely remove your cooler and try to add more ram and see if it does not turn on.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

Alright. I just updated the BIOS using MFlash and now it seems to be working alright. So I'm going to try and troubleshoot the RAM and then upgrade to the i5 and see if it'll run.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

So I had been using RAM slots 1, 2 and 3. I pulled the stick out of 3 and the computer booted fine. I unplugged the cpu cooler and tried to plug in all three sticks of RAM and got the same issue. I plugged the cpu cooler back in and moved the stick that was in RAM slot 3 into RAM slot 4. Now everything works. Although I am still using the onboard graphics and haven't plugged in any of my PCI cards and I'm still running the Pentium. What does this mean then? Is there something wrong with the third RAM slot?

EDIT: Also, the i5 works fine now.

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

The third ram slot sounds like it has been shorted possibly. It could be a software problem and when you first plugged the i5 in, the bios may have just disabled that DIMM. Just try a bios update and then see what happens.

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

I already did the BIOS update right before I discovered the issue with the third slot. I can run another one just in case but would there be any constructive potential in that?

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

No, my bad.... I'll think of something else

gilbadon · Jan 21, 2015

The i5 does not work under minimal conditions?

cusconillow · Jan 21, 2015

What do you mean by that? About the i5 not working under minimal conditions?

Also, thanks a ton for helping me through this!

jimpz · Jan 21, 2015

in that mobo & manual, for (1) set of dual channel, you use slots 2 & 4, the 2nd set is 1 & 3, I would bet this is the issue, that mobo wants slot 3 filled last.

Upgrading from Pentium G3258 to i5-4690 Computer Won't Boot

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