Confusing ASrock z97 pro 3 + 4790k issues?

[DotSamm]

So, I've never seen issues like this as long as I've been building computers, I've wracked my mind trying to figure out what it could be but I'm at a loss. I RMA'd the first board because the issues were so strange I assumed it was defective.

Firstly, the PCI Express slot doesn't appear to work with my R9 280 on either board, I don't know what is up with that, but I figured I'd move past that with the onboard graphics and come back to it when I got the rest of the computer working.

Here's where it gets weird. The computer will boot once, all the way to the desktop, then when I shut it off and turn it on again it wont post. If I change the amount of ram or clear the bios, it works again for one boot. This leads me to assume its a bios issue, but I don't know what it would be since it's booting fine once. I've never had so much trouble getting a board to work, but I'm out of ideas.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[alexoiu]

Although risky in these conditions, try though updating the BIOS.
What RAMs using?

 

[DotSamm]

Although risky in these conditions, try though updating the BIOS.
What RAMs using?

2x8gb from Team, its on the supported ram list. I did the bios update and it seems to be booting consistently now -- at least once I changed the default graphics adapter to onboard.

So here is where things are weird now:
With the default adapter set to onboard, the graphics card is detected by the OS and I can install drivers and everything, but when I plug a video cable into it, I get no video.

If I switch the default graphics to PCIE and plug the cable into the card, I don't see the post but I know the computer is booting successfully because I can use the keyboard to shut down or get sounds to play.

 

[alexoiu]

What ports on card and monitor using?

 

[DotSamm]

I've tried dvi and HDMI

 

[alexoiu]

Assuming that the card is correctly inserted in the slot and it is not faulty, then it might be a CPU socket bent pins issue.

 

[DotSamm]

Assuming that the card is correctly inserted in the slot and it is not faulty, then it might be a CPU socket bent pins issue.

Interesting, I haven't heard of that being a possible cause, could you elaborate? Since the video issue existed on both boards, I would assume that could indicate an issue with the CPU itself?

I'm pretty sure the card isn't faulty because I tested it in another machine.

 

[alexoiu]

"Since the video issue existed on both boards, I would assume that could indicate an issue with the CPU itself?"
It could be, as the CPU controls the PCIe.

 

[DotSamm]

Its interesting that when I'm using the onboard video that it detects the card in the PCIE slot then, right?

Actually I just came up with some potentially useful information while exploring the device manager:
I noticed that it had a warning next to it so i checked out the device status:

"This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use (Code 12)

If you want to use this device, you will need to disable one of the other devices on this system."

I've never had this issue before, any thoughts?

 

[alexoiu]

It might be a BIOS issue. Can you test different graphics card (borrow one from a friend, if possible)?

 

[DotSamm]

Yup, I'll try swapping out the one in this computer for that one and test them both again.

 

[DotSamm]

It might be a BIOS issue. Can you test different graphics card (borrow one from a friend, if possible)?

Okay yeah now I'm really confused. So my graphics card (r9 290) works in the motherboard that's having issues. The r9 280 card that's having issues works in my case.

 

[alexoiu]

The BIOS, most probably. Have you updated the BIOS to the latest available version?

 

[DotSamm]

The BIOS, most probably. Have you updated the BIOS to the latest available version?

Are you talking about the bios on the card? I've never done that before.

 

[alexoiu]

I was talking about the motherboard, but now that you've mentioned it, is there a newer BIOS available for the card? What's the model?

 

[DotSamm]

PowerColor TurboDuo AXR9 280 3GBD5-T2DHE/OC Radeon R9 280

 

[alexoiu]

I couldn't find a BIOS download for it. Can you return the card and choose different model?

 

[DotSamm]

Unfortunately no 🙁

 

[alexoiu]

Try contacting ASRock Support http://event.asrock.com/tsd.asp
See what they say about the issue.

 

[DotSamm]

Alright, I've sent out support requests to both Powercolor and ASrock, thank you so much for all your help tonight.

 

[alexoiu]

No problem. If solving the issue, please post back.

 

[DotSamm]

I actually played around with the motherboard bios a little more and got a little further:

Forcing the PCIE Link speed to gen 2 makes it so the card is recognized and display, I'm beginning to think the card might be unstable somehow.

 

[alexoiu]

Is the system for you or someone else?

 

[DotSamm]

Someone else

 

[alexoiu]

I thought so.
An option would be to keep the card for you and install the 290 with the ASrock. Then, with a future build, choose a different board model and install the 280 with.