New Home-Built Gaming Rig Having Issues on First Boot

[valethepoet]

I'm writing from my iPhone so, regarding my build, I had posted it previously before I purchased the parts here: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1858983/timer-homebuilt-gaming-rig-halp.html

I went with my general build, though I did swap out the case for an AZZA 9000. I also changed the RAM sticks for the GSkill Sniper 1866 Series.

I've received all of my parts in the mail and I've pieced everything together. I've only placed one RAM stick in and haven't place the GPU in yet. So I'm hooked up with on board graphics via DVI. When I boot it up, it runs through the different Q-Codes and finishes on "A0". The only LED that stays lit on the motherboard is the TPU LED which remains a solid green. All of this seems pretty normal, based on the research I've done.

The issue is nothing will display on the monitor and no sound is playing from my speakers (hooked up via the rear mobo AUX). So I popped the windows 8 disk into the optical drive and it'll start spinning, but nothing happens.

I decided perhaps I should disconnect the SSD and then try with just the optical and HD drives, and upon booting, it'll run through its Q-Codes and then stop on AE this time. Which means legacy boot event. I've been scouring the internet for some sort of answer but can't seem to find anything. Any suggestions?

 

[tiny voices]

Have you set the bios to boot from the DVD?

 

[alexoiu]

What code getting if connecting only the HDD (use a SATA cable that came with the board)? Can you connect the monitor using a VGA cable?

 

[valethepoet]

I can't see a BIOS. Holding down del doesn't help either.

Also, I tried to clear the CMOS and now upon booting, it seems to fail and reboot after a few seconds. The boot LED turns solid red, and the Q Code is A2.

 

[valethepoet]

What code getting if connecting only the HDD (use a SATA cable that came with the board)? Can you connect the monitor using a VGA cable?

Sadly, the monitor only accepts DVI.

 

[alexoiu]

Now remove the HDD and connect only the SSD. Test different SATA ports

 

[valethepoet]

Now remove the HDD and connect only the SSD. Test different SATA ports

Okay I've been swapping them around and nothing has changed. I called ASUS and they said they believe that my RAM is incompatible. But the RAM LED isn't coming on (except for once when I didn't have it plugged in all the way and at that point the CPU doesn't boot). I'm at a loss.

 

[alexoiu]

Weird. What are the last 4 digits on the barcode sticker on the motherboard?

 

[valethepoet]

Alright, I've made some progress. A lot actually. I decided to call ASUS back, and I actually was put on the line with someone who knew what they were talking about. Turns out, everything on the motherboard was working as it should. For some reason it just wasn't pushing to my monitor. Now, the monitor is 1440p, and they are suspecting that my BIOS wasn't compatible with that. I decided to borrow a buddy's monitor, and sure enough it worked fine at 900p. I've managed to install Windows 8.1 and I THINK I've updated the drivers (just popped in what CD's I had). I still can't get anything to display to the 1440p monitor, though it acknowledges that both monitors are hooked up to it currently. Any suggestions?

 

[alexoiu]

Did you update the BIOS too?

 

[valethepoet]

Did you update the BIOS too?

Well I updated the drivers with the ASUS disk. I assume that took care of the BIOS as well...?

 

[alexoiu]

Enter BIOS and check the version there.

 

[valethepoet]

Enter BIOS and check the version there.

It's 1205.

 

[alexoiu]

1602 is the latest version.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z87PRO/#support
Use EZ Flash in BIOS (check the manual for how to).

 

[valethepoet]

I managed to figure out what is was. While my motherboard CAN handle up to 4k resolution, the on-board DVI-D slot itself can't.