Device won't boot because it can't access BIOS (ASRock B650M pro, RsM price range).
Device won't boot because it can't access BIOS (ASRock B650M pro, RsM price range).
About 12 days ago I assembled a PC with my younger brother. I no longer have a parts list because it was built using the ASRock B650M pro Rs micro ATX AM5. Once completed, we ran a full benchmark with 3DMark to check performance. The results were excellent. After that, he played until yesterday when his system unexpectedly shut down, resembling a power cut or hardware failure. Attempts to reboot failed initially, but it worked after a few tries. He then played several games again. Later today, before school, he played some games as well. After school, the PC wouldn’t boot. We tried troubleshooting remotely—removing cables, using different DIMM slots, using just one DIMM, replacing the CMOS battery and reinserting it, disabling the GPU, and checking all connections. We also tried adding them to the boot menu, but that didn’t help. Regarding the PC’s LED indicators, the CPU and RAM lights activated when power was applied and then stopped shortly after causing a shutdown. No blinking occurred. Anyone have any suggestions about what might be wrong?
It might be a memory or overheating problem. Have you ever updated the BIOS on the motherboard to the latest release? AM5 systems regularly receive updates to address memory stability and other issues that can lead to crashes or instability. These updates mainly improve memory performance. If you haven’t applied the current patches, the memory could be experiencing difficulties. Could also be a cooling issue. Did you check the temperatures while he was using it or during benchmark tests? You mentioned it sometimes posts, or has it been inactive since the last update? If it still occasionally posts, I’d monitor idle temps in BIOS and consider installing the latest available BIOS version.
I modified the BIOS during the PC setup and checked for updates, but none appear to be available. During testing I didn’t notice any issues with the thermal paste. We observed it at one point, though I can’t remember specifics. For the CPU/GPU, everything seemed normal. Recently, after a power cut, he tried again and then stopped responding. Later he played for about an hour but the PC failed to turn on, and when he wanted to restart, it didn’t come back on.
I would verify several aspects: - Confirm bios are current - if there are nearby compatible machines, try as many components from them as possible to pinpoint the issue - check thermal performance - refresh all settings - re-seed the system - inspect motherboard pins for any dust or damage that might disrupt connections There’s likely a more efficient sequence for these tasks.
I can't check the thermals again, it only turns on for about 1-3 seconds and they can't access the BIOS (the latest version isn't listed on their support site). The CPU hasn't been reset yet, and all other parts have been reconnected.
You want to understand what happens when someone says "it doesn't turn on." Are they checking if the system powers up but doesn’t boot or show any activity? Or are they pressing a button and seeing no response at all? This detail will guide the next steps. If it’s just powering up without any sign of life, we should check the memory next—testing one stick at a time in each slot to see if that affects the result. Also, confirm whether the RAM is listed in the motherboard’s QVL for the AM5 platform; if not, it could mean the RAM isn’t compatible.
Pressing the power button causes the fans to spin, DRAM and CPU indicators flash red, then it powers down after a short delay. I suspect I need to verify the QVL list again, though I’m sure I can try once more. They attempted using a stick in slots 1 and 4, as well as slots 1 and 3 (the default for the motherboard is slots 2 and 3).