I've got an older MSI Z170a PC Mate motherboard and recently upgraded from an i5 to an i7-7700k. My computer powers on, but I'm not getting any display, even with the GPU connected. I've read that I might need to update the BIOS, but I can't see anything on the screen. Is there a way to flash the BIOS without any display functionality? What options do I have here?
5 Answers
As noted, you'll definitely need to revert to the old CPU for any updates. Most older boards like yours require this step to ensure compatibility with the new processors.
Thanks for all the help! I did manage to update the BIOS, but I'm still not getting a display with the i7 installed. Any ideas on what could be wrong now?
Unfortunately, your motherboard doesn't support a BIOS flashback feature. You'll need to go back to the i5 to boot it up and update the BIOS before trying to use the i7 again.
You might want to put the old i5 CPU back in, update the BIOS, and then swap back to the i7. It's a common step when the new CPU isn't supported yet by your current BIOS version.
Some boards allow you to flash BIOS directly from a USB drive by pressing a button. Your model likely doesn't have this option, so sticking with the old CPU approach is the way to go.
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