My computer is dead, help

[Badger]

Copy/paste for a homshardware post

My PC is not outputting any video, either through the motherboard or the GPU outputs, to my monitor or a TV, Displayport or HDMI. It is definitely booting fine, as I can hear the windows login screen sound, but I cannot get any video output, not even in the BIOS.

The problem occurred when I tried to change my monitor's refresh rate from 144hz to 60hz in the hopes of fixing a visual bug (which I've encountered many times before, I usually just restart to fix it.). When I boot, my monitor wakes from sleep, and my TV autoswitches to the HDMI input, as thought they are getting a signal, but on both a "No signal" error is displayed.

My GPU is a 970 and I'm on windows 10, if that matters. What steps can I go through to try to fix this? Yes, I've tried restarting multiple times.

Will give prize to whoever manages to fix it.

[Reier]

I'm no PC whiz by any means, but could it be a motherboard problem? your GPU runs through your MB so it might make sense. if that's the case at least you won't have to replace anything else if you can get ahold of a MB to test it on.

[Badger]

I thought it was a mobo issue too, but I assumed that if it was the motherboard, it wouldn't boot to windows at all.

[R01]

Copy/paste for a homshardware post

My PC is not outputting any video, either through the motherboard or the GPU outputs, to my monitor or a TV, Displayport or HDMI. It is definitely booting fine, as I can hear the windows login screen sound, but I cannot get any video output, not even in the BIOS.

The problem occurred when I tried to change my monitor's refresh rate from 144hz to 60hz in the hopes of fixing a visual bug (which I've encountered many times before, I usually just restart to fix it.). When I boot, my monitor wakes from sleep, and my TV autoswitches to the HDMI input, as thought they are getting a signal, but on both a "No signal" error is displayed.

My GPU is a 970 and I'm on windows 10, if that matters. What steps can I go through to try to fix this? Yes, I've tried restarting multiple times.

Will give prize to whoever manages to fix it.

To sum it up quick(most important info for others trying to help):
Refresh Rate change from 144hz to 60hz resulted in no signal, not even in the bios.
You changed the refresh rate inside windows with the windows tools, right?

Does your pc have a internal graphics card? If so then can you try to unplug the normal graphics card and use that?
Does your pc usually show a bios screen/can you be sure that you actually entered the bios?
Safe Mode might help, but ever since Win8 you can no longer access that via F8(one of the many reasons why I find anything past 7 to be a downgrade and would want MS to get their stuff together), there is a different way(turning off the power many times) but I wouldn't recommend doing that/only if really needed and not before anyone tells you to do so.

[Badger]

@R01

Both the iGPU and GPU output no video, which is why I found this strange. With the help of a tech support IRC room (the last place I thought I would go for tech support advice) I managed to basically confirm it was a motherboard issue. I was worried that I'd have to go through Gigabyte's 1 month RMA process, but since I bought it off Amazon they're sending me a replacement within 48 hours no questions asked, which is super cool, especially as I started the support chat at 11:30pm.

Bad news is I can't work on People's Choice until then. Much better result than I was expecting though.

[R01]

@R01

Both the iGPU and GPU output no video, which is why I found this strange. With the help of a tech support IRC room (the last place I thought I would go for tech support advice) I managed to basically confirm it was a motherboard issue. I was worried that I'd have to go through Gigabyte's 1 month RMA process, but since I bought it off Amazon they're sending me a replacement within 48 hours no questions asked, which is super cool, especially as I started the support chat at 11:30pm.

Bad news is I can't work on People's Choice until then. Much better result than I was expecting though.

Alright, it seemed odd that you wouldn't get any output in the BIOS(a quick search showed that sometimes removing and putting the ram back in as well as holding the power button for a few seconds when the pc was completely unplugged, fixed the issue) which made me guess it was hardware, but still good to try out the software things first.
Good to hear that you're getting a replacement that fast. Would you usually have to fill out all details of what happened when and have Gigabyte analyze the stuff if it wasn't bough off Amazon?

As someone who works in IT and has helped others I try to get all the important info first as it quickly allows to see where the problem could be and if someone had the problem before, so many issues have happened to many people before that finding a possible solution isn't too difficult.

[Badger]

@R01

Both the iGPU and GPU output no video, which is why I found this strange. With the help of a tech support IRC room (the last place I thought I would go for tech support advice) I managed to basically confirm it was a motherboard issue. I was worried that I'd have to go through Gigabyte's 1 month RMA process, but since I bought it off Amazon they're sending me a replacement within 48 hours no questions asked, which is super cool, especially as I started the support chat at 11:30pm.

Bad news is I can't work on People's Choice until then. Much better result than I was expecting though.

Alright, it seemed odd that you wouldn't get any output in the BIOS(a quick search showed that sometimes removing and putting the ram back in as well as holding the power button for a few seconds when the pc was completely unplugged, fixed the issue) which made me guess it was hardware, but still good to try out the software things first.
Good to hear that you're getting a replacement that fast. Would you usually have to fill out all details of what happened when and have Gigabyte analyze the stuff if it wasn't bough off Amazon?

As someone who works in IT and has helped others I try to get all the important info first as it quickly allows to see where the problem could be and if someone had the problem before, so many issues have happened to many people before that finding a possible solution isn't too difficult.

Yeah, cleared the CMOS at least 10 times via 3 methods, removed and replaced all manner of ram sticks. Very odd how it booted to windows fine despite the hardware failure. I'm assuming it was the mobo, I'll find out tomorrow :D


Apparently Gigabyte's UK RMAs are really good, they only need the serial number, no proof of purchase needed. Going thru amazon is so much quicker and easier though, they don't even check if the item is actually damaged.

[Badger]

Update: Just installed the replacement board, we good.

[R01]

Update: Just installed the replacement board, we good.

Sweet, good to see that the changed settings weren't causing any issue(that's exactly the reason why Windows gives you 10 seconds to decide if you want to keep the resolution or not)