I’m at a loss.
I’m at a loss.
I want to apologize in advance for any confusion about my computer knowledge, as well as for the length of this message. I purchased a prebuilt PC a few years back—it was my first gaming PC and it has worked well for me. When Monster Hunter Wilds came out, I thought upgrading would be easy: adding a new CPU and updating the BIOS should be straightforward. Unfortunately, I broke the number one rule by making changes while the BIOS was updating (during a restart). I watched countless YouTube videos, searched extensively on Google, and even posted on Reddit for advice. I tried flashing the BIOS with a chip I don’t remember the name of, but nothing worked. Eventually, I decided to buy a new motherboard and assumed all my issues were resolved. Unfortunately, after installing it, everything connected properly except for the display and BIOS—no boot-up screen, nothing. I’m at a loss; I thought I should take it to a repair shop, but this was supposed to be a simple fix. I’m not very comfortable with computers, as my hobby is just gaming. I realize now I probably had two RAM sticks removed or a faulty SSD. I’d really appreciate a clear answer so I know what to buy, but I’m unsure unless I bring the PC to a professional. I’m hoping it’s not the SSD and I don’t want to lose anything. I didn’t encounter any problems until I tried replacing the CPU and updating the BIOS, which only happened after installing the new motherboard. Reddit suggested getting a new motherboard, so I did that. Still, the monitor doesn’t detect any signal from the PC. I have a Gigabyte A520M S2H motherboard.
I’ve checked all the cables many times. I just bought a new flash drive to see if updating the BIOS or reinstalling Windows would help. Maybe a faulty power supply is the issue?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! Thank you. (This seems really silly)
It's quite typical for a fresh build to have issues initially, and having a variety of components makes it easier to adjust. You start by exchanging the parts first, testing the old CPU on each board with just one RAM stick. Keep in mind that Ryzen 5 on AM4 boards lacks an integrated GPU unless it's an APU (such as 2400G, 3400G, 4600G or 5700G). If you moved from an APU to a standard Ryzen, the motherboard video outputs should be inactive. This board also doesn’t include an onboard speaker, so you’ll need to connect one externally to hear any alerts. If you’re able to solder eight leads, preloaded BIOS chips are available for just $15, and there’s a complete board available for similar parts at comparable cost. Replacing a clamshell SOP8 socket on a functional board lets you boot from a working BIOS chip and swap it out for a faulty one, then update it to the standard method—though the socket itself is nearly identical in price to a BIOS chip.
I've experienced this situation multiple times when setting up new PCs. Running fans at full speed with lights on and no video display. The solution I found was to power down everything, disconnect the power, discharge the motherboard by pressing the case power button for about five seconds, then remove the CMOS battery for roughly fifteen minutes. This resets the motherboard to its default configuration. After that, reinstall the CMOS battery, reconnect all hardware, GPU, RAM, and drive cables, ensuring all power cables are properly connected from the PSU and motherboard. Make sure your CPU is installed correctly with enough thermal paste and a suitable cooler. Verify that your HDMI cables are firmly attached to both the PC and monitor, and that the correct video input is set on the monitor. Initially, you might want to install one stick of RAM, then place a beep speaker and start the PC to check for any error beep codes. If you encounter any, share them here. Others can assist with troubleshooting. This advice is just a suggestion I hope will be useful. Cheers from an experienced PC builder and gamer.
Here are the complete details of your system.
Current motherboard: old motherboard, new motherboard (gigabyte A520M S2H - is that the latest version?),
Old CPU: old cpu, new cpu (AMD RYZEN 5 doesn't specify, there are over 50 models available),
Graphics card: graphics card (do you have any?).
Request detailed specifications. Beyond confirming every part is correctly installed, verify your new motherboard's compatibility with existing hardware. A newer board may require a BIOS update before it supports full hardware capabilities, including RAM. Check the RAM compatibility list on Gigabyte's website. Listen for any beep codes when powering it on. Access the BIOS settings to confirm the firmware version. Essentially, ensure proper installation and address any potential BIOS or hardware conflicts.