Hello, I'm a new builder and need assistance getting my PC to start. The DRAM light is on.
Hello, I'm a new builder and need assistance getting my PC to start. The DRAM light is on.
Hey there, I see you're having some boot issues. Let's troubleshoot together. You've set everything up and pressed power—LEDs and fans are active, but the CPU light is red and stopped. The DRAM light stays solid yellow even after waiting 20 minutes. You tried different RAM sticks and a dual stick, but nothing works. Here are some steps you can try:
1. **Check RAM installation** – Ensure the sticks are seated properly in the A2 slot. Sometimes a loose connection causes this.
2. **Test with a different RAM module** – Swap the sticks to rule out a faulty one.
3. **Verify power supply** – Make sure the PSU is delivering stable power; a weak PSU can cause this issue.
4. **Update BIOS/UEFI** – Outdated firmware might interfere with booting.
5. **Reset BIOS settings** – Sometimes clearing the boot order or resetting the chipset helps.
6. **Try a different CPU cooler** – If the fan isn’t spinning, it could affect stability.
7. **Check for overheating** – Ensure the cooler is functioning and not blocked.
8. **Reset motherboard BIOS** – A factory reset can fix persistent boot problems.
9. **Test with another PC** – Confirm the hardware is compatible and not faulty.
If you still face issues, let me know what you find next!
Remove the CMOS battery for five minutes. Insert the working RAM stick back into its slot, place the battery again, and attempt the task once more.
It's worth mentioning. My ideal situation would be if my RAM were faulty, and I'd need to replace the existing modules.
Removing the CMOS battery will reset everything in the BIOS back to factory defaults (the state when the PC started with a single RAM stick). We'll begin there and observe the outcome. I'm sure someone will be there to join once you're back home and have tried it. I expect @jaslion will also be there, as they're both very knowledgeable. We'll work through this together.