Did your CPU or motherboard experience a short circuit?
Did your CPU or motherboard experience a short circuit?
System details include a CPU model R7 2700X, GPU RX590, motherboard Msi B450 Gaming Plus Max, 2x8Gb RAM in Oloy, storage comprising 2TB Samsung m.2 drive and 1TB SATA HDD, power supply Evga 700BQ, operating system Debian 12. The issue began when the CPU led light came on during wake-up from hybrid sleep. This occurred frequently before, yet the cause remained unclear. Disabling the PSU power switch resolved it this time, though earlier attempts only briefly illuminated the "Gaming Plus" LED and stopped fans. Upon inspection, pet hairs inside the PSU appeared, which I removed but didn’t resolve the problem. Testing with an older PSU still provided brief power, suggesting a possible short in either the motherboard or CPU. I attempted to replace both PSUs on another system, both functioned. My hypothesis is that the pet hair caused a short in either component. When I removed the PSU, it seemed to "fix" the issue. I’m unsure if the PSU is reliable now or if another factor is at play. Other diagnostics were thorough: re-applied thermal paste, reset CMOS battery, removed unnecessary parts, and even tried booting the motherboard from the case onto cardboard. I also visually checked the motherboard for unusual signs like burning, moisture, swollen capacitors, or general damage. One capacitor was slightly tilted, though its significance is unclear—I’ll share a photo if needed: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D7D_CMa...p=drivesdk
MOBO: Msi B450 Gaming Plus Max
Consider using this manual; check the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU7ZMmSmu20 for guidance.
I tested both the old and new PSU on another system, and they functioned properly.
What are your PSU's make and model, along with their age?
CPU: R7 2700X
Processors can fail or even stop working completely. If BIOS reflashing doesn't resolve the issue, try installing the processor on a stable motherboard with the appropriate BIOS version to confirm it's not a hardware failure.
I began with the flashing of the BIOS. I removed everything except the CPU and left it on. The power cables for both the motherboard and the CPU stayed connected as instructed in the manual. Pressing and releasing the BIOS button produced no sound initially, but after a brief pause, a faint chirp came from the board. When I detached the USB and kept holding the button, the BIOS light flashed three times and the board stopped chirping. Then another change occurred. I unplugged the CPU cable and repeated the process. This time the BIOS displayed normal flashes. More surprising was that the board powered on (with a CPU indicator). If I reinserted the CPU cable, the board shut down instantly and a short was heard. I removed the CPU from its socket and it still failed. It seems the CPU power connection was damaged. If this were the processor, wouldn’t the board not short out when the cable was connected? What do you all think?
The original PSU is an EVGA 700BQ Bronze (P/N: 110-BQ-0700). It’s about three or four years old. Newegg locked my account without reason, so I can’t view the purchase date. There’s no date on the PSU itself.
The older spare PSU is a Rocketfish M/N: RF-700WPS2, dated 2008/06/26.
I don’t have any spare AM4 boards or CPUs; my last system used AM3+. The processor isn’t extremely old—probably around three years or less.
EVGA often releases units inconsistently in their top tire collections. Avoid connecting the Rocketfish PSU to anything else. Consider obtaining a stable 650W PSU from someone nearby and test it out. Be cautious that fixing issues doesn't automatically lead to buying new parts. If this is your situation, visit a local PC repair shop for assistance diagnosing the problem.
No one I know owns a PC. Most have laptops or consoles, unfortunately. I might need to bring it to a repair shop. Thanks for all your assistance.
Update for any who find this thread from googling.
I took it to a shop and they swapped some parts around. It ended up being the motherboard. They tested the power supply and it was fine. I ended up getting an AsRock b450m.
I kinda wish it were the processor cause at least then I could upgrade instead of just going back to the same lol. But thanks everyone for helping with diagnostics.