PC occasionally fails to post even after attempting overclocking, despite reverting the changes. Note: won't post at all
PC occasionally fails to post even after attempting overclocking, despite reverting the changes. Note: won't post at all
Hello everyone,
I recently attempted overclocking for the first time after years of stable performance. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to achieve a solid result—specifically, I couldn’t stabilize a consistent 4.2 GHz on an i5 4670k with the Havik 140 cooler and GA-Z87-D3HP motherboard. In fact, I had higher expectations for the outcome.
I followed a detailed guide, experimenting with various voltage settings, but nothing worked. When I finally tried resetting the BIOS to load the default optimized values, I realized it was important I had previously cleared the CMOS by touching the contacts with a screwdriver. This allowed me to revert my settings.
Now, my PC doesn’t display any video output, even though all fans are spinning. I’m fairly certain my BIOS is already set to the optimized defaults, so further overclocking isn’t necessary at this time.
Despite this, I keep restarting and turning off the system until it shows something on the screen. This persistence helped me reach out for advice, but clearly it’s not enough to make multiple attempts to see the Gigabyte logo. Could anyone assist?
Components:
CPU: i5 4670k
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP
RAM: 2x4GB GSkill Sniper F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR
GPU: Evga GTX 1070 (installed after replacing Zotac GTX 770 4GB)
PSU: SeaSonic S12II-520 520W
Hello... You should remove the MB battery before handling the CMOS pins... have you tried this? Otherwise, you might be shorting the battery too B / After resetting the MB, the intel CPU/GPU/MB will act as the video output... and the BIOS defaults will remain active... the GPU may need to be taken out as well... until the BIOS is ready for GPU use (save & exit).
In most overclocking setups, you usually have to lower your memory clock first... Memory doesn't handle overclocking as effectively as a CPU, so keep an eye on how the speeds and timings shift with each CPU upgrade.
Hello... You must remove the MB Battery before handling the CMOS PINs... have you tried this? Otherwise, you risk shorting the battery too. After resetting the MB, the intel CPU/GPU/MB will function as the Video Output... and the BIO's default configurations will remain active... the GPU might need to be removed as well... until the BIO is properly set up for GPU use (save and exit).
In general, during OC you should lower your memory clock first... Memory doesn't perform well under a CPU, so monitor how memory speeds/timings change with each CPU upgrade.
I didn't remove the battery, just cleared the CMOS jumpers. It seems it worked. I was able to load optimized defaults and reset BIOS settings to default. Now the BIOS is set to its standard values.
I'm currently using the PC and the video output is routed through the graphics card. The issue is that when I power off my PC and then try to turn it back on, it often fails to boot properly. No POST appears frequently.
Should I still remove the GPU?
Hello... The CMOS memory is used to retain your installed hardware communication settings and enables a quick startup. I recommend replacing the battery in your MB for a fresh start—new battery available for $1 at this store. Try resetting the CMOS and installing the new battery during the next boot as a basic solution. B /
Please let me know if my explanation was unclear. If needed, I can turn it off by pressing and holding the off switch, then turning off the PSU switch.
As previously discussed, always power down the PC and disconnect it from the electrical outlet. Remove the coin battery, then reset the CMOS. After this step, take off your socks, ground yourself to the PC chassis, and press the power button for an extra ten seconds to ensure no residual power remains. Avoid any static electricity. Once done, reset the CMOS again. It should restart automatically; if not, you should be able to access the BIOS. Keep in mind that clearing the CMOS restores all settings from the factory default, so you’ll need to reconfigure everything as it was originally. Now, when using a Gigabyte board, pressing either f11 or f12 will allow you to save the CMOS data to the BIOS. Perform this action after setting all your desired configurations, which will simplify future CMOS resets by enabling direct loading from the CMOS memory.
Well, now I am very worried. I went out and bought a new battery. With the PSU switch off and its cable disconnected, I removed the old battery and shortened the clear cmos pins. Mind the pc is now completely barebones, with only cpu, one ram, and fans. Even though, nothing on the screen. The only sign of life is the fans noise and mouse light. Never thought an overclock would actually put me in this situation
I've experienced this too before, not from an OC but on a really old OEM Lenovo machine. Unplug all components completely, let them rest for about 20 minutes, then connect the 24-pin M.2 cable, the 8-pin CPU cable, and insert one RAM stick into the nearest slot near the CPU. Once everything is powered on, you should hear it post.
I wasn’t expecting a major overclock, but I’m really disappointed I tried to make changes. It seems I damaged the motherboard.
Based on your guidance, I unplugged everything, waited, and couldn’t see any post screen. After several attempts and adding more parts, the system would stop posting but then reset itself, altering its behavior.
Eventually it would boot Windows, but I turned it off to test again. After a few successful restarts, it stopped working altogether.