GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD without video output

[NormanW]

I have built lots of systems over the years, but this new one has got me flummoxed!

I have a new GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD with a 40 GB SSD, however I am unable to get any reliable video output.  I think I must be missing something simple but don't know what it is.  I have been trying now for over a week, without success.

After installing the componants, and turning on, all the fans work and I get a single beep from the POST test.  The four phase LED's come on for about 5 seconds, then go off, but there is no output visible on screen (any of several screens tried both CRT and FST).

I pulled the two winfast graphics cards and replaced with a singe, older and known-to-be-working winfast card.  Same single beep, but no output.  Disconnedted the HDD, nothing, removed the iSSD and reset the bios using a jumper.

One one occasion only, I got a signal.  There was no BIOS information, but after about 10 seconds of blan screen the GIGABYTE BIOS setup programme came up, in colour.  While I was reading what it said on screen, it dissapeared and I have not been able to replicate it since.  This is without the SSD and with the older graphics card in.  When I put one of the new graphics cards in, still nothing but a blank screen.

I have tried connecting the HDD to both the SATA 6GB and SATA 3GB connectors, with nothing is in the SATA-5 connector as there will be a SSD fitted, if I can ever get it to work.

I would really appreciate any advice on what else I should try.  As this is a new system, the BIOS has not been configured and there is as yet no O/S on the HDD or SSD

Thank you

Norman

GA-Z68XP-UD3 REV:1.0 MB
Gigabyte Superb 720w PSU  GE-P610A-C2
Inter Core 7i 2600K CPU
2 x 2GB Kingman Hercules DDR3 Single Channel 1600MHz RAM
MAXTOR SATA3.0 260Gb HDD (O/S) model 6V250FD
2 x Winfast PX7600 GT-TDH 256Mb graphics cards
Plexstor SATA L890SA DVD writer
nondescript mouse & keyboard

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi NormanW,

About your PSU:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2793#sp
+12V1    +12V2    +12V3
  18A      18A       18A

About your WinFast PX7600 GT TDH Extreme:
http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/gps/specification.asp?pronameid=266&lineid=8&act=2
For two PX7600 GT running in SLI configurations, a minimum 400W system power supply (with 12V rating of 22A) is recommended.

So your PSU is not powerfull for your configuration. When you choose a PSU, make attention at amperage. Is important.

Have you tried start a computer with just a CPU, one stick of ram, and one single graphic card, mouse, keyboard and Display monitor.
No Hard Disk. Nothing other.

Have you a probem with this very minimal configuration? If yes, fix it before add other hardware.

When you have installed a cpu on socket, you put a thermal paste, between cpu and heatsink?

Have you a Intel stock heatsink or other? If other, name it please.

Other thing, the pressure on the cpu by the heatsink have a importance on the system.
Because a cpu have a memory controller.

If the pressure is higher on one side of the cpu is not good.

We really need the pressure of the cooler is balanced on the cpu. And also not too strong. Sometimes you need release the pressure, while ensuring it is fully equal on every side.

What is your case, for this computer system?
Please type with precision the model and brand, thank.

Your graphics card have each :
Connectors    HDTV-out / Dual link DVI-I/ Single link DVI-I
Have you choose a the good cable for the connector?

Otherwise you have a DVI-to-VGA Adaptor if you need it.


Gloup_Gloup

[NormanW]

Hi Gloup-gloup

Thanks for your response.  My answers to the questions you raise are below.  The only think I can't swap out at the moment is the PSU because I don't have a spare at home


<About your PSU:
<http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2793#sp
<+12V1    +12V2    +12V3
<  18A      18A       18A

<About your WinFast PX7600 GT TDH Extreme:
<http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/gps/specification.asp?pronameid=266&lineid=8&act=2
<For two PX7600 GT running in SLI configurations, a minimum 400W system power supply (with 12V rating of 22A) is <recommended.

<So your PSU is not powerfull for your configuration. When you choose a PSU, make attention at amperage. Is important.


This was sold to me by the store as being suitable for my system - at some point you have to trust the people who sell you things.

<Have you tried start a computer with just a CPU, one stick of ram, and one single graphic card, mouse, keyboard and Display monitor.
<No Hard Disk. Nothing other.

Yes, still no picture on screen.

<Have you a probem with this very minimal configuration? If yes, fix it before add other hardware.

Yes, even  with a single older graphics card, a PX6600 TD
http://www.leadtek.com.tw/eng/3d_graphic/specification.asp?pronameid=206&lineid=1&act=2

There is nothing on either a CRT or a FST display. That is exactly what i am tryig to do now, to get it working as a "bare Bones" then see what is wrong, and I can't.

<When you have installed a cpu on socket, you put a thermal paste, between cpu and heatsink?

Yes

<Have you a Intel stock heatsink or other? If other, name it please.

Using the intel stock heatsink that came with the processor in the same box

<Other thing, the pressure on the cpu by the heatsink have a importance on the system.
<Because a cpu have a memory controller.

<If the pressure is higher on one side of the cpu is not good.

<We really need the pressure of the cooler is balanced on the cpu. And also not too strong. Sometimes you need release the pressure, while <ensuring it is fully equal on every side.

I had wondered  about that because the heatsink and fan seemed to need a lot of pressure to get it to lock into the motherboard, but when not locked down it is not sucure.  There seems to be no way to do a partial lock down

<What is your case, for this computer system?
<Please type with precision the model and brand, thank.

