X870E Carbon "White" Screen after BIOS update

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Nospa152002d6

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This build is about six months old, I was having some "buggy" ram behavior (PC freezing/restarting), testing the system it would crash ("windows found and error and must restart") on the RAM tests.
I updated the BIOS from 7E49v1A70 to 7E49v1A7E a couple weeks ago. That appears to fix my RAM issues (tests pass, PC operates stable).

However, I've lost access to the BIOS Screens - when attempting to enter the BIOS setup screens when booting, the computer only presents a blank white screen. If I press "esc" or "tab" keys, I get two-or-three random numerical digits around the display. Hitting "esc" twice and pressing "enter" the computer boots normally to windows 11.

MSI MPG X870E CARBON WIFI
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 RAM 64GB (2x32GB) 6000MT/s CL36-36-36-96 (package timings as I can't see what the BIOS config is)
NVIDIA GTX 980 Ti

I know there is a BIOS reset on the MB, will that solve this problem?
There's a new BIOS update I'd like to apply, is there an alternate method than going through the BIOS setup screen to activate the M-Flash? (hoping the update will cure this)

Thoughts,
 
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It's a good idea to apply the firmware update, however, in this instance, it might not solve everything. You likely have to additionally disable a BIOS setting called IOMMU, see here.

Generally, I don't know much sense the 980 Ti makes in this system. Everything else like CPU and RAM is at a very high level for gaming, but the GPU is lacking. If this is just an interim solution, you might consider just using the iGPU of the CPU for the time being, it will have no problems in the BIOS and it will need much less power. I guess the 980 Ti can still play older games well, but this system clearly means business, and that GPU is the odd one out.
 
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QVLs for things like GPUs or PSUs don't make much sense. They are universally compatible, it's not like they have to include special code in the BIOS to optimize for certain peculiarities, like for some RAM kits.

There are some general limitations that have to be considered with GPUs, but they have nothing to do with the QVL:

1) If the GPU is too old to have a proper so-called GOP implementation in the firmware (usually cards from 2018 and older), then it can generally cause problems with a BIOS in UEFI mode, as explained here. This can often be resolved by a firmware update, for which NVIDIA supplies convenient updaters, and for AMD cards have to be done manually, updating the GOP part of the firmware as explained in the thread I just linked.

There is an additional issue creeping up lately with the very latest BIOS versions, which can often not be resolved by a simple firmware update, but that potential solution I already linked above.

2) If the GPU is way newer than the board, then the PCIe interface might be a limitation. Some cards come with a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, and if the board is only capable of PCIe 3.0, then it will run at PCIe 3.0 x8, which could cost performance.

3) Higher-up GPU models can have extremely high power draw, easily exceeding that of the most powerful CPUs. This has to be considered when it comes to the PSU model and the cooling concept of the system, they need to be able to cope with the additional demands.

4) GPU and CPU should be a decent enough match. Putting a modern high-end GPU into a system with a lower-end CPU, or simply an older CPU with not enough cores and performance, and some of the money for the GPU will be wasted, because the CPU performance becomes a bottleneck for it. Or, as we can see here, a very powerful gaming CPU like the 9800X3D will be twiddling its thumbs, because it's paired with an old 980 Ti. Both aren't ideal, and should mainly be considered as interim solutions, when upgrading the opposing part is already planned.
 
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Thanks folks!!

Yeah, I'm feeling a bit foolish for not thinking of the video compatibility, I guess I overlooked because it had been working in the previous BIOS versions.
I was able to successfully update the BIOS through the MSI Windows app (MSI Center) ~ no joy.

I've been building as my disposable income allowed, the changes in the computer industry have out run my ability to update the video card. Like most people not happy with NVIDIA or AMD on the graphics component strategies and market plans - it needs changed for sure, I'll be doing that at some point.

I didn't want to confuse this issue, I'm running off a 2.5 SSD and a few 5.25 "spinners" - I've install a M.2 drive and getting an "Error I/O" for initializing the drive.
So just working through the system piece by piece (graphics towards the last of the upgrades) after getting some faster storage solutions.

I appreciate the great wisdom and advice that live this forum, I'll see if can local a different vcard and if something changes.

Thanks again,
 
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Nospa152002d6 said:
Yeah, I'm feeling a bit foolish for not thinking of the video compatibility, I guess I overlooked because it had been working in the previous BIOS versions.
I was able to successfully update the BIOS through the MSI Windows app (MSI Center) ~ no joy.
Click to expand...

As linked before, check this thread, it has the solution. Using the internal CPU graphics (iGPU) via the motherboard's graphics ports, you can disable a setting in the BIOS, which then allows it to work with your 980 Ti as well. Do the firmware update for the graphics card (if required) as well, for good measure.

In that thread, there's talk about BIOS versions, disregard that, they're for a different board. Basically, only do step 3) in there. Here, I'll copy it here too:

Shutdown PC, unplug DVI or HDMI cable from the GeForce.
Plug HDMI cable into motherboard port (iGPU), access to BIOS is OK
Using the search function (magnifying glass icon) for IOMMU setting, set this setting to Disable, shutdown PC.
Unplug HDMI from motherboard.
Plug DVI (or HDMI) to GeForce output : display is correct now when entering bios


Nospa152002d6 said:
I didn't want to confuse this issue, I'm running off a 2.5 SSD and a few 5.25 "spinners" - I've install a M.2 drive and getting an "Error I/O" for initializing the drive.
Click to expand...

Which M.2 SSD model is that? Does it show up fine in the BIOS, under System Status? Was it inserted correctly into the M.2 slot? Probably re-seat it in there.

I doubt you are using 5.25" HDDs, those haven't been used for decades, they're the size of a CD/DVD drive 😅
Here's an old 5.25" one next to a 3.5" one:

bce5o3zbpdof1.jpeg


So the HDDs nowadays are all 3.5", and for notebooks you had 2.5" ones, but those are out of fashion too, nobody wants spinning rust in their notebooks anymore.
 
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