Hello,

I have been having the following issue for a while. I will describe it below:

1) I upgraded to a EVGA GTX 560ti 2GB (From 260 216 Superclocked). When I turn off the PSU or unplug it, then power the PSU on/plug it in and press the power button my PC boots fine every time. I can play games such as BF3 and ArmA 2 for hours with no issues.

2) However, a normal shutdown from Windows and then turning the PC on without turning off the PSU/unplugging first causes an issue. The POST beep is delayed, however it eventually does POST. However, there is no video displayed. The video card's fan is still spinning. I can hear the HDD accessing, loading into Windows most likely.

3) I ordered a replacement from EVGA. The 3rd card worked flawlessly in terms of powering on for about a week. Today the issue described above occurred again. I tested it a few times, and the issue persists.

4) I doubt the video cards are the issue at this point, so I bought a new Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU (check newegg for specs). This did not fix my issue. It was as if my old Earthwatts 500 was in my PC. I doubt both PSUs have the same issue.

5) Put my video card into an entirely different PC, also with an Antec Earthwatts 500 (3 years old). It powered on fine 3 times, and BF3 worked fine. I doubt my video card is the issue.

I think it is safe to assume that the PSU(s) and video card are fine. This leaves me to believe my motherboard is the issue. How can I determine/test the motherboard? I have the latest BIOS for it (1402) and it has been working fine until I received my first GTX 560ti if we assume the BIOS are the issue.

What other things might be causing the issue?

I am guessing it might be an issue with the motherboard, though it worked fine with the GTX 260 Superclocked core 216. If it is a PCIe-related issue on the motherboard, would clearing the BIOS and reinstalling the latest bios version resolve the issue? I should also mention that there is no apparent physical damage or obstruction on the PCIe slot itself. I will also note that the original BIOS versions for my motherboard will not support my CPU (AMD 965), and I have no CPU that will work on the original BIOS version. If I were to revert to the original BIOS with the AMD 965, will I be unable to get into the BIOS/ASUS EZ Flash to update them?

Edit: After putting the video card back into my PC, I put the entire PC onto a different surge protector and outlet. It worked fine for two normal starts/shutdowns, however on the 3rd attempt the same issue occurred. So I doubt my outlet or surge protector is causing an issue either.


System specs:
Antec Earthwatts 500
Antec Earthwatts 650
ASUS M3N78 Pro Motherboard 1402 BIOS (latest)
Corsair XMS2 - 4x DIMMs, 8GB total
AMD 965
WD FALS HDD
Samsung 223F DVD/CD Drive
2x case fans
1x PCI Card
Viewsonic 19"
Win 7 Pro 64bit


System #2 that I tried my 560ti in:
Antec Earthwatts 500
ASUS M4A88 T-M
AMD 1090T
2x SATA HDDs
Win 7 Pro 64bit
4x DIMM DDR 3, 8GB total
2x case fans
1x DVD/CD drive
Samsung 24"

Trying my old GTX 260 216 Superclocked. 4 shuts downs from Windows with normal boots. Perhaps my motherboard can not support the GTX 560ti 2GB? I doubt it as it worked fine for a week... be it seems there is an issue with the video card.

I am thinking it is a BIOS issue, but as stated before I can not update my BIOS as there are no new versions. On the EVGA forums they claim there are new BIOS for the GTX 560ti 2GBs. How do I update video card BIOS? I've never done or even heard of that before.

With the gpus and PSU out, you are looking at the board, which could be one of several issues. My main guess is that you have a minor cap (capacitor) problem, storing too little or too much current. Unplug the psu, remove the battery from the motherboard, switch the jumper pins to manually reset the CMOS chip. Then, reattach the battery, and hook up the PSU. Power the board and hopefully you can get to the BIOS to use the tools, to overwrite to the newest BIOS. Then repeat the procedure. If your screen does not after resetting the CMOS, inspect the caps with a multimeter. Look for anything missing, or broken and measure each current. If this is beyond your skills, return the board to ASUS and get a replacement.

Will resetting the CMOS reset the BIOS? The issue might be with the 560ti as I only get the power on issue with it... not with the 260 or integrated.

After getting the new PSU the 560ti occasionally powers on normally, however it seems it will only work once before I have to turn off the PSU again. However, the 260 and integrated powered on and off up to 5 times each with no issues. So I really doubt it is the PSU, but the video card and motherboard both still seem like the source of the issue to me.


