No display - Onboard and GPU - possible mobo issue

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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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Hello everyone,

The other night I was playing some BF4 when all of sudden, both of my screens dropped out - connected through a GTX 670 (This card has no issues, tested with another PC) - almost as if the PCI shorted, the computer stayed on.

So, first of all I unplugged my gpu, checked everything, looked fine and the card was working. I then unplugged my motherboards supply, that was fine.

I then removed the CMOS battery, for around 10m, then later the next day for 45m (didn't seem to help).

I removed both RAM sticks to see if I could get to an error screen, nothing, both monitors went into hibernation from receiving no signal. I placed one back in (furthest from the CPU), didn't work.

I tried re-flashing the BIOS with the latest version, through ROG connect, that didn't help.

Also to note, I had on-board working last night for a bit, it stopped working once I changed the startup display to PCI. But I later removed the CMOS battery for a while and re-flashed the BIOS with the latest version.

I'm really clueless at this point. I have no idea what's wrong, other than that the motherboard is half dead or software is messed up.


Parts:

I7-3770k
ASUS Maximus v Gene
ASUS GTX 670
Corsair Vengeance 16gb 2x8gb
Samsung SSD 240gb
Samsung SSD 128gb
WD 2TB green
Segate barracuda 1TB
Corsair 650w RM - Brand new, installed only a few months ago.

TL;DR - Motherboard graphics may be dead or software.


(EDIT - took off heat sink and about to re-apply thermal paste when I go to the shops and buy some, I noticed one screw was a little loose, I will come back in a few hours and see if this could have simply been the issue)
 
Solution
Chicano
Yes, I figured the message was displayed on the motherboard.

Check these search results for "BIOS Microcode error"
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=BIOS+Microcode+error

Seems that the Microcode error is related to the CPU.. search results commonly refer the error to BIOS CPU support, and you mentioned "a heatsink(?) screw was a little lose,"... so I wonder how lose was it(?), for how long it may have been lose, if it could have caused the CPU to overheat and how many times it may have.. I know overheating would have made it throttle down and/or shutdown, but another post I read mentioned that Intel i7 CPUs can run hot and throttle down at 100ºC... and the next web page seems to suport the...
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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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Sorry, thought I was missing something. Brand new PSU - changed because the last coolermaster PSU was super loud - it is an RM 650w

The GPU lights up when plugged in, so I think it's getting power. I hope?

Cheers,

 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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Have the PCI-E power cables plugged into the PSU firmly - both the 24 and the 4/8 pin power cables to the mobo plugged in firm? After resetting CMOS did you hook up to the onboard mobo video go into BIOS and set Primary video to PCI-E/PEG? If not, video is being sent to the mobo video ports
 
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Chicano

Chicano

Judicious
Aug 29, 2011
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Onboard Videos is supported only by CPU with integrated graphics, so it probably can't go bad unless the CPU also does... and the motherboard would stop working and not recover even temporarily, and software would have to be the BIOS.. Windows software comes on after the BIOS post and beeps so you would still get display from startup to before that moment when Windows starts loading.

So, I would suppose it's all due to BIOS settings... the original problem may have been due to BIOS infection/corrupted settings. A propper BIOS reset would have to be a hard reset, removing the AC power cord or turning off the PSU switch, removing the PCIe Graphics Card, removing the battery, press the power button repeatedly some 5-10 times, and on the last time, hold it depressed for at least 30 seconds, wait 10 minutes, leave the GPU out, reinstall the battery, connect display to integrated graphics, reconnect AC power or turn the PSU switch on, and turn on the computer.

If it doesn't work on the first startup, keep trying with different BIOS reset methods... When and if you finally get it to display, enter the BIOS and set graphics settings to PCIe GPU, exit saving changes, turn the computer off, reinstall the GPU, and see if it gets GPU video.

It's obvious the BIOS is set by default factory settings to work with onboard graphics so that has to have the better chances of startup with video display.


