No signal to monitor after reseating graphics cards and de-dusting

Operating System

Windows 7

Computer Specs (PSU, GPU, CPU, RAM, Motherboard)

i7 4790k Processor

Asrock z97 Extreme4 motherboard

16 GB Ram (G. Skillz Ripjaw X series, 2x 8GB sticks)

2x Asus Strix GTX 970 graphics cards

Asus ROG Swift Pg278Q 2560x1440p 144hz G-sync monitor

(All air-cooled)

Speccy Link

N/A

Description of problem

Hey Reddit, having a bit of a problem with my desktop, was hoping someone here could help me. So I was cleaning the dust out of my tower and off my screen yesterday, and reseated my graphics cards after cleaning the fans and backplates, as well as elsewhere within the case. Now when I turn on my computer, it sounds like it normally does as it powers up, the cards appear to be seated correctly in their slots and their indicator lights show that they are correctly powered, and their fans spin up briefly on startup as they normally do, but I get no signal to my monitor. my monitor also powers up correctly after cleaning (light damp-wipe), but displays no boot image from the tower. I am unable to access the bios or any other function, though the computer appears to be running normally. Before cleaning, I was able to use my desktop without issue, as usual.

When this issue began

Yesterday

Recurring issue

No

Date of purchase

all components barring the monitor and a second 970 card in late 2014, the monitor and secone 970 were purchased in august of 2015

Under Warranty

Yes

Cause/Steps to recreate the issue

Reseating the graphics cards seemed to cause the problem, though I have reseated them previously without issue. I built my tower with a friend, I purchased the components and he assembled it for me, so I'm not to familiar with the actual wiring within the tower, but nothing seems to be disconnected from what I can see. I used to move out of state for university, and would ship my desktop, taking my video cards in my carry-on and re-installing them upon arrival. I did this for several years without incident, but have not reseated the cards for any reason for around a year, as my desktop has not moved.

What I've tried so far to resolve the issue

So far to fix the issue I've tried to

-reseat the cards, several more times. The cards appear to power on correctly, along with the motherboard, but no image is displayed on the monitor. After leaving everything re-assembled overnight, I now get a "no signal" notification from my monitor, whereas before it simply powered on without displaying anything. Progress?

-plug the monitor into the motherboard rather than either graphics card. In the past, this has caused similar symptoms (no signal/image to monitor) as what I have now, as I'm not sure that I have any onboard graphics apart from my VGA cards. Plugging the monitor into the graphics cards fixed this issue previously, but no longer.

-plugging the monitor into each of my cards individually, with only one installed at a time, at the same time, in pretty much any combination I can concieve. The tower and monitor both appear to power up appropriately, but no image is displayed no matter the combination used.

-gently blowing into the card slots to remove any dust or detritus, then reseating the cards. Again, no result.

-I'm aware of an issue that affects many other purchasers of my motherboard the Asrock Z97 Extreme4, where after being completely shut down it will refuse to power on again due to a faulty battery, but this has not been an issue in the past and the board appears to power on correctly, all fans on connected devices spin and the board lights up, though it has been 3 years since I assembled this PC and have not replaced the battery in that time.

Submitted July 30, 2017 at 01:46AM by _myst http://ift.tt/2hbZdho