ASUS ROG Strix X570-E model without post and lights
ASUS ROG Strix X570-E model without post and lights
Good afternoon everyone, I’m facing some trouble with my PC and don’t know what’s going on. A few weeks back, it suddenly stopped working while gaming—no blue screen or error codes, just it wouldn’t power up again. Normally the RGB lights on my Asus board stay on when powered off, but now they’ve stayed off except for occasional flashes of life. The machine would restart randomly, run briefly, then shut down once more. I assumed the power supply was faulty, so I swapped in a used one nearby and after about a week the same issue returned, this time with no power and no lights at all.
To avoid replacing parts, I ran some tests using a multimeter on both power supplies. When I connected a jumper to Pin 16 (PS ON) to ground, both supplies showed normal voltage. Then I tried the replacement PSU on the motherboard; it powered on, and the LED displayed '00'. Pressing the power or reset button with the new PSU caused the Q-LED to show 'A0' and the DRAM light to illuminate. Still no success.
I even tried using the original PSU and repeating the steps, but the same outcome occurred. I’m worried my board or CPU might be damaged, but I wanted to see if others could help narrow it down. I don’t have another system to swap components with, but since I work IT at a local bank, I plan to test a DDR4 stick and, if that fails, try re-seating the CPU. I’ll share my findings later.
Here are my current specs:
- Case: Fractal Design Focus G
- Motherboard: ASUS ROG STRIX X570-E Gaming WiFi
- CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X (never overclocked)
- Cooler: Stock Wraith Primus
- GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 1070 Gaming
- RAM: 2x8GB Ballistix 2400MHZ DDR4
- Storage: 2 HDDs + 1 SSD (>8TB)
- PSU: Rosewill ARC-750 80+ Bronze (previously ARESGAME 650W)
Recently, after replacing the PSU, I used an air compressor to blow the PC apart and found a CPU fan error during startup. The issue cleared once cooling improved, and the cooler was functioning again. It didn’t happen for a few days before it failed while playing RDR2. My GPU was overheating (around 82°C) and showing thermal throttling, so I wondered if that might have affected the board. I also tried resetting the CMOS with a jumper and removing the battery, but nothing changed.
Edited February 2, 2023 by jimmy6300
Note: PSU details omitted
Check if the SSD serves as the boot device and is an M.2 form factor. Attempt to start the system without connected SATA HDDs and verify bypassing the A0 POST code, which handles IDE setup.
The SSD functions as the boot device, yet it uses SATA technology. My latest tests were performed without power connected to all storage units. Only the 24-pin port, CPU, and GPU received power.
Start from the SSD alone. A0 indicates it has been reset after power-on and is prepared for the operating system. Test additional SATA connections to determine any effects.
You just attempted this and received the same outcome. The system immediately transitions to 'A0' mode and the DRAM indicator lights up. It doesn't attempt to process any alternative Q-codes as it normally would. I also tested with an SSD powered on and changed the SATA connections.
It seems like a hardware problem if the RGB lights stopped working. Consider reinstalling your RAM, which could resolve the issue.
Have you attempted to start with just one stick of RAM? Clearing CMOS might help. Also, did you notice how you removed dust and secured the fans to stop them from spinning? That turns their motor into a generator feeding DC back onto the board. Some boards have safeguards against damage, especially a dead fan controller. The sudden shutdowns aren't due to the PSU since you swapped it out, but rather a motherboard problem requiring an RMA.
I've tested both methods using a single stick and a DDR4 unit at work. Identical outcomes. CMOS cleared and same result. I didn't secure the fan, but it wasn't blown for long—probably a mistake that might have caused failure. I suspect the board was already deteriorating even though my PSUs still show good performance. If the fan controller failed, the fans would stop working when power returns. Since I bought this used board, an RMA seems unlikely, saving me money. I haven't tried re-seating the CPU, and I don't have another AMD processor to test. It's possible I'm out of options.
It's frustrating when using a RAM stick along with another doesn't resolve the problem. I suspect the CPU isn't the issue and it might be the motherboard. The fact that you've changed the PSUs and experienced similar symptoms supports this idea.