- Nov 21, 2014
- 7
- 0
- 4,510
Hi all,
Proviso: I'd posted a precursor to this thread in the Windows 8 forum prior to realizing that my problem's most likely a hardware issue, so I apologize for any seeming redundancy.
I've just built a new computer from scratch, and it's my first build in over a decade so for all intents and purposes I'm new at this. I assembled everything yesterday and all seemed well until I began my Windows 8.1 installation, and now I'm having a hard time determining what's wrong.
For starters, my system specs from PCPartPicker:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kfqCgs
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: EVGA Z87 FTW ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($92.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-21 20:15 EST-0500
PCPartPicker gives two potential compatibility issues: one suggesting that Z87 chipsets need a BIOS update for Haswell refresh processors, and the other advising about the RAM voltage for the same processor line. For the second issue, RAM voltage is 1.515 V - just a little above 1.5 - and I can't imagine it causing the problem. My only attached peripherals are one USB keyboard, one USB drive containing Windows 8.1 installation media, and a display connected to the GeForce HDMI out.
The exact problem is this: I boot up the machine with one RAM module and POST with no trouble. I get into BIOS, everything looks good as far as I can tell, so I exit BIOS and the machine begins booting from my USB drive. This is legit Windows 8.1, purchased from the Microsoft store and installed to the USB drive with their utility program. Installation proceeds without a hitch: I enter my license key, select the SSD as the install location, and finally wait a minute or so while files are copied to the drive. At this point, I'm informed that my computer will restart to finish the installation, and it does so after a 10 second countdown. After that warm reboot, I get no output signal from the video card. If I completely shut off the machine via the power switch and turn it back on, I do get video output and, of course, a message that the Windows installation failed.
Furthermore, at no point have I gotten any video output from the motherboard HDMI port. I've gone back to BIOS and set integrated graphics to be permanently enabled, but still I get no HDMI output (I don't have a DisplayPort device to test but I suspect it wouldn't make a difference). I've even pulled the GeForce and reset CMOS, but nothing from onboard graphics.
At this point, I'm pretty much lost. My only other computer close at hand is a laptop, and I don't know anyone from whom I could borrow known good parts to try and isolate the problem with, but I'm leaning towards the motherboard as a bad part. It seems like it could explain both the onboard graphics problem and the issue with the GeForce seemingly not acknowledging a warm reboot. I can head down the street and pick up a Z97 board in short order, but I'm open to suggestions first. Could it be possible that the PSU isn't handling the reset properly?
Note: I've gone through the stickied build guide and the "before you post about no boot/no video" thread before drafting this query. There are no loose screws rattling around, no superfluous screws in the motherboard that might cause a short, all components and cable connectors are in tight and latched properly - including the 8-pin CPU power, I've used just a pea-sized dab of Antec Formula 6 on the CPU, only using one RAM module in slot #2 per the motherboard manual...I've gone through the checklists on TH and the documentation with my hardware several times and I can't determine that I've done anything wrong. I'm POSTing just fine, everything seems perfectly normal until a warm reset.
If I've forgotten anything important, please let me know.
Proviso: I'd posted a precursor to this thread in the Windows 8 forum prior to realizing that my problem's most likely a hardware issue, so I apologize for any seeming redundancy.
I've just built a new computer from scratch, and it's my first build in over a decade so for all intents and purposes I'm new at this. I assembled everything yesterday and all seemed well until I began my Windows 8.1 installation, and now I'm having a hard time determining what's wrong.
For starters, my system specs from PCPartPicker:
PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/kfqCgs
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($299.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: EVGA Z87 FTW ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($134.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws Series 8GB (4 x 2GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($92.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($57.98 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($53.98 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card ($349.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS/I Snow Edition (White/Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($29.99 @ Micro Center)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 620W 80+ Bronze Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($14.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-21 20:15 EST-0500
PCPartPicker gives two potential compatibility issues: one suggesting that Z87 chipsets need a BIOS update for Haswell refresh processors, and the other advising about the RAM voltage for the same processor line. For the second issue, RAM voltage is 1.515 V - just a little above 1.5 - and I can't imagine it causing the problem. My only attached peripherals are one USB keyboard, one USB drive containing Windows 8.1 installation media, and a display connected to the GeForce HDMI out.
The exact problem is this: I boot up the machine with one RAM module and POST with no trouble. I get into BIOS, everything looks good as far as I can tell, so I exit BIOS and the machine begins booting from my USB drive. This is legit Windows 8.1, purchased from the Microsoft store and installed to the USB drive with their utility program. Installation proceeds without a hitch: I enter my license key, select the SSD as the install location, and finally wait a minute or so while files are copied to the drive. At this point, I'm informed that my computer will restart to finish the installation, and it does so after a 10 second countdown. After that warm reboot, I get no output signal from the video card. If I completely shut off the machine via the power switch and turn it back on, I do get video output and, of course, a message that the Windows installation failed.
Furthermore, at no point have I gotten any video output from the motherboard HDMI port. I've gone back to BIOS and set integrated graphics to be permanently enabled, but still I get no HDMI output (I don't have a DisplayPort device to test but I suspect it wouldn't make a difference). I've even pulled the GeForce and reset CMOS, but nothing from onboard graphics.
At this point, I'm pretty much lost. My only other computer close at hand is a laptop, and I don't know anyone from whom I could borrow known good parts to try and isolate the problem with, but I'm leaning towards the motherboard as a bad part. It seems like it could explain both the onboard graphics problem and the issue with the GeForce seemingly not acknowledging a warm reboot. I can head down the street and pick up a Z97 board in short order, but I'm open to suggestions first. Could it be possible that the PSU isn't handling the reset properly?
Note: I've gone through the stickied build guide and the "before you post about no boot/no video" thread before drafting this query. There are no loose screws rattling around, no superfluous screws in the motherboard that might cause a short, all components and cable connectors are in tight and latched properly - including the 8-pin CPU power, I've used just a pea-sized dab of Antec Formula 6 on the CPU, only using one RAM module in slot #2 per the motherboard manual...I've gone through the checklists on TH and the documentation with my hardware several times and I can't determine that I've done anything wrong. I'm POSTing just fine, everything seems perfectly normal until a warm reset.
If I've forgotten anything important, please let me know.
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