Begging for help - no video / reboot loop

[Purgent]

I have been building computers for 15 years, and for the first time I am at a genuine loss for answers.  Rig in question is in my signature. 

 

A few days ago, I return from a short vacation and turn my computer on (it was off when I left and I deliberately unplugged it due to storms I knew were coming).  It tries to boot, but fails repeatedly.  Fans, water cooler, etc all power on, I can hear hard drive activity, but no video, and it’s stuck in a reboot loop.  All USB devices are unplugged, so they are not the issue. 

 

I call Gigabyte tech support and spend two hours on the phone troubleshooting every possible scenario.  He concludes I need to RMA the board.  I cannot be without a computer for a month, so I go to buy another board.

 

I go to Microcenter yesterday and purchase an X99A SLI Krait Edition board.  After installing, the reboot loop is gone, but I continue to have no video.  There are no beeps or codes from what I can tell.  Fans power on, drives seem to power up, everything SEEMS it would be turning on just fine.  I have not been able to get to BIOS since I have no video.

 

Here is everything I’ve tried:

 

-          4 x 4GB RAM sticks used in different quantities and combinations in different slots (including no RAM). 

o   Problem persists

-          Swapped AX760 with known, working HX850i from my spare 3570k rig. 

o   Problem persists

-          Have used 3 different video cards known to work in other rig, (2 390s, and a 380).

o   Problem persists

-          Have quadruple verified all cables are securely attached.  I also swapped sets of cables between the two power supplies.

o   Problem persists

-          All USB devices are unplugged when attempting to boot, as well as SSD and HDD.

o   Problem persists

-          Used two different monitors that are known to work with spare rig.

o   Problem persists

 

I ran out of time to troubleshoot last night, and am now writing this from work.  Here are the remaining things I can think of to troubleshoot this:

 

-          Test RAM in additional configurations in the board

-          CPU power is an 8+4 pin. 

o   Should I unplug the +4 pin?

-          Reseat CPU? 

o   Is it possible to overtorque the H110i and cause an issue with the socket or CPU?

-          Case is causing a weird grounding issue?  I doubt this one since it was working fine for months prior and was never touched or moved.

-          Highly unlikely… new mobo is dead out of the box.  This still doesn’t explain the issue with the previous board.

-          Ever more unlikely… CPU RIP.  I really doubt this one.

 

Any help or ideas or known issues with this board / config is greatly appreciated. 

[BbsMentos]

Have you tried Clear_CMOS ?

[m0k]

Very odd
Have you tried booting using only the video outputs on your mobo?
(if it has any)

Edited June 24, 2016 by mok

[Purgent]

10 minutes ago, BbsMentos said:

Have you tried Clear_CMOS ?

Yes - did this numerous times after swapping RAM config around.

 

8 minutes ago, mok said:

Very odd
Have you tried booting using only the video outputs on your mobo?
(if it has any)

X99 board, so no on-board video.

[BbsMentos]

Since it's a MSI mobo, it should have EZ Debu LEDs, does this tells something ?

[Purgent]

7 minutes ago, BbsMentos said:

Since it's a MSI mobo, it should have EZ Debu LEDs, does this tells something ?

No debug LEDs on this board.  

 

On the old board, it would reboot loop after showing 60, 72, and AF

[Zyndo]

Turn your computer on. mash that delete key for a good 30 seconds. then press F10, Enter, Enter (this should be the "Save settings and restart" command) It may be different for your specific motherboard, check your manual if you're unsure what your keyboard command is to leave the bios.

 

IDEALY this will tell us if your machine is working fine, but there is a display related issue (monitor, connection, wire, something like that) as you can still navigate a computer without a display, you'll just have to do it from your own mental recollection. IF you can do this, it means your computer itself is operating fine, but there is a glitch in the displays somewhere (or inside your graphics card)

 

If you are unable to get your computer to reset using the correct commands, then it likely means your computer actually isn't booting properly, and its likely a more serious hardware issue.

 

I'm sorry I don't have more specific advice about how to go about fixing it, I don't have much experience in troubleshooting computers. good luck though

[Purgent]

1 hour ago, Zyndo said:

Turn your computer on. mash that delete key for a good 30 seconds. then press F10, Enter, Enter (this should be the "Save settings and restart" command) It may be different for your specific motherboard, check your manual if you're unsure what your keyboard command is to leave the bios.

 

IDEALY this will tell us if your machine is working fine, but there is a display related issue (monitor, connection, wire, something like that) as you can still navigate a computer without a display, you'll just have to do it from your own mental recollection. IF you can do this, it means your computer itself is operating fine, but there is a glitch in the displays somewhere (or inside your graphics card)

 

If you are unable to get your computer to reset using the correct commands, then it likely means your computer actually isn't booting properly, and its likely a more serious hardware issue.

 

I'm sorry I don't have more specific advice about how to go about fixing it, I don't have much experience in troubleshooting computers. good luck though

Displays and graphics cards are fine.  Both work in and when attached to my other computer right next to it.

 

No way for me to do anything from memory as it is a new mobo i'm unfamiliar with.

[Zyndo]

7 minutes ago, Purgent said:

No way for me to do anything from memory as it is a new mobo i'm unfamiliar with.

Look up a BOIS guide online to your specific motherboard. Heck if your motherboard manual has pictures of your BIOS, you may be able to even see the button command for reset in there somewhere.

[Purgent]

After swapping every part for new parts, I have isolated the issue to the processor.  I purchased another 5820k from Microcenter, popped it into the old board in my sig and it fired right up.   Very odd as it has never been run hot or massively overclocked aside from being set to the 125 strap. 

 

I will now start RMA process with Intel...