MSI Z790 Ace - new PC built - monitor gets no HDMI signal (black screen)

[interne15c902ef]

Hi,

I just built a new PC. Here is my setup:

• Mainboard: MSI Z790 Ace
• CPU: Intel i7 13700K boxed
• CPU Fan: CoolerMaster Air MA 824 Stealth
• RAM: 64GB (2x32 GB Kingston Fury DDR5 6000MT/s CL36-38-38 1,35V). Checked with the compatibility list of MSI.
• GPU: MSI NVIDIA RTX 2070 Ventus with 8GB.
• Power: be quiet! Dark Power 12 Pro, 1200W, 80 PLUS Titanium
• SSD1: Samsung 960 Evo (M.2) with 256GB (as an interims solution)
• All in a Fractal Design Define 7

I made a BIOS flash with a USB stick before installing the CPU to have the newest BIOS on the board with the Intel bugfix.
On the SSD there is still a very old Windows install from another PC. I want to install a brand new Win 10 Pro on it with a new licence and delete all old files/format the SSD beforehand.

When I start the PC, all lights go on, the fans are working and now alatm beep. BUT the Monitor stays black. No HDMI signal.

I checked all cables, I exchanged cables, I tried it with another GPU and another monitor, but always the same result. I neither can install a new windows version with a USB stick.

GPU, Power and monitor worked flawlessly in another PC yesterday.

What could be the reason for this?

 

[citay]

When I start the PC, all lights go on, the fans are working and now alatm beep. BUT the Monitor stays black. No HDMI signal.

Don't look at the monitor, look at the EZ Debug LEDs and the Debug code display. They are above the 24-pin ATX header. With either the CPU LED, DRAM LED or VGA LED, the monitor will not show a picture, but you will get a good hint as to what might be the problem. So first tell us what happens there.

 

[interne15c902ef]

Thanks for your answer. I found the solution. I called the technical support. I added a second PWR connection to the mainboard and after that it worked. It seems that the MSI Z790 Ace needs in some circumstances not only one 8 Pin PWR, but two of them (PWR1 & PWR2).

 

[citay]

Well yeah, if your PSU offers two cables for it, you should always connect both, it will only have positives (other than having to route a second cable).

If you want, you can now optimize how the CPU is running by following this guide.

BTW, nice case, i have the same one sitting in its box in the other room, moving my system over to that eventually. Currently it's in a Define R4, i will swap cases when the opportunity arrives. The R4 was/is good too, a family member will get that later to replace his old-school case he also got from me before, hehe.

Several weeks ago i built a system for someone using a Fractal Design Meshify 2 RGB White TG Clear Tint, it's a Define 7, but with a glass window and a mesh front:

Pictured with the window removed. I especially love how easily the side panels open and how well they are still held in place, nice mechanism.
Everything about these cases is well thought-out.

 

[interne15c902ef]

Everything about these cases is well thought-out.

I think not everything is well made with the Define 7 (the standard one, not the XL version).
The MSI Z790 Ace is an E-ATX board. Officially, the Define 7 supports ETAX up to 285mm. The Ace board is smaller but still the two cable wholes in the middle are totally blocked and you can not use them anymore. You need to open another wall to lead the cables through it, but then it looks ugly.

 

[citay]

Yes, for me the ACE is a bit too overkill anyway, and i would get a maximum board size of ATX personally. At least it has dropped a bit in price by now. When it was new, it had a crazy price, there used to be a time where you could get a GODLIKE board for that money (not that i would ever recommend a GODLIKE, see here).

But still, Z890 with Core Ultra is around the corner, so i don't know if i would invest big into the current platform right now. Of course, if you want a new Intel system right this moment, then your hands are tied and you will have to buy the current stuff.

About the cables, yes, doesn't look ideal, but this is the case version without a window, right? The Noctua fan, i use one of those too, see here. The NF-A12x25 PWM is my favorite 120mm fan, until the NF-A12x25 G2 comes out sometime next year. Maybe i will put 3x NF-A12x25 G2 in the front of the Define 7, below a DVD drive (i may only need the DVD drive once a year or so, but hey). I see you have some kind of other thing installed where the DVD drive would go, what's it for?

 

[interne15c902ef]

But still, Z890 with Core Ultra is around the corner, so i don't know if i would invest big into the current platform right now.

I always buy at the end of of a life cycle of a platform. Thanks to this, the system is mature and cheap

I upgrade only every 8-10 years unless I really need to have a specific feature.

About the cables, yes, doesn't look ideal, but this is the case version without a window, right? The Noctua fan, i use one of those too, see here. The NF-A12x25 PWM is my favorite 120mm fan, until the NF-A12x25 G2 comes out sometime next year. Maybe i will put 3x NF-A12x25 G2 in the front of the Define 7

No glass door. I just opened the case for the photo. But some people order with glass and want to show the inside. For those this is a nightmare.

I am a Noctua fan too. I will see how silent the fractal fans are. So fra without heat, they are as silnet as the Noctua. But they are bigger and have currenbtly therefore less rpm (800 vs 1200)

I see you have some kind of other thing installed where the DVD drive would go, what's it for?

Because teh Define has only 1 slot for DVD, I will not use the DVD try for my internal DVD. I will use an external DVD in the future - I use the DVD slot for a case which allows me to install 3,5 inch accessories, like a 20GB USB-C adapter from Graugear.

The MSI Z790 ace is the only mainboard, which has a 20GB USB-C port for the front side. AFAIK there is no other board which offers this. No matter which brand. But there are no cases yet with a 20GB front connection. So I choose the Define 7 with its DVD slot to be bale to add this connection to the front.