CPU, motherboard, RAM upgrades – first problem encountered.
CPU, motherboard, RAM upgrades – first problem encountered.
I upgraded to a 13700k MAG Z790 motherboard with DDR5 (Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM, 16x2) and a nzxt z73 cooler. The system powers on via the Ethernet LED, and I'm trying to flash the BIOS which now shows a red LED near the USB for a few minutes. I understand this indicates the RAM/CPU are active, but when I power up the PC nothing happens—no debug lights, no fans, nothing. I've checked the power/reset/LED switch three times. Right now the GPU is removed, only the power cable connected, and I'm flashing the BIOS to try booting again. If this doesn't work, any advice would be appreciated! (Don't worry about my cable management skills.)
What is the wattage of your power supply unit? Have you verified it works properly and is delivering the intended power?
I used 1000watts today before upgrading my old motherboard, CPU, and RAM.
The cables were connected properly, but I didn’t observe any unusual signs on the motherboard.
It just arrived today—it's brand new from Amazon. The BIOS update activated the CPU cooler and several fans, yet it won't boot with the power button. Tomorrow I'll remove the front IO panel to check for issues, but it's too late for me at the moment.
It doesn’t turn on at all when I press the power button on the front IO. However, MSI motherboards include a flash BIOS option and a CMOS reset feature. I transferred the latest BIOS to USB and updated it, which fixed everything except the front power button remains unresponsive. Likely the issue is with RAM or the power switch.
Remove all front panel connectors. Apply a screwdriver to discharge the power pins. If unsuccessful, extract the board from its case and test with CPU, 1 RAM in slot A2, and power connections. Reapply a screwdriver to the power pins again. Occasionally, a case may interfere causing no boot. Consider using the alternate RAM stick if the first one fails. If nothing works, the board, RAM, or CPU might be faulty. It could be any of them—bad RAM can lead to no boot (this happened recently). The only certainty comes from swapping components until it functions correctly or seeking professional verification.
I attempted to short the circuit and got nothing, so I removed everything and tested each component individually using the CPU. Both RAM modules—when connected together and apart—worked correctly. I flashed the motherboard last night and confirmed the LED lights indicated a successful update. This suggests the issue might be with the CPU or RAM. I took out the CPU and checked the pins; they appear intact (see attached photos). I’m uncertain and considering replacing the RAM to verify functionality.
Shut down the power supply unit. Connect both 8-pin power connectors on the board and install only the CPU and cooler. Restart the PSU. Attempt to boot using the screwdriver. Check for RAM errors. If you encounter a RAM error, it suggests defective RAM (post sequence includes CPU, BIOS, RAM, GPU, peripherals). Insert one stick into slot A2 to test booting and confirm if RAM is the problem. If the system fails to boot, sometimes components work unexpectedly—there’s still a chance.