MSI Z170A Gaming M7 Motherboard, Not Getting a Display

[benking]

So I've made a couple of builds in my lifetime, but this one seems to stump me the most. I can power on the rig, fans spin and lights come on, yet I don't seem to get any display on the screen. Right now it is hooked up via HDMI on a monitor that does work, but I can't seem to get my rig to POST or even display anything at all. There's no splash screens, nothing.
Here's my rig:

MSI Z170A Gaming M7 Motherboard
Intel i7 6700k CPU
32GB (4x8GB) G.Skill TridentZ DDR4-3400 RAM
nVidia GTX 970 SSC
Corsair RM1000 PSU

I also have a Samsung EVO 850 500GB SSD installed (with my previous copy of Windows 10 out of my last computer) installed as the main boot drive.

Currently I have two sticks of the RAM in, in DIMM 2 and 4, a keyboard plugged in, an external optical drive plugged in (my rig doesn't have bays for an internal) with the motherboard CD inside. Right now the LED panel on the board is jumping between 20-25 (which I assume is degrees C).

I've read similar posts about the i7 6700k needing the motherboard BIOS to be updated, but I wasn't sure if that was entirely the right step to take. If anyone has any insight, please let me know!

 

[alexoiu]

What code getting (it doesn't show the temperature) if removing all RAMs and starting the board?

 

[benking]

What code getting (it doesn't show the temperature) if removing all RAMs and starting the board?

It's coming up with EO or E0.

 

[alexoiu]

What CPU cooler using and what header is it connected to?

 

[benking]

What CPU cooler using and what header is it connected to?

I bought the Cooler Master V8 GTS. And it's connected to CPUFAN1 on the motherboard. There's also a CPUFAN2 header (which i plugged the case fans into) and a SYSFAN3 that was left open. I moved the case fans from CPUFAN2 to SYSFAN3 and still have the same E0 error code.

 

[alexoiu]

Try connecting the CPU cooler to CPU_Fan 2 see if still E0.

 

[benking]

Try connecting the CPU cooler to CPU_Fan 2 see if still E0.

I connected the CPU cooler to CPUFAN2 and still have the E0 message.

I looked in the Motherboard manual and found the SYSFAN1 port, I connected the CPU cooler to this port and still have the E0 message.

 

[alexoiu]

Don't connect it there.Leave it to either CPU_Fan 1, or 2.
Try clearing the CMOS (unplug the power cord and remove the CMOS battery for a minute), leave only CPU and CPU cooler installed, both 24 and 8 pin power cables connected (no other components/wires) and start the board. See if still E0.

 

[Suztera]

The cpu cooler should not be the cause of your issue. You don't need to change anything to your cpu cooler.
Where are you plugging your HDMI cable? Your motherboard's or the graphic card?

 

[benking]

Don't connect it there.Leave it to either CPU_Fan 1, or 2.
Try clearing the CMOS (unplug the power cord and remove the CMOS battery for a minute), leave only CPU and CPU cooler installed, both 24 and 8 pin power cables connected (no other components/wires) and start the board. See if still E0.

Does that include unplugging every USB, Sata connector, power switch, etc?

I unplugged the video card, reset the CMOS, but still have an E0 code.

 

[alexoiu]

Yes, all connectors. Keep only the 24, 8 pin power cables and the power switch button.

 

[benking]

Yes, all connectors. Keep only the 24, 8 pin power cables and the power switch button.

Okay, I will try that. I left the house to run some errands and will try that when I get back in a few hours. Thanks for the tips.

 

[alexoiu]

No problem.

 

[benking]

No problem.

The only things I left plugged into the motherboard were the 8-pin, 24-pin, and the CPU cooler in CPUFAN1 slot. All I'm getting is the same E0 error.

I still have most of my cables plugged into my PSU, but that shouldn't be a problem, right?

 

[alexoiu]

No, that's not a problem. If inserting a RAM module and starting the board, what code getting (test each slot)?

 

[benking]

No, that's not a problem. If inserting a RAM module and starting the board, what code getting (test each slot)?

I took another look at my motherboard, and saw one of the screws on the motherboard (top left) had a nut on the back of it and it wasn't seated properly into the standoff, so I fixed that. However, with the 8, 24, and CPU cooler plugged in with no RAM, still have E0.

With RAM in DIMM 1: 99
-I plugged in a keyboard and got Ab (AB) which is "Start of Setup. BIOS setup if needed/ requested." error code.

So i plugged in my external optical drive via USB and put in the Motherboard's CD. Then the code sits at 64.
The manual says 63~67 is "Late CPU Initialization".

With RAM in DIMM 2: 32~36 "Early CPU Initialization"
With RAM in DIMM 3: 32~36 "Early CPU Initialization"
With RAM in DIMM 4: 32~36 "Early CPU Initialization"

Still have no display on my monitor, hooked up on HDMI still,

 

[alexoiu]

At this point, I'd say that it's a board issue.

 

[benking]

At this point, I'd say that it's a board issue.

I read somewhere that with the Intel i7 6700k CPU and the Z170A motherboard (my exact setup) that sometimes you have to update the firmware on the motherboard to get it to be compatible with the CPU. So I went onto MSI's website and found the most recent BIOS driver, 1.B. I put it on a FAT32 drive like they suggested, hit the BIOS Flashback+ button, and my computer has reset twice since then. I'm really not sure what the issue is here.

 

[alexoiu]

It's not a BIOS issue. The CPU is supported by the very first version. Is the board under warranty? If yes, I'd RMA it.