Broken RAM causing monitor to not display?

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Hi guys I'm really desperate so thanks in advance if you can help

TLDR: Was switching RAM from one slot to another and my monitor stopped displaying anything when powering on the PC. Changing the RAM back has not fixed the issue. Note that the PC appears to power on just fine.

I have:
- Seen that the Monitor displays its brand logo when powered on and says "no signal" when attached to my pc
- Tested the monitor on another PC (works)
- Tested the HDMI cable on another PC (works)
- Tested my graphics card in another PC (works)
- Tested using the HDMI cable in the graphics card slot and the onboard graphics card slot (still doesn't work)
- Tested my old 2 x 4GB RAM and my 1 x 8 GB RAM in different slots and in correct orientation (still doesn't work)
- Purchased a new mobo as I assumed that was the problem (still doesn't work)

So the way I see it either the problem is:
- the CPU (unlikely)
- The brand new mobo is also faulty (unlikely)
- the RAM

I have no spare motherboards capable of using my CPU to test it nor do I have spare DDR4 RAM to test with. If you can offer and advice I will be incredibly grateful.

My specs are as follows:
- i5 6600k
- GTX 1060
- Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K4 (old)
- Fatal1ty Z170 Gaming K6 (new)
- 2 x 4gb Ripjaws V DDR4 2133 mhz (old)
- 1 x 8gb Ripjaws V DDR4 3200 mhz (new)

Cheers

Sean

Photos of mobo and RAM:
http://imgur.com/D3KKC3L
http://imgur.com/8brz11i
http://imgur.com/kHCiWBg

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

hi there,

If I understand correctly you suspect the RAM, try putting the RAM in another PC with same speed.
Also have you checked the connectors of the memory-cards and slots for corrosion ? I had once an almost invisible corroded pin which made the RAM faulthy. If the slot is corroded it's difficult to repair.

Also The GPU: have you tried letting it warm up or did you just boot and shut down ? Reason why I ask is the some faulthy GPU's are booting normally and only after 15 min's of working and eventually heating up the screen disapears. I've seen this with GPU's in both Laptops and Desktops. Have you tried to change the GPU-card?

There is no emmediate connection between the RAM and the Video, as most videocards have their own memory.
Have you tried to uninstall the old drivers and replace them with new ones ?

One last thing: have you tried to checking the CPU if it's fixed correctly ?

Let me know if this helped.

Cheers, Louise.

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Hi Louise, thanks for replying!

Unfortunately I don't know anybody with a mobo that can use DDR4 RAM so I can't test that :/

GPU works 100% fine in another PC and additionally the onboard graphics doesn't work regardless so the GPU cannot be the problem.

CPU is surely fixed correctly as this PC was working fine until I messed around with my RAM configuration and that shouldn't have affected the CPU (unless it somehow caused the CPU to burn out (which seems awfully unlikely))

I've added a link to photos of my mobo and RAM in my original post for reference if that is of any help.

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

Seanra777 :

if you still can, make'em publicly available !

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Louise Porkolt :

Seanra777 :

if you still can, make'em publicly available !

I believe they are already publicly available? Does the link not work for you?

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

nope,
it says: "Seanra7's images are not publicly available."

do I need an account to see them ?

thx

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Louise Porkolt :

I think I made them public, should be good now hopefully

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

did I see correctly that you used bank 2 or 3 instead of bank 1 ?
Always use same kind of RAM in bank 1 and 3 or 2 and 4... never mix up.
I don't know if this would be the problem but I guess you shouls always start with bank 1.
There should be numbers on the slots (banks).

I also noticed a fan blocking some banks.

Let me know, Louise.

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

one more thing, does the Mobo digit display, always stop on number 53 ?
try checking the Mobo-specs with that number !

Edit: on more brands of Mobo's, the error 53 is due to memory issue (not plugged in correctly or speed differences)

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Louise Porkolt :

Omg yay yes you are correct! I thought the number displayed was CPU temp or something but yes it is error code. Okay so error 53 is indeed a memory error. I decided to make sure the ram was 100% bloody in so i pushed it down really hard and now I am getting error 99.

"Dr debug.
0x99 Super IO Initialization

Page 37 of the manual.

IO means anything connected to the board by any interface is not initializing.
Have you just built the system, then it is saying a device is not connected properly.
Or there is a lack of power to a device causing the IO error.

Input Output error. It cannot communicate with a part or device through its slot/ bus interface. Or due to a lack of power."

So we have progressed! thankyou so much. It's still not fixed but progress is better than nothing! It is odd that something wouldn't be getting sufficient power as my PSU is more than capable of powering my rig (900W). As I mentioned earlier, my GPU works fine in another pc so it can't be the GPU. Hmmmm... Any ideas?

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

UPDATE:

Okay so I removed my GPU and tried the onboard graphics and it now works!!!!!!

So a new dilemma:

Why does my GPU work in another mobo but it doesn't work in this mobo? Perhaps it is the power cable? Let me test... Louise thankyou so much, you really have set me on the right path!

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

error99 means no error at all ! ;-) Or that all checks ran fine !
Apparently this was a second issue !

what is it doing now ?
have you checked BIOS with eventually logs with other Errors ?
you can also remove HDD and plug it into another PC and open the eventviewer of external database (this needs a few IT-skills but you can get allot out of there).

Let me know if this helped also.

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Louise Porkolt :

So when it shows error 99 (or error D7 if the keyboard isn't plugged in) the monitor still doesn't display anything :/

I have tried all PCIE slots and I have tried a different power cable to no avail. How bizarre...

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

Have you read my post about the Ram slots ? according to the picture you are using slot 2 or 3 and not slot 1 is this correct ?
try using slot 1.
Also check BIOS for logs
Also check event viewer trough 2nd PC !

These should lead you to something more !
Let me know !
cheers, Louise.

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Louise Porkolt :

Slot 1 is blocked by the CPU fan. Reagrdless, if slots 2, 3 and 4 don't work then I don't have much faith in slot 1 working, especially given that at one point my old mobo could run 1 ram stick in slot 3 just fine.

Also, would event viewer be able to monitor my PC if it can't even get to displaying the bios screen?

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

you should open the eventviewer with another PC, connect the HDD from the affected PC as slave to it... this requires some experience... or you can google how to do this. I've done this long time ago. Can't remember how.

let me know if you have a second PC and if I need to look it up for you.

one more thing: did you check the HDD for issues ? if you connect it to another PC: check with "Speccy" if it's still in good state.

Seanra777 · Dec 5, 2016

Louise Porkolt :

I have disconnected all HDDs and SSDs and I have even plugged in a brand new high watt PSU. I'm still getting the same problem. Perhaps I'm just ridiculously unlucky and I have two faulty motherboards. Literally the only things I haven't tested are the CPU and well the mobo.

So I'm not sure what kind of information Event Viewer can give me? Will it be detailed enough for me to make a diagnosis?

Thanks again Louise, really appreciate your support

Louise Porkolt · Dec 5, 2016

Seanra777 :

The only diagnose the eventviewer would give you is where the hardware failed the last time you had a working PC !
What about the BIOS Logs ? Did you check if any and if there is any usefull info ?

Two faulthy mobo's is never to exclude, but still 2 DOA's is very unlikely.
Have you checked if the CPU is compatible with it ? maybe the wrong voltage ? (just guessing it gets beyond my knowledge.)

Broken RAM causing monitor to not display?

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