The case is branded "Gigabyte".  The label says Model PC61163,  OE 023710   Date 0610  S/N C300169.  I searched and found that it seems to hav been made by Chenbro Micom

<Your graphics card have each :
<Connectors    HDTV-out / Dual link DVI-I/ Single link DVI-I
<Have you choose a the good cable for the connector?

Yes, the ones that came bundled with the graphics cards by leadtek, and tried alternatives to be sure it wasn't a cable fault.  I have the older system I was upgrading from and have tried individual componants in that and they all work individually.  They just don't work on the new board.  The 400w  PSU is not enought and is not new enough to try with the new MB though.

<Otherwise you have a DVI-to-VGA Adaptor if you need it.

Yes I have.  The 7600 card has both VGA and DVI and I have tried both, again without success

Thanks

Norman

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi again,

About PSU:
if you find a other PSU (One you have already used or loaned by a friend, for example), you have a possibility to connect First PSU for CPU and one graphics card and mobo (recent PSU).
With other PSU, you connect only the Second graphics card. Nothing other.

This will give you more power and will see if your configuration works in SLI with two graphics cards.

I come back here... I am in search action...

Gloup_Gloup

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi again, 

About CPU and HeatSink:

You have a standard heatsink like this: http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Intel-Sandy-Bridge-Review-Core-i7-2600K-and-Core-i5-2500K-25.jpg
or
Intel tower cooler like this : http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Intel-Sandy-Bridge-Review-Core-i7-2600K-and-Core-i5-2500K-24.jpg

Gloup_Gloup

[NormanW]

Hi Again

A standard heatsink like picture 1:  http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Intel-Sandy-Bridge-Review-Core-i7-2600K-and-Core-i5-2500K-25.jpg

[NormanW]

I think I'm going to give up on this Gigabyte MB.  I have tried again this week and this morning to get some kind of signal to the screen with zero result.

My last try a few minutes ago, was a single stick f RAM, the older single PX6600 video card, an analalog connector to the screen, no HDD or anything else connected and the screen remains stubbornly blank.Just a single beep at POST. I tried other single memory SIMM etc, and there is nothing.  If I can't get a signal when there is just a skeliton set up, I can't progress further.

Without buying yet another PSU, I cant try the two PSU suggestion you made.  I have come to the conclusion there is a problem with the MB that I cannot identify.  I know the video cards work from trying them in other systems, but with them either singly or in combination, nothing happens on this one.

In the UAE there is no consumer protection laws, so you have a 14 day shop guarantee, and everything is outside that now so it appears I will have to buy another M/ board - and it won't be a Gigabyte.

[Dark Mantis]

It is quite possible that it is a conflict between the GPU and the monitor. It doesn't happen a lot but when it does these are exactly the symtoms.

I would certainly try a different PSU as that one isn't man enough for the SLI rig that you are running. Three 18A rails for a 750W PSU isn't great.

[NormanW]

Thank you for the advice.  I have tried three different monitors, two flast screen and an old CRT, with different cables and get no picture.  I tried the 7600 cards in an older board and they work together, with the same monitors in SLI mode and singly. So I'm not sure that it is a conflict.

The Nvidea website does not give the amperage requirement, but I have tried the 6600 card working singly and the 7600 cards in a machine with an 18A PSU, but with an AMD processor with no problems.

If the only thing that is left is the PSU, I'll go back to the shop and see what they say, armed with copies of these replies, but as they sold me the PSU as being suitable, it is annoying to say the least.

Thanks again

Norman

[NormanW]

Problem Solved - But don't try this at home !

Having taken the PSU back to the shop, which is the official Gigabyte dealership, they said I did not need a more powerful PSU, they had sold me the right one,  but asked me to bring the whole tower in.

I took it this morning, set up with just video card, RAM, CPU and fan.  Nothing else connected.  At first and second try, there was nothing on their screen either, same as for me.

The technician said he thought he knew what the problem was. He turned off the PSU power switch and with a screwdriver shorted the BIOS to reset it.  With the screwdriver still shorting the two pins, he turned on the PSU power, then pressed the case "on" button.  Still with the screwdriver across the pins, he continuously held the button while the CPU started, then stopped and shut down, then started again.  Then he pulled the screwdriver away.

The POST beeped once, and up came the startup information on the screen.  He went into BIOS and saved it, then shut the system down.

He started the machine and it booted and showed on the usual screen straight away.

Back at home, I have started the computer without a problem, with the two original PX7600 video cards installed, and am now going to do a clean OS install. But at least I now seem to have a working system.

He said it was a known BIOS problem.

Thanks to everyone for their advice.

NormanW

[Dark Mantis]

Yes he basicallly did what we instruct members to do to flash the Backup BIOS over the Main BIOS and get it to boot from that instead. That's where you are glad you bought a Gigabyte motherboard with the Twin BIOS chips.   Do you know what corrupted the Main BIOS in the first place ?

[NormanW]

I didn't realise I had bought a MB with twin BIOS chips.  I bought it for the two PCIex slots!  I also wasn't aware about flashing the backup BIOS.  There is nothing in the manual about that.

No idea what caused the corruption.  I always use a static wrist band and take the usual precautions for dealing with sensitive electronics.  Everything was boxed and sealed when I got it, so it shouldn't have been a handling error. The technie in the store changed a couple of settings in the BIOS before saving, but he was so fast, I couldn't see what it was he changed.  It is booting OK now and loading Win 7.   

[Dark Mantis]

All Gigabyte motherboards have the DualBIOS system.

He probably just loaded the Optimised BIOS Defaults and enabled quickboot etc, all the normal things anyone would do when starting.