What works if I can make it into BIOS - (ASUS P8H61-MX USB3 - Black Screen)

[robbinDH]

Symptoms:

• ■ The PC passes POST and then just gives a black-screen (if I disable the vendor splash screen, if I enable it the splash screen will remain) and then freezes (won't even accept CTRL+ALT+DEL).
  (My Display doesn't go into standby tho, so it seems the PC basically outputs a black image).
  
  ■ If I enter BIOS (which I am perfectly able to) and try to start the "EZ Flash Utility" to update the BIOS, the same thing, black-screen and it freezes.
  
  ■ If I enter BIOS and manually select a device to boot (which are correctly identified), the same thing, black-screen and it freezes.

Good-Symptoms:

• ■ I connected a SPEAKER and on boot it gives off one short *beep*, which seems to indicate everything should be fine, if I remove my RAM and reboot, it gives off 3 longer *beep*s, as expected, indicating this process works fine.
  
  ■ All components are correctly detected in the BIOS, CPU/RAM have the right vendor name and speeds.
  
  ■ Post screen looks fine

The Specs (I have ruled out the rest):
MOBO: ASUS P8H61-MX USB3 (90-MIBJF0-G0EAY0DZ)
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8H61MX_USB3/

CPU: Intel Pentium G2120, 2x 3.10GHz, boxed (BX80637G2120)
http://ark.intel.com/de/products/65527/
(according to the QVM list, is officially supported, since BIOS v0401 [I have 0702])

RAM: G.Skill DIMM Kit 4GB, DDR3-1600, CL9-9-9-24 (F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ)
(I'm unsure if the RAM is officially supported, tho it seems to be standard RAM)

What I have tried/Ruled out:
First of all, I have stripped the PC down to it's bare components, PSU/MOBO/CPU/RAM to test what I can eliminate and disconnected anything I wouldn't need (front USB connector from the casing etc.)

• ■ I reseated everything, , PSU connections, RAM, CPU
  
  ■ I tried running the PC both off one RAM stick (tried both slots with one RAM) and off both simultaneously [UPDATE1]
  
  ■ I have tried two different 400W PSUs, one of which works perfectly fine in another PC. - I made sure I used the right 4P CPU connector.
  ■ Instead of the built-in GPU, I installed a dedicated GPU and manually set it as default display output device in the BIOS, also gives a black screen.
  ■ I switched the RAM with the RAM of another PC, which is also DDR3, has bit different timings but is pretty standard RAM I expected to work. Unchanged behaviour.
  
  ■ I reset the CMOS multiple times, first through the jumper, then I took the CMOS battery out and put it back again. Unchanged behaviour.
  
  ■ I disabled every non-essential on-board component of the mainboard in the BIOS and plugged in a PS/2 keyboard instead of a USB keyboard, tried to start the "EZ Flash Utility", unchanged behaviour.

The question:
I am at a point where I think I have enough indications to return some of my components. I'm trying to narrow down potential problems. The fact that I pass POST and the fact that I can enter the BIOS and change settings around perfectly fine seems to indicate something works fine.

• ■ Does this sound like a damaged CPU?
  ■ Does this sound like incompatible RAM?
  ■ Does this sound like a faulty MOBO, maybe a badly flashed BIOS (my guess)

A question that's implicitly in here:
If I can make it into the BIOS, the POST passes and my components are deteced correctly, what conclusion can I draw?

Big BIG thanks for any kind of answer,
RobbinDH

 

[ryan27968]

cpus barely ever fail. most likely your mobo or ram. it likely wouldnt even turn on if it was your cpu. try running it with only 1 ram module.

 

[robbinDH]

cpus barely ever fail. most likely your mobo or ram. it likely wouldnt even turn on if it was your cpu. try running it with only 1 ram module.

Thanks for your response.

I forgot to mention it but I already run it off one RAM stick and I tried both of my purchased GSKILL and then another Kingston one from my other PC.

I also tried both RAM slots.

 

[ryan27968]

then it is likely a dead mobo.