New Build : XFX Black Edition R9 280X - blank screen on power up.

[Th3BaronJ]

Hi guys,
I'm in the middle of building a new rig. I've had more problems than you can shake a stick at already, my first 2 mobos were DOA with RAM slot channel issues.
Finally, 3rd time lucky I could get to the POST on a test build outside the case, without the GPU installed. Installed the mobo in the case, with everything except the GPU added and it works fine. I then install the GPU, cable up to it and power on. I get all the POST sounds and bleeps, just a blank screen comes up. The fans on the GPU spin up fine, and it looks ok, just no output.
I've tried cabling up via the integral video output from the mobo instead, and still doesn't work. If I take the power cables out of the GPU, then I can POST via the integral video port.
Any idea what the hell is going on? I haven't build a new pc in about 6 years, so I'm more than a bit rusty at PDing the problem.

Motherboard : Asus Z97-A ATX LGA1150
GPU : XFX Radeon R9 280X 3GB Black Edition
Processor : Intel Core i5-4690K
RAM : G.Skill Sniper Series 16GB (2 x 8GB)
Power brick : Corsair 650W ATX12V / EPS12V

 

[Darkbreeze]

You are installed in the light grey/blue slot closest to the CPU right? Any codes flashing on the VGA LED next to the slot when it's powered up?

 

[Th3BaronJ]

Hi, yep I double checked the slot when I installed, and its in PCI express slot 1. The VGA LED comes on initially (red) then goes off almost instantly. GPU fans spin up fine too, so its getting power ok I guess.
Boot device LED lingers on but goes off too, so nothing left lit up on the board once it moves past POST.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You have both the 24 pin and the 4 or 8 pin CPU power connectors plugged into the motherboard? If so I'd say that since you can boot with the integrated video but not with the GPU, perhaps the PSU is weak or faulty. Was this PSU new or is it carried over from a previous build? Biggest issues with new build problems are incompatible RAM and PSUs that either don't meet specs, are cheap or are faulty. What is the model number of your Corsair PSU?

 

[Th3BaronJ]

the PSU is brand new, Corsair HX650 / (or CP-9020030-NA). everything is brand new, I was starting from scratch to try and avoid problems! no chance! LOL.
All power cords are plugged in, present and correct.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, here's my guess, and it's just a guess. The GPU is bad. Could be that either of the two motherboards that had issues caused damage to the GPU but it would be more likely for a faulty GPU to draw too much power and damage the motherboard. You said you can boot windows with the integrated graphics, or you haven't even tried to install yet due to the issues? Everything rather adds up to the GPU itself.

Have you tried the GPU in another system? Have you tried a different PSU?

 

[Sean Payne]

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2383040/black-screen-boot-solution.html

 

[Th3BaronJ]

Thanks Dark,
I am going to have to dismantle my current rig and pull the GPU from it to test if the mboard is screwed or not. I dont know if I can try the XFX in my old board, its been that long I dont know if the board supports it or not.

Thanks for the link Sean, but I cant even get to the POST menu with the new GPU, so its something different.

cheers

 

[Th3BaronJ]

ok, so Ive got it working now! I rechecked everything, didnt actually change anything, with one exception.... the monitor. I was using a less than 1yr old Dell (samsung) TFT, which would work on the integrated card but not the GPU. I pulled my pc out to a bigger room, and cabled up to my samsung BX2450 instead, which i was running my other pc on. powered up, just to be sure it was still buggered and lo and behold it fired into life! I other monitor is barely a year old and runs my work laptop, and other stuff fine. BUt not with the XFX card. very random and weird.
Either way, it works, windows installed and in the fun process of rebuilding my setup.
Thanks Dark for the help till now. I cant believe it seems to be the monitor. Unless my wiggling of cables in connectors did something too!

cheers

 

[Darkbreeze]

I'd double check again with the old monitor. HDMI and DVI can be very sensitive to bent pins or connections that are not fully seated.

 

[crbittencourt]

ok, so Ive got it working now! I rechecked everything, didnt actually change anything, with one exception.... the monitor. I was using a less than 1yr old Dell (samsung) TFT, which would work on the integrated card but not the GPU. I pulled my pc out to a bigger room, and cabled up to my samsung BX2450 instead, which i was running my other pc on. powered up, just to be sure it was still buggered and lo and behold it fired into life! I other monitor is barely a year old and runs my work laptop, and other stuff fine. BUt not with the XFX card. very random and weird.
Either way, it works, windows installed and in the fun process of rebuilding my setup.
Thanks Dark for the help till now. I cant believe it seems to be the monitor. Unless my wiggling of cables in connectors did something too!

cheers

AMAZING!!! I spent almost 24 hours on this problems, and lo and behold, thanks to you the solutions was changing to a newer brand tv/monitor.

 

[Th3BaronJ]

ok, so Ive got it working now! I rechecked everything, didnt actually change anything, with one exception.... the monitor. I was using a less than 1yr old Dell (samsung) TFT, which would work on the integrated card but not the GPU. I pulled my pc out to a bigger room, and cabled up to my samsung BX2450 instead, which i was running my other pc on. powered up, just to be sure it was still buggered and lo and behold it fired into life! I other monitor is barely a year old and runs my work laptop, and other stuff fine. BUt not with the XFX card. very random and weird.
Either way, it works, windows installed and in the fun process of rebuilding my setup.
Thanks Dark for the help till now. I cant believe it seems to be the monitor. Unless my wiggling of cables in connectors did something too!

cheers

AMAZING!!! I spent almost 24 hours on this problems, and lo and behold, thanks to you the solutions was changing to a newer brand tv/monitor.

Glad my pain helped you get yours sorted 🙂 Something so 'simple' yet too obvious to think about initially I guess

 

[Th3BaronJ]

ok, so Ive got it working now! I rechecked everything, didnt actually change anything, with one exception.... the monitor. I was using a less than 1yr old Dell (samsung) TFT, which would work on the integrated card but not the GPU. I pulled my pc out to a bigger room, and cabled up to my samsung BX2450 instead, which i was running my other pc on. powered up, just to be sure it was still buggered and lo and behold it fired into life! I other monitor is barely a year old and runs my work laptop, and other stuff fine. BUt not with the XFX card. very random and weird.
Either way, it works, windows installed and in the fun process of rebuilding my setup.
Thanks Dark for the help till now. I cant believe it seems to be the monitor. Unless my wiggling of cables in connectors did something too!

cheers

AMAZING!!! I spent almost 24 hours on this problems, and lo and behold, thanks to you the solutions was changing to a newer brand tv/monitor.

Glad my pain helped you get yours sorted 🙂 Something so 'simple' yet too obvious to think about initially I guess

 

[Th3BaronJ]

ok, so Ive got it working now! I rechecked everything, didnt actually change anything, with one exception.... the monitor. I was using a less than 1yr old Dell (samsung) TFT, which would work on the integrated card but not the GPU. I pulled my pc out to a bigger room, and cabled up to my samsung BX2450 instead, which i was running my other pc on. powered up, just to be sure it was still buggered and lo and behold it fired into life! I other monitor is barely a year old and runs my work laptop, and other stuff fine. BUt not with the XFX card. very random and weird.
Either way, it works, windows installed and in the fun process of rebuilding my setup.
Thanks Dark for the help till now. I cant believe it seems to be the monitor. Unless my wiggling of cables in connectors did something too!

cheers

AMAZING!!! I spent almost 24 hours on this problems, and lo and behold, thanks to you the solutions was changing to a newer brand tv/monitor.

Glad my pain helped you get yours sorted 🙂 Something so 'simple' yet too obvious to think about initially I guess