ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

[wazza300]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

any option in your bios to set first initial or boot up display to pcie2? if there is set it to that

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

No, there isn't an option in the BIOS to choose a particular slot. :( The manual says the PCIE2 slot is the x16 lane port and should be used in single card configurations. It runs games really well though with good framerates...

I wonder if the RAM is just not very compatible. Or perhaps the mobo could be bad?

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

If the video card were bad would that cause it to work in an x4 lane slot and no an x16 lane? I'm starting to think perhaps the card could be faulty as well.

I'm thinking either:
-Bad mobo
-Incompatible RAM
-Bad video card

I do have a spare video card I can test but I most certainyl dont have a new MOBO or any DDR3 kicking around.

What does everyone think?

[wazza300]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

I think its a BIOS issue,what wattage psu you using? Try disabling sata3/usb3 if you have them and see if it has any affect

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

It's a 630watt PSU. I'm running the same video card on my machine with a lesser brand 585watt without issue. He also can play games for 8 hours strait without a crash once it's up and running.

It does seem like something to do with the motherboard/BIOS...

I can try disabling USB3, however I don't remember seeing any option for disabling sata3, just an option to disable sata altogether.

[wazza300]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

I'm not sure with amd mb's,and its not psu if its 600w,heard anything back off Emily?

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

Unfortunately, no. I feel like she may be Obi-Wan Kenobi in this situation. "Help me Emily, you're my only hope!" hehe

She hasn't been on in a couple days so I assume she is off for the weekend. I'm going to try disabling USB3 when I get the machine back and I'll also try a spare PCIE card I have. I have a feeling the only remedy is a new BIOS update or perhaps I'll have to try a different motherboard. :(

It's also very odd to me that the video card doesn't work in the proper PCIE slot.

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

Major update!!

I put my old Nvidia GTS250 in the pcie2 (x16 lane) port and it booted right up. I then put his 6870 into the pcie2 port and it was dark; there was no signal to the monitor. I put my GTS250 back in and it posted right away again.

I ran SWTOR for about 10 minutes and rebooted the machine twice with my GTS250 in without issue. I'm going to try putting my personal 6870 in just to be certain that it's a defective card and not just an incompatibility. Will post back soon.

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

Running my 6870 in the top slot right now. Booted right up. I'm going to issue an RMA with newegg tomorrow if the issue doesn't come back today. I think it's safe to say that it's a bad video card, what do you think?

[hsp25]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

sounds like you've tracked down the problem

[wazza300]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

yes a faulty graphic card,good luck with rma

[Keef413]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

I just thought I'd stop back in quickly to add some closure to the thread.

The machine has been running flawlessly for two weeks now on a replacement (RMA) video card. Case closed.

[profJim]

Re: ASRock 970 Extreme3 Strange Black Screen Issue

Glad to hear that the new card fixed the problem.
Thanks for your update.