Check your components for signs of damage and consult a professional if needed.
Check your components for signs of damage and consult a professional if needed.
I was putting together a PC for someone when fatigue got the better of me and I made some serious errors, even though I’ve assembled systems before. The PSU’s 20+4 ATX cable has two connectors; one is an 8-pin connector that fits perfectly into the motherboard’s CPU power slot. I mistakenly connected that end to the CPU, thinking it was safe. It wasn’t until later attempts to boot that everything finally stopped working. After some troubleshooting, I realized my error and felt quite panicked. I tried connecting the correct cables again, but nothing changed. How severe was the damage? Could the motherboard, PSU, or both be affected? What about other parts? Should I order a new motherboard and PSU just in case? Also, what should I do with any components I might have harmed by my mistake? I have another AM5 build available for testing individual parts like the CPU, RAM, and SSD. I’m worried about losing good components if things go wrong.
I discovered the connector layout for the SFX-L and found incorrect voltage levels. Instead of 3.3V and ground, there was 12V where it should have been, and ground was connected to wrong potentials. The power supply probably safeguarded itself, but the 3.3V components on the motherboard likely suffered damage. The M.2 SSD, GPU, and RAM that rely on 3.3V might also be affected. Make sure the cables are properly secured—otherwise, it seems Be Quiet made a mistake as well.
Sometimes the board can get damaged, but usually everything else works fine. It shouldn’t be sending incorrect voltages everywhere. I’m not sure where the video output should be, since the F-series doesn’t have an integrated GPU. The only slow RAM stick you have is a poor option.
The GPU was a 1660Ti unit prepared for future upgrades. I verified the component functions properly, it was connected to the PSU throughout the process. Single RAM slots are also intended for later upgrades. Thank you for your response. The 12V supply was exclusively linked to the CPU power connector. I captured some images of the cables (these were originals included with the PSU): the configurations tried to boot were (excluding GPU): MB 20pin → PSU, ATX 20+4 → MB, MB 8pin → CPU (identical key in middle and top right), even more precise than the standard 2x4pin (left), MB 20pin → PSU, ATX 20+4 → MB, P8 → PSU, 2x4pin → CPU MB 20pin → PSU, ATX 20+4 → MB, P8 → PSU, 2x4pin → CPU, MB 8pin → PSU
As another user mentioned, the PSU seems okay because it has several safeguards. To confirm, you can switch to a different system and swap in the one you wish to test. Just watch out for how you connect the cables. Regarding the motherboard, it might be time to request an exchange or return via RMA. The procedure could vary depending on where you purchased it—some steps are simpler, others more complicated. Good luck!