New GTX 960, BIOS issue?

[Lithraviel]

Hi all,

I just got a brand new GTX 960 and installed it into my MOBO. On start-up, I get the normal 1 beep that BIOS is rolling the 3 singular beeps with long pauses in between. At the same time, I also installed 2 new RAM sticks. With my old video card (GTX 560) I had zero BIOS issues, it's only with the new one that I have this problem. I took out the new sticks & kept the original 2 so I don't believe its a RAM issue. GPU seems to work just fine, it just takes a while for Windows to load up. I can not access the BIOS at all with the new card. Specs below (apologies if some of the information is missing as I'm at work):

MOBO: MSI Z68A-GD55 (G3) LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Core: Intel Core i5-2500 Sandy Bridge Quad-Core 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W BX80623I52500 Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000

PSU: FirePower ZT Series 750W 80Plus Bronze Fully-Modular High Performance ATX PC Power Supply ZT750W

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL

GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 960 04G-P4-3969-KR 4GB FTW GAMING w/ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling w/ Free Installed Backplate Graphics Card

I have not updated the BIOS but that was my plan tonight after work. The computer is self-built from 2012. I'm fairly certain I don't have a PSU issue, the RAM sticks worked perfectly & were read no problem with the old card & after windows loads with the new card, I can see it in device manager & EVGA precision recognizes it. I'm just not sure what to do at this point. Please let me know if you need any additional specs!

 

[junkeymonkey]

ya, maybe lots of guys with z68 had issues with 900 cards at first you can se [maybe ] the latest bios [if this is your board] has ''- Enhanced PCI-E display card performance.'' but still from 2013 ??

thing is this happened back during the 900 cards first release days between the newer cards revised v-bios or if the board manufactures released a updated bios for the 900 card I thought this issues was well behind ??

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/Z68AGD55_G3.html#down-bios

another funny thing was most had sandys as well with this

I would also try the card in another computer if you can just to insure the card is good ?

[for example only ]

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=184103.0

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=184633.0

may not hurt to drop MSI support a e-mail and get there input if nothing else ??

 

[Lithraviel]

Thanks for the quick reply Junkey. So you're suggesting updating the BIOS & seeing if that works? I'm thinking that's the issue as it's a few years old. MSI has a new update tool that shows 3 or 4 BIOS updates so I was planning on flashing the new BIOS oldest to newest and seeing if that works.

The card is not the issue, I know that for a fact. I ran benchmarks on it last night along with playing some Division & it performed better than expected (on ultra settings as well, go figure).

 

[junkeymonkey]

how did you run benches if you say the cards now not working ?? or was that in another computer ??

hard to say I would then try to get the latest bios in there and see -- I'm sure as I said by now the vid card manufactures have or should have adjusted there cards v-bios for this seeing this issues is not near as common as it once was at first

 

[Lithraviel]

When I start the computer, the BIOS does the 3 beeps with long pauses in between but then Windows starts up no problem. So I was able to test it in my rig. The card is recognized everywhere (device manager, EVGA precision tool, etc.) and worked just fine.

I've looked through a bunch of solutions on the site & I would tend to agree with you that the V-BIOS should be adjusted, but that's not something I can test. Basically, I'm on my last thought by updating BIOS and hoping that works.

 

[junkeymonkey]

the cards bios should be fine this was a old issue back in the 900 first release days [like well over a year ago ? ] and I don't think the cards bios should be at issue

but you got that older platform board now its older bios is what I see as more at issue these newer card and older boards have been ''funny'' at times


well I was just looking at this ??? ''3 beeps - Base 64K memory failure - bad memory '''

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=251645.10;wap2


I think just get the latest bios in there and see what happens


http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/beep/amiB3-c.html

 

[Lithraviel]

Sounds good, hopefully that cures the problem. I agree with you that I think old BIOS + new card = not working

 

[junkeymonkey]

I guess you did not bump the memory sticks or something when installing the card and cause that damage for that memory error ??

anyway you will know more after you get the bios in and see what you end up with after doing that...

 

[Lithraviel]

My memory is 4x4GB sticks, all of them the exact same. I tested the configuration & combinations of the new/old sticks with my old GPU and had no problems at all. They were recognized correctly in DXDIAG every time.

 

[junkeymonkey]

well then fingers crossed on the bios update ...

 

[Lithraviel]

So the BIOS update didn't work. I'm not sure what else I can do at this point. Like I said, my computer runs fine except for the BIOS with the new card. The old card has 0 issues with the BIOS.

 

[junkeymonkey]

well it got to be having some issues ?? your old card don't .. like I was saying the newer cards have got some slight compatibility issues with some older chipsets and z68 was one of them

it either live with the beeps if you say it works after it does that -- rma the card incase that memory issues is something wrong with the memory on the card its self - then maybe try another brands 960 card in it like one from MSI to see if there cards v-bios is a better match if another evga replacement card still does the same

thing is you need now to test your card In another computer like your buddies gaming rig or something and see if you get error codes or beeps or whatever .. that way you can kinda know if its the card cause it has issues as well or if the card works/boots up 100% on a different computer then you can kinda say motherboard compatibility on your end

your at a cross road on where to go next with it

 

[Lithraviel]

This is the RMA card actually. The first one I got had a core clock problem. I'm thinking it's the chipset that's causing issues. I still have the old card and a new bios utility that I can adjust the bios in Windows if necessary

 

[junkeymonkey]

I don't know about all that I think I wouls try a store rma and see if they would let you this time try another brand 960 like the MSI card and see .

I mean if you tried 2 evga and then you get the say, MSI and it don't work out as well then you know its got to be motherboard compatibility issues

if the other brands 960 works fine and dandy then you can say it was the v-bios evga uses on there card not compatible like I said old board and new card can be funny?

tough call

you look around you see your not the only one

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/809811/from-gtx-660-to-gtx-960-now-pc-wont-boot-/

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/2zhqta/any_reason_why_a_gtx_960_wouldnt_work_in_this/

like this guy here claimed his MSI 960 card did work after the new bios update on his motherboard [same board as you ? ]

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=252817.0

 

[Lithraviel]

I'm considering just upgrading to a 970 from a different manufacturer at this point from a local store so I don't have to wait a week+ to get another card from Newegg. I haven't noticed any issues with my MOBO with the 970 during my searches, do you know of any junkey?

 

[junkeymonkey]

well the 970 was the first 900 to release and the first where these issues popped up ??

cant say I assume the risk is about the same as with the 960

one thing is not to say its a better card or anything but I do notice the msi card seems to be the one that works out the most and evga seems to have the most [that's just a opinion on how I was seeing it ,but ... ]

I wish I could give you the golden answer but I cant you may find no matter what 900 card you use you end up in the same boat ..

https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=184774.0

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2309588/extremely-long-boot-time-bios-screen-company-logo.html

I guess your down to buy - try - and hope it don't make you cry

I think I would lean for the msi cards this go round [more opinion]