Is it possible that the 560ti is not compatible with the motherboard? I would find that unlikely since this one worked fine for a week...

It is unlikely but possible you have run into a set of rare problems, like over-voltage distribution to the PCI-E socket. Yes, resetting the CMOS, resets the BIOS (the CMOS chip is where the BIOS is stored). You need a clean, hard reset to your BIOS. You can also clear mains and cap charge by unplugging the 560Ti, wait 24 hours and plug back in. If this does not work, what I would next suggest is likely to be too complicated (since it involves a multi-meter and a soldering iron). RMA the board.

S! - Jay

I'll try resetting the CMOS. I realize it will clear my settings, but will the driver version stay the same?

The drivers that are installed are software (computer code that channels commands between the operating system (like Windows 7) or application (like a game) and the hardware (like your 560Ti)). This has nothing to do with the software installed on your motherboard's CMOS chip, which initiates your computer's startup. Your graphics drivers will not change from the BIOS being reset.

I think he means to ask if the BIOS version is reverted to the original...

No, just the settings are cleared.

BIOS Battery issue/fail? and the BIOS Goes back to default, which is On-board Video as a Boot Priority?

Once for me and once for a friend, a similar sounding issue was the BIOS battery (as mentioned above). Easy/cheap to change the battery and see how things go.

After that, I personally would buy a new motherboard and rebuild my system -- rather spend the time doing that -- as I might never find a better solution no matter how long I try. Not everyone would feel that way

I'll be going out of town of a while. I will try to rest the CMOS and get a new battery. What type of batteries do motherboards tend to use?

Generally they use the widely available CR2032 I believe. You can buy them just about anywhere.

I figured it was CR2032. I'll double check when I get to resetting it though. If this doesn't work, I'll either buy a new PC or get a new motherboard and RAM.

I am back at home where I can test my PC. The issue persists with the GTX 560ti, but not with the GTX 260.

If I were to buy a new BIOS battery, would installing it require any extra steps? Or is it just like clearing the CMOS (pulling the battery out, then inserting it)? Any particular brand of battery that would work best in motherboards?

I tried something else just now:

My issue is rather persistent at the moment. Turned off PC, turned it on, long delay, POST beep, loading into Windows. Then I decided to try something new. I plugged in the monitor cable to my motherboard's integrated Nvidia 8300. The screen turned on, and I am greeted with Windows/my desktop. I looked in the device manager and there is nothing under Display Adapters.

I go to Start, Restart, and load the BIOS. I have the option to disable Hybird SLI on my motherboard and it is set to disable (and has been for 3 years). I have the option for the integrated 8300 to be set to "Auto" or "Always Enable". Auto means that should a PCI-Express video card be detected, it will be the display adapter. However, there seems to be some issue upon turning on the PC in which case the video card is not detected.

Again, my EVGA GTX 260 216 (3 years old) does not have the issue. I tested it yesterday and today.

I am wondering if you think this is a hardware issue with the GTX 560 or a BIOS issue/conflict between the GTX 560ti and my motherboard. My motherboard is an:
ASUS M3N78 PRO

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M3N78_PRO/


It is possible that the motherboard is damaged, but I would wounder why my GTX 260 works fine...

Also note that my original GTX 560ti had this issue, and the 2nd replacement I tried (technically my 3rd replacement as #2 had a damaged PCB/PCI chip) worked fine for 5 days straight. I took my PC down to a computer shop to replicate the issue two weeks back and it did not show up at all (I've tested it in different outlets/monitors in my house as well).

Right now I am leaning towards a compatibility issue or the 560ti being faulty. Thoughts?
Edit/Delete Message

Battery swaps are straight up. Nothing fancy. Just do it. I'm thinking your problem is more likely a cap as well because of the whole "unplug it and it fixes the problem, but leave it plugged in and after a couple of reboots it returns" thing.



The Jedi Master

sounds like a bios/battery/board issue.

Write down your settings, Change the battery, clear the CMOS, re-input the settings.

also, check the PCI-E slot for any signs of wear (make sure the card is SNUG, and not loose, if one or 2 leads lose contact, the system wont see it.

For some reason its switching back to the onboard video as default.

(either because the 560ti isnt powering up, or because the board isnt detecting its presence.)

