Check the power supply and cables first.
Check the power supply and cables first.
Here’s the updated version maintaining the same length and structure:
Hey everyone, I acquired this PC from PCSpecialist in 2019. Recently, it’s been experiencing slow boot times, often pausing for about ten seconds before finally powering up after fans spin and lights flicker. About three weeks ago, it completely stopped booting, and the motherboard indicator lit red for DRAM. It briefly flashes the CPU status a few times as if trying to restart, but after a couple attempts it just stays on the red DRAM light without progress. All other components appear to be active, with fans and lights working, yet no boot or beeps occur.
I’m considering replacing parts to identify the issue, starting with the RAM since that seems most likely. I’ve tried booting with only one RAM stick installed (twice) and even swapped slots. It’s possible both sticks failed simultaneously. It could also mean the CPU is dead, so I might not need to spend on RAM and should focus on replacing it instead. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Below are the full specifications of the PC:
- Case: CORSAIR CRYSTAL SERIES 460X RGB GAMING CASE
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Six Core CPU (3.8GHz-4.4GHz/36MB cache/AM4)
- Motherboard: GIGABYTE B450 AORUS ELITE: DDR4, USB 3.1 - ARGB Ready
- Memory: 16GB Corsair VENGEANCE RGB PRO DDR4 3200MHz (2 x 8GB)
- Graphics Card: 8GB AMD RADEON™ RX 590 - HDMI, DP - DX® 12 (previously replaced with an RX 5600XT and has been using that ever since)
- M.2 SSD Drive: 1TB ADATA SX6000 Pro PCIe M.2 2280 (2100 MB/R, 1500 MB/W)
- Power Supply: CORSAIR 650W VS SERIES™ VS-650 POWER SUPPLY
- Cooling: PCS FrostFlow 100 V2 Series High Performance CPU Cooler (AMD)
- Lighting: 2 x 50cm RGB LED Strip
- Sound Card: ONBOARD 6 CHANNEL (5.1) HIGH DEF AUDIO (as standard)
Based on what you've described, it might be a faulty CPU, a defective BIOS on your motherboard or a failing PSU. You could attempt to re-seat your RAM and GPU to determine if that resolves the problem. If the BIOS is corrupt, your motherboard lacks a recovery option; you'll need a CH341A BIOS programmer to update it. Consider using a more reliable PSU—such as a 750W unit borrowed from a friend or neighbor—to see if it stabilizes your system. To further investigate, try installing another RAM module into slots A2 and B2 to identify the root cause. Alternatively, swapping in a known working motherboard could help assess any existing errors.
Hey there, thanks for your message. I hadn’t thought about the PSU at all because everything else in the case was working normally. I don’t have much experience with BIOS, but could a BIOS just start to fail over time without any changes from me? The last time I updated it was in 2020 and it’s been fine so far.
The main issue I’m facing is finding parts to test, since my other computer is an older DDR3 model and I can’t compare the memory performance between them. The PSU in this old PC is also ten years old and only provides 500W, though it still works.
My only choice right now is to purchase new components to see if that specific part is the problem. I’m just trying to figure out the most likely cause without buying everything new. The fact that both RAM sticks are failing at the same time makes me think the CPU might be the culprit, but I’m not very experienced so I’m not sure.