3 ways to reset the BIOS
http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-BIOS
 
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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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Thank you so much, both of you for taking the time to reply. I'm just leaving the computer for a while without the battery as suggested.
I hope I will be able to bring good news soon, fingers crossed.
(Also checking the cables currently)
Thanks again!

EDIT: Checked the cables, I use sleeved extensions to get a bit of a colour scheme going, noticed one of the cables going to the CPU could be possibly damaged, I plugged in the CPU direct, I might give it a go and see if that was the issue.
 
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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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Sorry for double posting, but this is pretty important. I found an error code, it is saying 'microcode loading' from my understanding this is a term used by the CPU. Would it be worth changing the CMOS battery with one from another computer? This is the definition of it: a very low-level instruction set which is stored permanently in a computer or peripheral controller and controls the operation of the device. I'm guessing that the error is that it cant load the BIOS' settings?
 
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Chicano

Chicano

Judicious
Aug 29, 2011
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BIOS loading issue. Recovery is as I said previously: "keep trying with different BIOS reset methods" and when the BIOS loads and stabilizes, update it to the most recent update.

Microcode loading error
http://www.nix.ru/computer_hardware_news/hardware_news_viewer.html?id=188015

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nix.ru%2Fcomputer_hardware_news%2Fhardware_news_viewer.html%3Fid%3D188015&sandbox=1

ASRock microcode error
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/332196-31-first-build-failure-asrock-microcode-error
 
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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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Thanks for the reply, I will continue on with this.
Just to add, this error is not an on screen error, it shows up in a code on a little display on my motherboard.

Thanks,

 
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Chicano

Chicano

Judicious
Aug 29, 2011
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Yes, I figured the message was displayed on the motherboard.

Check these search results for "BIOS Microcode error"
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=BIOS+Microcode+error

Seems that the Microcode error is related to the CPU.. search results commonly refer the error to BIOS CPU support, and you mentioned "a heatsink(?) screw was a little lose,"... so I wonder how lose was it(?), for how long it may have been lose, if it could have caused the CPU to overheat and how many times it may have.. I know overheating would have made it throttle down and/or shutdown, but another post I read mentioned that Intel i7 CPUs can run hot and throttle down at 100ºC... and the next web page seems to suport the idea.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2317732/4790-overheating.html
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/two-ways-to-cool-down-your-defective-overheating-intel-cpu/

And because you did not mention an aftermarket cooler, I wonder if your CPU may have been inadvertently overheating for some time till it finally gave up. If it did it may have lost functionallity without which the motherboard would not receive a signal to shutdown... and according to your own description; "the computer stayed on"... I hope I'm wrong but it would be a possibility to consider. Another i7 3000 or 4000 series CPU would help testing that possibility.


Check this list of benchmarked CPUs and see which CPU upgrade would fit your budget and what the improvement would be. http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
 
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Solution
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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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Thanks again for taking the time to reply,

I had my CPU running with a h60 for a while, reaching 80c > under load, for around 2 years. So I revamped my system, new case, better airflow and it helped greatly. But as you said, the damage could have been done already.

The heat sink could of been loose for months though, without me knowing. I also checked the PSU with a volt meter, everything was fine. Motherboard is fine after doing all the test I could find. Do you think it would be worth buying a new CPU, considering the risk of the issue being in the motherboard?

Thanks,
 
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Chicano

Chicano

Judicious
Aug 29, 2011
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I was thinking more in the order of borrowing a CPU or buying a cheap model... your i7 3770K was at least $400 new right? and replacing it with another K model of similar performance will cost you around the same... If you can't borrow one, you may consider buying a cheap Pentium G model... and if the motherboard works without a hitch, you can then buy a better model for around what you paid for the i7-3770K

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117618
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007671%20600095610%20600436886&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=30
 
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AmplifiedLlama

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Jan 19, 2016
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I went out and purchased an i3 3330, I think it was. Exactly the same thing happened, done even more testing and it is defiantly the motherboard. Will have all the gear to fix it tomorrow!

I can't thank you enough for all your time and effort to help solve this issue, thanks again!

 
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