Unfortunately I misplaced my motherboard's manual and can no longer find it. When clearing the CMOS I remember that I have to move a jumper, however, there seem to be two on my motherboard. Both are blue and by the battery on the bottom left:



I am wondering if I have to move both?

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M3N78_PRO/#download

Select OS -> click on manual -> the link one up from the last is the one you need, I think.

Hi,

I'm having a very similar issue. It's an ASUS A8V-E SE and the video card is a 6600LE. It's boxed in one of the original Antec Sonatas, but the PS has been changed to a Thermaltake 430w, the processor is an Athlon 2 4400+. Not exactly leading edge. It won't start the video either. It cames on, makes all the normal noises and beeps, the disks seem to run normally, but it gets no video. After about 20 seconds I get "No Signal" on both monitors. I'm using 2 x Viewsonic 19" LCDs, which is what caught my attention originally. Nothing fancy, just "Extend the desktop onto this monitor". It's running Win7/32.

If I turn it off with the front panel button when that happens, and then power it back up, eventually, it catches and holds, and it will run for days. I don't think I've turned it off in a month because of that. Occasionally, it will shut itself down, maybe after it's run constantly for a couple of days. If I'm watching, though and whack the power button right away, it comes back up and runs fine for the next couple of days. I can also just hit the "Reset" button and restart it like that, usually takes 4 or 5 tries, though, and I hate booting it that way.

I don't know if it's at all related, but the Viewsonic's (if yours are LCDs) we're kind of an odd coincidence and it sounds much the same otherwise, so I thought I'd post. I'll be interested in hearing what you find out. I was going to swap the video card, I've got a new EVGA 6200 that I bought some time back that I was going to put into the thing and see if that helped. That would get rid of the 6600LE which runs hot and dates back to the release of Vista. The BIOS are reset to "Fail-Safe Defaults" (whatever those are), so I'd guess nothing it OC'd or anything.

Anyway, I'll post whether the video swap makes any difference. The 6200 is just PCI, I think the 6600LE was PICe. It's all on a 4-port KVM and if doesn't start, I can run up any of the other three systems and the video comes right up. It's just the one ASUS that has the problem. That would seem to rule out the monitors at least.

So, FWIW. I'll be interested in hearing if resetting the CMOS, etc. has any effect on things.

Best regards,

- Bob

I was having some issues with my monitor flickering and then it would go out. Figured it to be the monitor which is a 23" Acer, not exactly high end, or my video card going south. Since I've got the card, I've OC the crap out of it, but not any voltage increases and I keep the dual fans on it running at least 65% all the time with a pretty aggressive profile in MSI Afterburner to keep the card cool. Got a couple of warnings about the video driver crashing too.

Been needing to blow out the more than a years accumulation of dust anyway, so I took the case out to the shed and blew all the dust out of the thing. Took the card out of it's slot and reseated it too and now all is well so far.

So my conclusion is it was mostly the card needing to be reseated. I hope.

You use the 3 Pin Jumper marked CLRTC.

the 4 Pin is a Chassis Jumper.
Looking at the image you posted, the CLRTC is teh Jumper on Top.

So, Battery, Chassis 4 Pin, CLRTC 3 Pin.

If you have a way, you should also look at the voltage levels coming though the PCI-E Slot. ( And Also Check the CMOS.)

Usually when Upgrading the CLR CMos Switch/Button/Jumper is a required procedure.

Write down settings (especially memory timings), clr the CMOS, boot, re-input timings.

When you upgrade GPUs, Ram etc, because the CMOS may contain PCIe timings that may not work for other devices on that hardware address.

Also, Check Primary Display Adapter = PCIE (Options are Onboard, PCI, PCIE) (depending on BIOS Version.)
I've had alot of friends that set PCI by accident. or See PCI and not think about checking/changing it to PCIE.




Hope this helps.

My BIOS is set to PCI E and not PCI for primary display adapter. Is there anyway in the BIOS to look at voltage levels coming through the PCI E?

And is there anyway to export and reimport BIOS settings (I recall there being a function), or would that negate and positive affect of clearing the CMOS?

if you dont have custom ram timings.

Clr the CMOS, Boot, Tell it to load Optimized/defaults.

adjust Boot Drive sequence if needed, set onboard to auto, set inti first to PCI-E, Shut down, take out 560ti, re-seat 560ti, reconnect power cables boot.