New Build - MSI x99 SLI Plus - Can't POST - PCI Problems

**EDIT, I've solved the issue myself to a degree, still asking for additional help at the bottom of this thread though**

Hi there, I successfully built my first PC and it was working completely fine.

5820k and MSI x99 SLI plus has no on board graphics so I was temporarily using my little EVGA 2GB 730 as it has HDMI.

My GPU arrived later and was huge (MSI R9 390)

At the time, I thought the only place I could install it was down near the PSU in PCI_5 slot. I managed to get it working fine, was told by others on this site that even though it was displaying as x8 instead of x16 that it's no biggie.

I tried to turn it on a week later and despite my Midi Keyboard via USB coming on, there was no lights from the PC and it wouldn't turn on.

I opened her up and ensured the CPU cables (25 pin and 2x 8pins) were pushed in all the way.

I took the GPU out of lane 5 to discover it was crushing the pins connected to the cases power on, LEDs etc. (Not the mobo pins luckily)

I took out RAM, put only 1 in. Unplugged SATA to hard drives and DVDRom. Plugged it all back in and she loads up (not the screen, but the mobo and fans)

CPU Fans work, case fans work. Motherboard is working correctly by the looks of it. (No longer not turning on and showing a Red light by the SATA ports area)


I realised there was enough room for my GPU higher up in the middle, and can also fit my 24 bit sound card just above it. So both are in (sound) PCI3 and (GPU) in PCI4. My CPU cooler blocks PCI1.

Using PCI3&4 middle board lanes would also mean my GPU and Sound is not crushing the cases power pins area, nor is it blocking the on board OC, Power and Reset green buttons. It's also left a nice bit of space between itself and the PSU now.

I don't have any need for anymore PCI devices. - what I have noticed, is trying to eject it from PCI5 was tricky and it does feel as though that lane has come slightly looser at the clip end. It's definitely not cracked and putting the card back into it without the 6 & 8 pin power is still lighting up the MSI logo so it's still powered despite feeling loser than the other lanes that are still totally rigid via factory glue.


So with all ram, SATA cables, USB headers, case fan and light plugins plugged back in, and with both the sound card and graphics card safely screwed into land 3 and 4, powering on is a success.

However I am not seeing any post or Windows.

I have checked the HDMI lead is working as I have another work PC hooked to the same monitor and the GT 730 HDMI there to test.


I was worried that it was a driver issue as I have moved GPU to a different lane. (Been to MSI site, AMD site for MOBO and GPU drivers)

So I put GPU back to PCI 5 (had to temporarily squeeze it over the case power pins) and managed to turn on from case buttons despite knowing it's not good to crush those pins.


PCI5 which was where the drivers were installed, is now not displaying despite having power back to everything.

There are no lights on the soundcard despite definitely plugging that back into the correct slot.

I brought the GT 730 back into the build to trouble shoot and I am getting the same issue in PCI lane 4 and 5 (x16) for both the R9 390 and the GT 730.

As I put the HDMI into either graphics card, in either PCI slot, the monitor light goes green, as though it detects HDMI has been plugged into a PC....and then 'no signal'...monitor off...monitor light goes orange.


So two problems I can tell.

1. No onboard graphics, neither GPU is showing POST or Windows.

2. Even if I get it to work with your help, are all drivers setup to PCI5 for the R9390? (Not suitable to go back in there)



Thank you for your time. I'm really sorry to bother you.