Check if the motherboard is faulty by ensuring the PC powers on.
Check if the motherboard is faulty by ensuring the PC powers on.
Here’s a revised version of your text:
I’m sharing these details after some troubleshooting on Reddit, since I didn’t get much advice there. Let me clarify the setup:
- i7 12700F processor
- B660M Aorus Pro AX (DDR4) memory
- 16GB 3200MHz DDR4 RAM (two 8GB modules)
- Gigabyte RTX 3070
Good morning! The information above is the configuration of my new PC, which I assembled last February. This past February I’ve been facing problems this year. It started when the machine wouldn’t power on automatically—just a brief fan spin before it failed completely. I discovered that pressing the power button for about three seconds would sometimes get it to boot. That’s essentially a brute-force method.
At first, I didn’t give much importance to it because work was consuming most of my time. I assumed it might be due to a failing UPS battery, which I could easily replace later. It worked for a couple of weeks before the issue persisted.
Eventually, I realized the problem was more serious—it wouldn’t turn on even when plugged into a wall outlet. My first suspicion was the power supply unit (PSU). I had a Gigabyte P750GM, which I thought was reliable. When it stopped working, I ordered a Seasonic Focus Plus Gold GX850 and replaced the PSU. Still, the PC wouldn’t power on.
Later, I switched to a Corsair HX850 PSU. Unfortunately, it also failed to boot. This time I didn’t press the power button as hard. I figured there might be another hardware issue. After some effort, I noticed something odd: the PC would turn on when the RTX 3070’s power cables were removed. That made me think my GPU was dead, but testing it on an older system showed it worked fine. I needed a GPU to run my newer setup (since the CPU didn’t have an integrated graphics), so I tried using a GTX 960 I found in my previous system.
Interestingly, the PC would start up with the GTX 960 but not with the RTX 3070. I’m still unsure if my motherboard was the culprit. Before making a decision about a new board, I’d appreciate your thoughts on whether this could be the right solution.
What could explain why my PC refuses to power on with a 3070 but works with a 960? I’ve tried:
- Using different power cables
- Reseating RAM
- Checking the PCIe slot
- Cleaning components
- Testing the power button
I haven’t updated the BIOS, cleaned the board thoroughly, or opened the case to check the button.
Currently, I’m still using the same system but with the GTX 960. It runs smoothly for gaming. Any advice on whether a motherboard replacement is necessary would be greatly appreciated.
I didn't include it directly since it was part of fixing the problem, but in short I mentioned a Gigabyte P750GM that I later swapped for a Corsair HX850. I thought it might trigger the overcurrent protection, but even after switching to a 850W power supply—plenty for most needs—it still won't turn on. Back then I had a 750W unit that worked fine even when under load. Still, thanks for the advice!