I need assistance with something bad.
I need assistance with something bad.
I wouldn't call it terrible overall, though it performs decently from a feature standpoint. In terms of performance, unless you opt for one of the better options, it falls in the $200-300 Gigabyte range compared to the $700-800 boards it was benchmarked against. The GPU side would likely prevent the system from powering on since that board lacks an integrated GPU, though it should boot eventually before freezing at "D6." A faulty board is a strong possibility here. Would you like me to include a photo for reference? That seems unusual, but I'm not sure what visuals would convey this idea clearly. Yes, I recall running it with a 13700K and seeing results with a 13600K; it functions well, just be aware it's a bit unconventional. Please let me know so we can notify you accordingly.
From what the CPU is behaving, it seems like the lighting setup might be the issue. I guess the spotlight was affecting it, but the seller’s page was pretty unsettling—no returns, just sold as-is even though they said it was new. I’m torn between buying a board or a CPU right now. A Z790 board could work with the 12th gen chip, so I might try that first and see if the CPU functions. Alternatively, I could go for the CPU and check if the Apex works. But based on what people are saying, it looks like the board might be the problem. If it doesn’t power on properly or all lights come on, that would be a red flag. It’s hard to move forward without more clarity.
If it appears functional without a clear "No Returns" notice, eBay will favor the buyer and process a refund. It’s recommended to check carefully. Keep a photo handy, as a second opinion can help confirm authenticity. Most Z790 boards are compatible with 12th generation systems. Many dead motherboards I’ve encountered work fine—turn on all lights and fans, but they won’t power up. Since these boards rarely display POST codes, it’s hard to say what code they had, but a zero might be likely. For me, seeing the board light up doesn’t confirm functionality, though some sellers use that as their sole test before listing.
ok so in your opinion should i buy a new board or a new cpu? im guessing board at this point....is the msi mpg z790 edge a decent board? i can prolly swing buying a board next month or cpu but not both lol
Sure, I’ll keep it clear. You’re thinking about purchasing a brand-new device from places like Newegg or Amazon to confirm the condition of your CPU beforehand. That way, you can better assess whether both components are still functional.
Thanks in advance! I was a bit unsure but needed some confidence. If you were facing the same situation, would you pick Z790 or Z690? Which model would suit you best? When I began this project, I aimed for top gaming performance within my budget, which is why I went used. Now I hope I didn’t make a mistake. With all the buzz around ASUS and Gigabyte, I’m leaning toward sticking with MSI. Also, choosing the 12900K was intentional—I didn’t want any performance issues with my 6950XT Red Devil GPU.
I’d focus more on the actual board rather than the chipset. Under similar conditions I’d choose the Z790 board. All other factors usually differ. The Z790 Aorus Elite AX and the Z690 Force/Carbon are essentially the same platform, just with different heatsink colors. The Z790 costs $250 while the Z690 is around $300. The Aorus Elite offers solid VRM features at a good price, making it a strong option. The Z690 has slightly less memory overclocking potential (6400 should still work on Raptor Lake CPUs with a different chip), but it matches most of the important specs from the Apex. It also provides more M.2 slots if that matters to you. At just $50 more, the Z690 becomes much less competitive compared to other high-end LGA 1700 boards. The choice really depends on your system needs and budget.