boot via gpu HDMI?

ragnarok94 · Aug 10, 2016

I just finished my first builld, but i cant get post/BIOS to run. right now i have an hdmi cord run from my GPU to my tv. (im hoping this is only due to a lack of drivers)

Correct channel, everything's on. I went down the pre-boot list.
Ive tried to figure out what the beeps mean. Ive trouble-shooted as much as I could. Im not gonna do anything else until i get a real monitor with a DVI cord.

MOBO: MSI x79A-GD65 (8D) LGA2011 military class III
RAM: PNY OPTIMA DDR3-1333 4x4gb
CPU: Intel i7-3930K 6-core
PSU: EVGA superNOVA 750 B2
GPU: Zotac Geforce GTX 980 AMP! Edition

other notes: I tried resetting the bios via BIOS switch on the mobo. went from a single beep to 2 short beeps. I tried this with every stick of ram.
Now it only does the single beep on start up, followed by silence. No other issues visible, all fans (including PSU and GPU's) running smoothly.

getochkn · Aug 10, 2016

Well a beep has nothing to do with drivers. You should be able to boot a PC always without a HD or windows or drivers or anything, so the beeping is something is wrong. The motherboard manual should list the beep codes and what they mean.

InvalidError · Aug 10, 2016

When the PC boots, the GPU is in legacy mode and outputs the same thing to all connected displays regardless of interface, there is no "HDMI" driver or anything else of the sort. If you get beep codes and no display, it means you either have an issue with the motherboard, the CPU, the GPU or a bad cable.

[strike]Since you get only one beep, that should be a normal boot and that would appear to point toward a bad cable.[/strike]
One long and two short is a GPU error. Make sure the GPU is seated correctly and has all the necessary PCIe 12V cables connected.

ragnarok94 · Aug 10, 2016

getochkn :

i wish it would, but it doesnt. Ive looked it up, and depending on which bios it is, it could be a Ram issue, or it could be fine.

i did read in another case where someone attempted it via hdmi from gpu and got nothing, but it worked with dvi/vga. i wont know for sure until tomorrow when i get my monitor

InvalidError · Aug 10, 2016

Not having a display plugged in wouldn't cause abnormal beep codes.

ragnarok94 · Aug 10, 2016

Ill remove and reseat the gpu when i get back home and try again. If that doesnt work, ill try the 2nd pci 3.0 slot (it has two for sli).

Update:
HDMI cord good, tested with my laptop.
took out and reseated the GPU, checked PSU connection, good.
Started up, only one beep at startup, unrepeated. Fans on GPU and in case all running, all lights on like their supposed to be. Still no BIOS screen.

Ill wait for the monitor before proceeding, Im thinking (hoping) its just a bad HDMI port on the gpu and not a bad gpu. Ill review the manual more to see if there might be a cause. Maybe its the tv/gpu "handshake" resolution problem...idk.

Id really rather avoid trying to use one of the other PCI slots because the case slots are knock-out/bend-out. (cheap case, oh well)

ragnarok94 · Aug 11, 2016

I think I found my problem
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/328031-30-short-beep-doesn-boot-bios

also, page 22 http://www.nvidia.com/content/geforce-gtx/GTX_980_User_Guide.pdf
states that HDMI has to be configured before it can be used.

InvalidError · Aug 11, 2016

The only mention of "configuration" for HDMI on p22 (or the whole thing for that matter) is for audio output from within the OS. You don't need that to get video from the BIOS.

Now that you have the normal single POST beep, do make sure that your TV has the correct input selected.

ragnarok94 · Aug 11, 2016

InvalidError :

alright, I started the pc first, single beep. then plugged it into the tv with hdmi. set it to the correct input. Screen is blank, [strike]but its not showing the usual "No signal" sign so i think its getting something. [/strike]

getochkn · Aug 11, 2016

why are you plugging it in while the PC is on? You can fry things that way, TV or GPU.

InvalidError · Aug 11, 2016

Plug the TV in before turning on the PC - the GPU might not be enabling the output if the port doesn't at least have a DDI chip connected to it to tell the GPU there is something there. (The DDI chip is what tells the GPU what resolutions and refresh rates it supports. If you have no display plugged in at all, then the GPU has no clue what display timing parameters to use to produce at least one usable output.)

ragnarok94 · Aug 12, 2016

ok, here's whats up so far:
still doesn't show anything.
got a monitor from a friend (older VGA LCD, attached a DVI-I adapter to connect to GPU)
STILL shows no signal.

what have i done wrong? I can only think of two or three other things:
1) resetting the CMOS on the mobo
2) putting the GPU in one of the other 2 PCIe 3.0 lanes
3) finding someone who can test it/trying another gpu

this is what i get for buying used parts...

InvalidError · Aug 12, 2016

A GPU that works well enough to pass self-test and let the PC boot with no VGA failure beeps but fails to output anything on any port? That would be odd. If you have a spare GPU, you could try plugging it in to check that the rest of the PC does indeed work, configure the BIOS to always use that GPU for booting and possibly install the OS while you are at it, shut the PC down, add the problematic GPU, and boot again to see what the BIOS (and OS if installed) detects it as.

If none of the outputs work but the rest of the GPU appears to be fine, maybe the previous owner "overclocked" his display resolution and fried the outputs' LVDS Vddio regulator.

ragnarok94 · Aug 12, 2016

now that you mention it the previous owner did mention ocing it. I guess when i get back after the weekend ill go ahead and try another PCI slot. if that doesnt work, guess ill start saving for another gpu.
god this sucks....I only paid $250 for the gpu, it was my first purchase of the build

the GPU does still have 3 DisplayPort ports i could try but i have nothing to hook up to those.
I may contact the local computer repair shop when i get back, see if he can test it.

UPDATE 8/14:
[strike]I've pretty much determined, after talking to every computer guy i know, and a few people at tech outlets, that my card is fried[/strike]. Im going through the Zotac support channels to see if they can do anything. If they can't Ill go ahead and buy a 1060 and sell the 980 for parts.
Lesson learned: Avoid craigslist for critical computer parts.

afterthought: will go ahead and attempt CMOS reset on my mobo. this mobo was used with a different card ( a gtx 580) before I had it. If it works afterward...great. if not, plan above

Another note Id like to add for anyone who buys anything zotac:
hold on to the invoice/receipt, they require it for any warranty/registration. otherwise they won't do anything.

ragnarok94 · Aug 15, 2016

Ill be a monkeys uncle...the CMOS bios reset worked and now its booting windows.
http://m.imgur.com/1WGZa3j

InvalidError · Aug 15, 2016

ragnarok94 :

You tried resetting the BIOS in your original post and that didn't work, then you tried again and it did? You must have missed something the first time you tried.

ragnarok94 · Aug 15, 2016

InvalidError :

The first time I only flipped the little BIOS ROM switch from B to A
I switched it back to B later

This time I took out THe CMOS RAM battery and followed the instructions to reset it. worked like a charm. DOnt know why I didn't try that first. But, its working, and windows 7 is installed. Can't ask for more than that

boot via gpu HDMI?

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