Z270i Gaming - Solid red post LED after VGA driver update

[Farinasaur]

So.. I got a brand new PC and watercooled everything with EKWB blocks.

ASUS STRIX Z270i
I7 7700K
2x8GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 2400mhz
Asus STRIX GTX 1080 O8G
EVGA Supernova 750 P2
NZXT Manta case
Samsung 950 PRO NVME M2 SSD 512GB

After installing Windows 10 x64, I did the drivers installation. Windows 10 asked me to restart the PC due to drivers update for my GTX 1080, so I did.

Right after that, the PC doesn't post. A solid red LED is there on the motherboard QLED feature and the only way to make it post is removing the VGA, so the other leds blinks and the PC starts.

With the VGA connected, I'm not able to boot neither using on-board video, the solid QLED red is there to torment me.

Any idea? I've already removed the watercooler from the VGA and installed the stock cooler, don't didn't worked. I can't RMA the video card due to ASUS warranty void sticker on VGA screws.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Chino]

It's hard to tell from the insufficient lighting and image quality.

You should be able to see it better than me. Which QLED is it?

[Farinasaur]

Chino wrote:
It's hard to tell from the insufficient lighting and image quality.

You should be able to see it better than me. Which QLED is it?

For sure it is the CPU LED, only CPU is red.

Now, a different story:

1) Without the VGA, I got the CPU QLED lit. Shut down the PC, booted again, same error.

2) After removing 1 RAM DIMM, It went to the BIOS. Shut down the PC, inserted the second DIMM, went to the BIOS and got artifacts on onboard GPU.

3) Removed both DIMM, inserted the VGA, got the CPU QLED.

4) Removed the VGA, inserted the RAM back, got the RAM QLED for the first time.

5) Restarted the PC, it's running flawlessly right now.

So, is that the motherboard, RAM, CPU or VGA issue!? lol

[Chino]

Try loosening the screws for your CPU block a little.

[Farinasaur]

Chino wrote:
Try loosening the screws for your CPU block a little.

i've disassembled the watercooler, the system over my bench using a Hyper TX212 Aircooler. Sadly, same issues, loosened the screws and nothing changed. After a few boots, the system started but never with the VGA.

Tonight I'll test my 1080 on a friends PC and a GT420 on my PC. If the issue is on the motherboard, is there any chance of the GT420 working and the 1080 don't, even if both VGA's are perfect?

[Farinasaur]

So I did the test on my friend's PC.

Tested the VGA and RAM into his Maximus VIII Hero and i7 6700k, everything worked perfectly.

Wasn't able to test the CPU because he uses watercooler with acrylic tubing and would be selfish from me to destroy his loop / coolant.

What do you guys think, motherboard issue or CPU?!