# Problem with MSI Z270

**URL:** <https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832>\
**Category:** Mining\
**Created:** [December 24, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832 "2017-12-24T13:36:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chwinter82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chwinter82/32/8162_2.png) [@chwinter82](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/chwinter82)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/1 "2017-12-24T13:36:20Z")

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Hi all,  
I’ve setup my mining computer and I have some issues with the hardware.

Mainboard:  
MSI Z270 SLI Plus LGA

When no GPU is connected, the computer runs fine.

Once in connect one of my 6 GPUs, the computer does not boot any more.  
These are the GPUs:  
GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1070 WINDFORCE OC

I’ve connected them via  
ELEGIANT PCI-E Express 1x to 16x Extender Riser Board Card Adapter Riser Karte USB 3.0 Kabel mit SATA Kabel ([https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01HHLQOWW/ref=oh\_aui\_detailpage\_o00\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01HHLQOWW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1))

I’ve checked the power connection to the riser boards and also on the GPUs.

Once one riser board is connected to a PCIe slot, the computer does not boot any more.

Where to look for that issue?

Thanks for your help!

chwinter

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chwinter82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chwinter82/32/8162_2.png) [@chwinter82](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/chwinter82)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/2 "2017-12-24T14:20:19Z")

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addtnl info: I’ve updated the BIOS to the latest version already.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chwinter82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chwinter82/32/8162_2.png) [@chwinter82](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/chwinter82)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/3 "2017-12-24T15:11:36Z")

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I have connected my monitor via DVI to the board, not to the GPU. Could that be part of the problem?

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**Author:** ![Immrspy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Immrspy](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/Immrspy)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/4 "2017-12-24T19:26:44Z")

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Go into the BIOS settings, make sure that the option for graphics output is set to “IGPU”, so that the processor is outputting the graphics, and then plug the monitor cable into the motherboard output. If any cards are not detected, then the fault is either the card, riser, or motherboard port.  
The problem you may have been facing is the motherboard automatically making the video output set to the graphics card, instead of to the CPU.  
To diagnose any other issues, look at the EZ Debug LEDs, (Page 39 in manual) about what component is causing the problem in the startup sequence.  
The last possible problem would be the output ports on each end of the displays/ the cable, but that would be obvious from just looking at either end, and seeing any bent pins/exposed wires, as you are working with an analog signal.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chwinter82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chwinter82/32/8162_2.png) [@chwinter82](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/chwinter82)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/5 "2017-12-25T12:06:03Z")

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I connected one GPU and set the BIOS to internal GPU. It’s working now.  
I’m sure that I’ll bed coming back soon, but so far, thanks a lot!! 👍

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chwinter82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chwinter82/32/8162_2.png) [@chwinter82](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/chwinter82)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/7 "2017-12-26T22:51:46Z")

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Ok, so my rig is running.  
2 GPUs and no problems (out of 6 in total that i want to run)

Whenever I plug in the 3rd GPU via the riser, Windows freezes after I enter my logon password and the fan an GPU #0 (first) turns off.

If I unplug the third GPU, everything runs fine.

Any ideas where to look?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CitricAcid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@CitricAcid](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/CitricAcid)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/8 "2017-12-26T23:54:13Z")

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update your bio’s to the latest version…

Make sure you are running the latest driver version for your gpu

make sure windows has all of its updates

Did you follow the instructions from the mining software which says to:  
expand your virtual memory to 16GB?  
and  
Set the following environment variables:

GPU\_FORCE\_64BIT\_PTR 1  
GPU\_MAX\_HEAP\_SIZE 100  
GPU\_USE\_SYNC\_OBJECTS 1  
GPU\_MAX\_ALLOC\_PERCENT 100  
GPU\_SINGLE\_ALLOC\_PERCENT 100

Did you Turn off the system, install the gpu, turn it on… and it may take windows up to 5 minutes to install the driver to the card, be patient

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![captaindiptoad](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/captaindiptoad/32/8186_2.png) [@captaindiptoad](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/captaindiptoad)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 12:32am UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/9 "2017-12-27T00:32:03Z")

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Try setting your bios to force gen 1 for pcie. worked for me when it wouldn’t recognize a card.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chwinter82](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/zcash/user_avatar/forum.zcashcommunity.com/chwinter82/32/8162_2.png) [@chwinter82](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/u/chwinter82)\
**Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 1:06pm UTC](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/problem-with-msi-z270/24832/10 "2017-12-27T13:06:19Z")

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BIOS was set correctly.  
I was just not patient enough for Windows to recognize the GPUs 😉

I had to install the drivers for #5 and #6 separately but after that it’s running fine with 30 MH/s each.

Thanks all for your support!
