Problems booting my new GPU's

[Thargyll]

Hi,

I am having some issues with my new GPU's. My setup:

MSI Z97 x power AC motherboard 
Intel 4790k
Corsair Dominator 4x8 Gb 
2x EVGA GTX 980 Ti hydro copper 
Be quiet Dark Power pro 1200 watt
Window 7 Ultimate 64 bits 
Custom Watercooling
Click Bios 4 

In my BIOS I have the option initiate graphics adapter ( IGD/PEG). The motherboard has also kill fire switches for the PCI-e slots. When booting the system with the IGD option selected I can get the cards recognized and the drivers installed. When i try to boot with the PEG option and the PCI slots enabled I keep getting a blank screen. When booting with the PEG option and the PCI slots disabled, i automatically boot using my onboard graphics card.

I made sure that 

A) Everything is properly connected
B) The GPU's are in the right slots as prescribed by MSI 
C) The Bios was updated to the latest version ( in fact I also tried all the earlier versions just to make sure) 

When trying to use the NVIDIA control panel it keeps crashing on startup. Tried a ton of things to prevent this (know issues with long names in folder, re-installing drivers etc, ...

I really need this system to work, so any suggestions are much appreciated.

As Einstein said : " We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them" so that's why I'm reaching out to you guys to help me out on this one! 


Thanks 

 

 

 

[Thargyll]

No one ? 

[-rascal-]

Just in case...

1. Is your monitor cables connected to the GTX 980's and NOT the back of your motherboard?
2. Where the heck is your SLI connector?
3. Did you set-up your loop so it is cross-flowing at your GPU's (NOT GOOD)??
4. Why is your reservoir so low in coolant?

A LOT of big red warning signs coming up here...

 

This is what I am seeing in your water loop (which is not good)

Spoiler

 

This is what it should be:

Spoiler

 

[Thargyll]

Hi rascal and thanks for the reply,

 

I also contacted EVGA with this issue.

 

1. the monitor cable is connected to the 980 Ti's using HDMI

 

2. I didn't set-up SLI because EVGA suggested that i should try to enable card by card after clearing all previous drivers with the DDU application. Tried this didn't work.

 

3. Cooling loop goes : Reservoir -> GPU's -> 280 radiator -> CPU -> 360 radiator -> reservoir

 

4. The reservoir is low in coolant because I had just drained the system so I could reassure myself that the card were properly seated (which they are) and was refilling it when I took these pictures. The cooling system is working fine and temperatures are 30°C - 40°C

 

I admit that the system could use some tidying up, but if only i could get these cards to work .... 

[-rascal-]

I see...

 

Well since your GTX 980's are not connected together to operate in SLI, they function a two completely separate cards. Connect your display to one card or the other -- there may be a chance one of the GPU's is defective.

 

There can always be the chance where the problem lies with your power supply -- defective unit.

[Thargyll]

I already tried this.

 

On the MB i can deactivate the cards using the kill fire switches (as MSI calls them) to deactivate the ports.

 

In the Bios I have to change the Integrated graphics configuration from IGD to PEG so I can boot with these new cards.

 

I tried everything I can imagine different cables, the power supply , different monitors , ...

 

I tried the cards separately and they keep giving a black screen 

[Chirag Borawake]

Does it boot with single GPU inserted?

[Thargyll]

No when i switch the BIOS setting initiate graphics adapter ( IGD/PEG) from IGD to PEG with either 1 of the two cards activated it gives a black screen.

Same thing when booting with the two cards activated in this option.

 

I can install the drivers by choosing the option initiate graphics adapter ( IGD/PEG) and switching this back to IGD with the PCI switches activated.

 

When I go to device manager both card appear and they give no error. 

 

I contacted EVGA and they will switch these cards under their RMA program, but something tells me the odds are slim that both cards are faulty and that I will end up with the same result.

[Chirag Borawake]

16 hours ago, Thargyll said:

No when i switch the BIOS setting initiate graphics adapter ( IGD/PEG) from IGD to PEG with either 1 of the two cards activated it gives a black screen.

Same thing when booting with the two cards activated in this option.

 

I can install the drivers by choosing the option initiate graphics adapter ( IGD/PEG) and switching this back to IGD with the PCI switches activated.

 

When I go to device manager both card appear and they give no error. 

 

I contacted EVGA and they will switch these cards under their RMA program, but something tells me the odds are slim that both cards are faulty and that I will end up with the same result.

I kind of have a feeling that it is your motherboard. But wait for the RMA anyways.