New CPU giving black screen except for making it to BIOS once.

Apr 8, 2018
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I just upgraded my I5-4460 to an I7-4790k. My motherboard is an MSI Z87 G45 with BIOS version 1.7, so it should support Haswell-Refresh series processors.
When I installed the 4790k, I was met with a black screen. I tried reinstalling my 4460, and everything worked fine. I tried to reseat the 4790k once more, and it still didn't work.
I tried recleaning everything and installing the 4790k again. I was very excited to see the 4790k make it to the bios menu, so I powered down and closed up my case. However, when I tried turning it back on, I was back to just a black screen.
My pins look straight, my BIOS are correct, and my setup is correct and working when the 4460 is socketed. Any ideas on what could cause the new CPU to not have any output, except for one time randomly making it to the bios?
 
Solution
So you used the older CPU to update the bios. Then installed the newer CPU.

And now it won't boot. Question: did you ground yourself when doing all this? Lets assume you did and nothing was bricked by static. Static can be a finicky thing; one day you can make love to every chip in the house and nothing gets hurt. Another day, just looking at it wrong without being grounded will brick your brand new CPU.

While overclocking my system, whenever I do something stupid in the bios, my system would do the same thing - display the bios information screen, then go blank. The bios is trying to make the settings work, but can't find a way to do it. So it just sits there with no screen output while the bios tries forever to make things...
MSI web says I7-4790K need bios 1.8. (i7-4790 , "T" and "S" need bios 1.7) but "K" need 1.8

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/Z87-G45-GAMING#support-cpu

Core i7 Haswell Refresh i7-4790T 100 2.7 1M 8M C0 45 HDGraphics4600 1200MHz 7821v17.zip
Core i7 Haswell Refresh i7-4790S 100 3.2 1M 8M C0 65 HDGraphics4600 1200MHz 7821v17.zip
Core i7 Haswell Refresh i7-4790K 100 4.0 1M 8M C0 88 HDGraphics4600 1250MHz 7821v18.zip
Core i7 Haswell Refresh i7-4790 100 3.6 1M 8M C0 84 HDGraphics4600 1200MHz 7821v17.zip
 
I have just upgraded my bios to 1.9 using my 4460. I reinstalled the 4790k and reset the CMOS. The computer booted and displayed the BIOS, so I entered it. When I exited the BIOS, the computer restarted and went back to black screen. Upon subsequent restarts, it is still just a black screen. Even after resetting the CMOS again, it still will no longer show me the BIOS, just a "no display" black screen.
 
So you used the older CPU to update the bios. Then installed the newer CPU.

And now it won't boot. Question: did you ground yourself when doing all this? Lets assume you did and nothing was bricked by static. Static can be a finicky thing; one day you can make love to every chip in the house and nothing gets hurt. Another day, just looking at it wrong without being grounded will brick your brand new CPU.

While overclocking my system, whenever I do something stupid in the bios, my system would do the same thing - display the bios information screen, then go blank. The bios is trying to make the settings work, but can't find a way to do it. So it just sits there with no screen output while the bios tries forever to make things work.
It's entirely possible that a setting, or even your entire BIOS is bolluxed.

I suggest you start back at the beginning - with the old CPU. Possibly even flashing the old version of your bios, if necessary. Although, if the new bios version works with your old CPU, then there's probably a problem with your new CPU and not the bios at all. If this is the case then look on the bright side - you still have a working computer and might be able to RMA your CPU and get a replacement.

Of course, if your new bios version does not work with either the new or the old CPU, then the solution is easy - you need a new motherboard.

If your computer still works with the old CPU, then re-check to make absolutely sure you have the exact bios for your board. If you can, RE-flash the bios with your latest version. put your new CPU in, and try to start it without even going into the bios. Leave everything at factory default. If it still won't go past the bios with all default settings but still works fine with the old CPU, then chances are, the new CPU is bricked.
And the only way to tell for sure is to plop it into another puter that can take it without any bios updates.
 
Solution