Initial PC Assembly Fails – All Black Display Appears
Initial PC Assembly Fails – All Black Display Appears
Update: Managed to reach the desktop. Not sure exactly why or how but the system is now usable and somewhat stable. Now it only crashes when shutting down/restarting. I’m bummed that I had to go with Windows though, I really wanted this to be a bazzite machine, maybe later. Thanks everyone for the help!
Hello!
I'm having a bit of a hard time with my first ever PC build. It keeps crashing to a black screen! I attempted to install Bazzite first but it always crashes as soon as I click the install option, so I decided to go with Windows. Which of course installed fine. But then during the first set up, the "Out of the box experience" it started crashing. Notably from a cold start it always crashed when the paskey QR code came up so I did the command that allows the install to be done offline, with no luck. At first I thought it was a GPU issue since the GPU I had purchase originally was a used AMD Radeon RX6800 and those apparently had issues similar to what I'm going through.
I decided to return it and got a brand new GPU instead, same issue although I did manage to finish the windows set up and get to the desktop. From a cold start the PC runs fine for 2-3 minutes then crashes to a black screen, all the fans and RGB lights stay on including those of the GPU. The power button does nothing no matter how long I hold it.
After that initial crash the system starts crashing earlier and earlier until ultimately it crashes seconds from boot. It never crashes on the BIOS though, I can leave it there indefinitely and the PC will be happy to stay on with no issues even if it had just crashed while on Windows. I would suspect the CPU overheating but at least in the BIOS it goes to 44C and stays there. I tried booting it with only one RAM stick and swapping them to see if it is one of the sticks but the issue happens all the same.
At this point I'm half tempted to just return all the parts and give up, I've wanted to build a PC for the longest time and this has not been a positive first experience. Right now I took it all out and I'm putting it back in as a last resort, but I have little hope.
I would appreciate any help from you guys.
TLDR; New PC keeps crashing on windows, screen goes black, fans and RGB stay on, power button does nothing. System stays stable on BIOS, CPU temps on BIOS stay at 44C. GPU probably not the issue as this is the second one I try.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor
($74.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
Asus PRIME B550M-A WIFI II Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard
($84.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
OLOy MD4U083016BJDA 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 CL16 Memory
(Purchased For $56.00)
Storage:
TEAMGROUP T-FORCE G50 512 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
($81.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card:
Gigabyte GAMING OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 16 GB Video Card
($379.99 @ Amazon)
Case:
Jonsbo D32 PRO MicroATX Desktop Case
($71.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Power Supply:
SAMA GT 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($69.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Case Fan:
Thermalright TL-C12015 52 CFM 120 mm Fan
Case Fan:
Thermalright TL-C12015 52 CFM 120 mm Fan
Case Fan:
Thermalright TL-C12015 52 CFM 120 mm Fan
Case Fan:
Thermalright TL-C12C-S 66.17 CFM 120 mm Fan
($7.90 @ Amazon)
Case Fan:
Thermalright TL-C12C-S 66.17 CFM 120 mm Fan
($7.90 @ Amazon)
Total:
$835.73
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2025-12-17 07:56 EST-0500
The issue seems to be related to CPU temperature after Windows loads. BIOS and GPU checks passed, but stress causes problems, likely affecting the CPU first. Check if thermal paste was applied and try entering safe mode.
The thermal paste used and its application method were clarified.
Did you install only the power cables that came with the PSU during assembly?
Regarding RAM, some motherboards specify that the first physically installed RAM should go into a designated slot, usually DIMM_A2. Review the motherboard’s User Guide or manual, as well as the manufacturer’s website, paying close attention to all fine print in text and diagrams. The installation rule might not be explicitly stated or obvious.
If you manage to get some successful boots, start up immediately and check the Reliability History/Monitor and Event Viewer.
One or both tools may record an error code, warning, or informational event just before or during crashes/black screens.
It’s also recommended to take a few clear photographs of the case interior, including all fans. Avoid too many fans or improper placement, as this can hinder cooling.
Make sure the images are sharp and detailed enough to reveal installation specifics.
Include notes about fan airflow directions—both in and out.
You can share these photos via imgur (www.imgur.com > green "New post" icon).
I used the AMD Wraith Stealth cooler with thermal paste already applied. I can access the BIOS and check CPU performance there, where it begins around 35°C, rises to about 44°C, and remains stable. I haven’t been able to open Windows long enough to install anything, and from what I know, Windows doesn’t have built-in monitoring tools. I attempted to enter safe mode, but it always crashes.
I used only the cables that came with the PSU.
The RAM was installed as per the instructions, which is exactly how it should be done.
Is this setting available in the BIOS? I can boot into it normally, but I've kept it running in BIOS for over an hour without any problems. Windows won't load for more than 2-3 minutes at most.
My PC has six fans: one exhaust on the back, two at the top, and three intakes at the bottom.
I’ve noticed nothing feels excessively hot. Even after a crash, the CPU fan is cooling the air, and I touched the heatsink—it was room temperature or even cooler. This makes me wonder if the heatsink isn’t making good contact with the CPU. The fan is securely installed, there’s no plastic covering, and I don’t have thermal paste. I’m not sure about removing it, but if this keeps happening after the rebuild, I might take it to a nearby shop for assistance.
Another thing I observed is that I never tested plugging the PC directly into a wall outlet—it was always connected to an Anker 525 Power Strip, which should be fine. I’ll reassemble it shortly and share photos if needed. Thanks for your help.
I tried but the video I watched didn't mention it. Still, it looks like the fan is firmly attached to the backplate. One screw seems deeper than the rest, so I'll adjust it. Thermal paste can become sticky, so for readjusting the fan do you need extra care?
Executing memtest86 is recommended.
It doesn't rely on Windows.
You might find that utility available under the advanced settings of your BIOS.
Running a complete test without errors suggests everything is fine.
For extra confidence, repeat the process a few more times.
Are your BIOS settings up to date? Certain adjustments can improve stability.
Some users report problems when loading armoury crate; consider removing it and testing again.
I just rebuilt the system and confirmed the BIOS is up to date. Disabling Armoury Crate didn’t help much. The PC still crashes, so I’m checking if running memtest can fix it. I observed that the GPU fans stop spinning right after the crash occurs. Before, with the RX6800 in a small case, it was noticeable, but now the 9060 is more compact. This makes me more concerned about the GPU connection possibly being the issue, maybe due to a driver problem. Updating drivers isn’t possible without opening Windows. It’s also worth considering if my monitor might be the cause—its 144hz 4K display uses a 2.0 HDMI port, and I’m unsure how to reduce its demands. I can’t enter safe mode because the computer crashes every time I try to use the troubleshoot option in the recovery menu.