Issue turning PC on, no display - advice please!

PixelChef · 12 Jan 2015 at 23:28

Hi,

Recently I've been having an issue when I power my PC on, the monitor doesn't display anything, the monitor LED flashes like it does when it's on and the PC is off.

To solve this I have to turn the PC off and on again 2-5 times before it works, very strange.

I have tried a different DVI cable, and I don't think the monitor is the problem because I have my TV connected to my PC as well and it does the same thing.

Any ideas as to what could be causing this?

Idleman · 13 Jan 2015 at 07:38

Is the monitor connected via the Gpu or mobo?
What Psu do you have and how old is it?

PixelChef · 13 Jan 2015 at 08:21

Idleman said:
Is the monitor connected via the Gpu or mobo?
What Psu do you have and how old is it?

Monitor is connected to GPU, which is a HD 7950. The PSU is a OCZ ZS Series 650W, which is now just over 3 years old.

Idleman · 13 Jan 2015 at 08:35

Depending on your mobo, have you tried it with the onboard graphics?

PixelChef · 13 Jan 2015 at 12:47

Idleman said:
Depending on your mobo, have you tried it with the onboard graphics?

Nope, just tried and not working, but I think I'm doing something wrong. I have enabled onboard graphics in the BIOS and installed the drivers, but it still won't work. Do I have to set it to default or something?

My mobo is a Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP

DaleTheWhale · 13 Jan 2015 at 12:51

Tried a different monitor?

Idleman · 13 Jan 2015 at 13:08

ThaReaperGuy said:
Tried a different monitor?

I have tried a different DVI cable, and I don't think the monitor is the problem because I have my TV connected to my PC as well and it does the same thing.

Tried reading the OP.

Idleman · 13 Jan 2015 at 13:16

oL said:
Nope, just tried and not working, but I think I'm doing something wrong. I have enabled onboard graphics in the BIOS and installed the drivers, but it still won't work. Do I have to set it to default or something?

My mobo is a Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP

If you have disconnected the Gpu, then the onboard graphics should kick in automatically.
Disconnect the TV and see if the display comes up.

PixelChef · 13 Jan 2015 at 15:18

Idleman said:
If you have disconnected the Gpu, then the onboard graphics should kick in automatically.
Disconnect the TV and see if the display comes up.

okay I took the graphics card out and connected monitor to the onboard graphics, rebooted and the monitor displayed alternating white, red, green and blue blanc screens. It may be that my monitor doesn't support the on board graphics. At least it displays something. Although when ever I reboot or shut down / power on again now, it works normally. It only seems to be an issue the first time I power on for the day.

Idleman · 13 Jan 2015 at 15:30

Sounds like some kind of cold boot or power issue. Motherboard or Psu. I take it your chipset and drivers are all up to date.

DaleTheWhale · 13 Jan 2015 at 15:51

Idleman said:
Tried reading the OP.

That's twice today I've mis-read the OP quite embarrassingly.
Time to throw in the towel, my reading days are over.

PixelChef · 13 Jan 2015 at 16:00

Idleman said:
Sounds like some kind of cold boot or power issue. Motherboard or Psu. I take it your chipset and drivers are all up to date.

Yeah should be all up to date. Cold boot issue meaning that it's caused by the temperature?

I suppose the only way to know is to replace hardware? I don't have a spare PSU or mobo. I think it's more likely to be the PSU as that is 2 years older.

PixelChef · 15 Jan 2015 at 11:56

Well, thanks for your help Idleman

I think I will buy a new PSU in the near future! Hopefully this one can survive a little longer. This morning it booted normally first time, strange.

Idleman · 15 Jan 2015 at 12:08

oL said:
Well, thanks for your help Idleman

I think I will buy a new PSU in the near future! Hopefully this one can survive a little longer. This morning it booted normally first time, strange.

That's good news.

It may just have been a bad connection. Re-seating the connectors may have done the trick. Just have to see if it continues to boot first time every time.

pakratna · 15 Jan 2015 at 18:38

Anytime I see that message...it's because I forgot to connect the CPU fan to the motherboard. If I started receiving other error messages regarding hardware...I would suspect a replacement CMOS battery is needed

PixelChef · 16 Jan 2015 at 10:27

pakratna said:
Anytime I see that message...it's because I forgot to connect the CPU fan to the motherboard. If I started receiving other error messages regarding hardware...I would suspect a replacement CMOS battery is needed

I haven't received any error message as such.

This morning the monitor didn't display anything until after about 30-60 seconds when it got to the login screen and I was about to re-boot, the display suddenly came on.

I must say this is a very strange problem!

PixelChef · 25 Feb 2015 at 10:43

Update: Re-built my PC yesterday with a new case and PSU. I was hoping the new PSU would fix this issue but it didn't!

So probably the motherboard?

Danny75 · 25 Feb 2015 at 12:27

Did you reseat the CPU when you rebuilt?

PixelChef · 25 Feb 2015 at 12:32

Danny75 said:
Did you reseat the CPU when you rebuilt?

Yes.

Edit: Or wait, no I didn't, I left the CPU in the motherboard but obviously took off the cooler and rebuilt that.

PixelChef · 20 Mar 2015 at 09:42

So update: I still have the same issue but it is managable as I've worked out a way to make it work every time. Turn PC and monitor on and leave for 2-3 mins, shut down PC and boot it up again and the display works every time.

I've tried re-seating the CPU incase there was an issue with it, no change.

What's the next step, worth changing the CMOS battery? Or time to buy a new motherboard?