New build - X99P-SLI, i7 6850, no video.

[deathonabun]

Just installed the X99P-SLI with a new broadwell-e i7 6850.

I get no video output on my single GTX 970 GPU, and the machine reboots after 15 seconds.

I tried all of the normal steps, removed all attached SATA drives, usb devices/headers, checked all power connectors, using only 1 stick of ram, used a different 1 stick, tried a different slot for the 1 stick, removed GPU, reseated GPU, removed CPU to check for bent pins or anything, etc. etc. Case/Cooler/GPU Fans all come on. Green/yellow LED lights on the board come on. Never any video. I can verify video card itself works as I am using it again on my old board as I write this.

The only change I ever noted, was when I use no ram in the board, it reboots after ~2 seconds rather than 15.

My best guess at this point is the board doesn't have F20 bios revision or newer and so lacks support the new broadwell-E CPUs. At this point, I tried using Q-Flash, but I'm not sure if having video output is a pre-requisite for getting Q-Flash to work, seeing as how there is a UI to navigate. Also, nothing I can find mentions whether or not I should be using a specific USB port over the others on this board. At any rate, plugging in a FAT32 formatted usb containing the latest BIOS had no effect.

The only thing I can think of is getting my hands on a haswell-e chip in order to update the bios, and that doesn't seem reasonable.

I am open to any and all tips or suggestions at this point.

[dmdilks]

More likely it doesn't have the F22 bios so you can use that CPU. You can return or take it back to where you got it. See if  they can update it for you. That is you best option it will be cheaper to do it that way.

[Joe88]

Use q-flash plus
You do not need a gui or video output for that matter

Download the latest bios for the board, raeame the bios to GIGABYTE.BIN and place it on a fat32 formated usb drive
Plus the drive in the white colored usb slot on the back of the motherboard and turn it on

The pc may restart a few times but a led light on the mother will start blinking when its flashing the new bios, when the led stays solid then you can shut off the pc and remove the usb drive

Turn on the pc now and it "should" post

[deathonabun]

Plus the drive in the white colored usb slot on the back of the motherboard and turn it on

Thanks for the tip, Joe, but this board doesn't have a white USB port.
There's 4 black USB 2.0/1.1 ports, 3 blue USB 3.0 ports, a red USB 3.1 'Type A' port, and 1 USB Type-C™ Thunderbolt™ 3 connector. 

[JamesV]

Similar issue here but with i7 5820k.   Would like to know which USB port to flash, I've tried them all.   Still nothing.

[dmdilks]

Similar issue here but with i7 5820k.   Would like to know which USB port to flash, I've tried them all.   Still nothing.

If you are using a 5820K that is supported from day one no need to update the bios. Did you do the same step the OP did by checking things like the CPU socket for bent pins and what memory are you running?

[JamesV]

Yes, agreed that was what I was led to believe.   No obvious CPU bent pins, tried both Corsair vengeance LPX and Kingston hyperx fury 32GB kits (4x8) DDR4 2666Mhz individual sticks in each grey slot per support.   Still no splash screen or post. 

[dmdilks]

Yes, agreed that was what I was led to believe.   No obvious CPU bent pins, tried both Corsair vengeance LPX and Kingston hyperx fury 32GB kits (4x8) DDR4 2666Mhz individual sticks in each grey slot per support.   Still no splash screen or post.

The CPU only really supports 2133 memory. Yes it should default 2133 but I would try a stick 2133 memory to see if it will boot.  Plus did you check the support list for your memory because the Kingston isn't on the support list.

[deathonabun]

From what I can find, this board, GA-X99P-SLI doesn't have the "Q-Flash Plus" feature. It only has regular Q-Flash which requires an already compatible CPU in order to update BIOS. I guess someone at Gigabyte made the poor decision to offset the cost of adding Thunderbolt™ 3 by stripping the "Q-Flash Plus" feature. This, with the addition of reinforced PCIe slots seems to be the only differences between the GA-X99-SLI and the GA-X99P-SLI that I can see.   

Put simply, Retailers should not be bundling this board with Broadwell-E chips if the board won't work with them out of the box. 

I have not been able to find any PC support providers locally who have a compatible chip, so I have no choice but to request an RMA from Gigabyte. If Gigabyte denies my RMA for a BIOS update, I will just have to return it to Newegg for a refund and buy a different board.

[JamesV]

Apologize for hijacking thread.   Memory recommendation was from support ticket and still cannot get MB to post with compatible CPU.  Looks like I am in same boat.   Cheers

[RolloZ170]

Apologize for hijacking thread.   Memory recommendation was from support ticket and still cannot get MB to post with compatible CPU.  Looks like I am in same boat.   Cheers

I had same problem, old BIOS and no Q-Flash plus.
I purchased a E5-2630L v3 ES on the bay for $99, comes from jpn in 6 days.

[spaille]

I had the exact same problem.

New broadwell-e cpu not recognized and flashing the bios was needed.
I had to buy a 5820k for the only purpose of updating the bios and get my computer to work...

I've always been a Gigabyte user for my motherboards but in this case I must say that I'm very disappointed. 
A recently produced motherboard shouldn't be sold with an old bios that doesn't support recent cpu's.

My two cents.

[deathonabun]

I just wanted to provide an update.

I requested an RMA from Gigabyte on June 19th so I could send the board back and have them update the BIOS.
On June 21st, they approved my RMA request, and I shipped the board to Gigabyte via UPS ground. They received the shipment a week later on June 28th. On July 11, I received notice that they had finished testing the board and found nothing wrong with it. They shipped the board back to me UPS 3-day and I received it yesterday, July 14th.

Today I installed the board, and it works great! I was worried since they claimed to have found nothing wrong with the board that they had not updated the BIOS. Clearly they did, and not make note of it.

I'm still not happy about having to wait nearly a month to use my new motherboard, but I've learned my lesson about buying board without the USB BIOS update feature (Q-Flash Plus). Never again.

[dmdilks]

Like the one guy said about throwing in his two cent. Understand something that the store or on line store selling motherboard gets 100's of them. They don't know what bios is on the board when they sell them.

There is nothing on the box either. All they do take your order and fill it out. They don't know or care why you are buying those items. All I can say here is do your research before you buy stuff. If you want to make sure call them and find out if the items will work together.

I have been doing this for 35 yrs you never know what you are getting into when you start to build a computer. I myself cross my fingers every time you put some thing together. Sorry you guys ran into problems but welcome to the computer world.