It suddenly stopped working...
It suddenly stopped working...
I've assisted a friend in upgrading his PC. The issue began after installing a new motherboard for his high-performance M.2 SSD, which required Gen 4 support to fully utilize its capabilities. After a few days of stable booting, he received a C5 BIOS error code—indicating problems with digital outputs on his board. Despite lights and fans functioning, the system failed to boot properly. He also noticed several post codes like 17/14/15. His setup included an AMD Ryzen 7 3800X with dual-channel Corsair Vengeance C16 RAM, an ASRock B550 Steel Legend motherboard, and an older ASUS B450 Prime with a Kraken cooler. We suspected the C5 code pointed to memory or CPU issues. We adjusted the CPU cooler slightly as suggested, which resolved the problem temporarily. After repeated failures, we suspected hardware faults and sent the board for inspection—no issues found. When we returned it, it still didn’t work. We tried the old motherboard, but it also failed. Eventually, we replaced the RAM with compatible G-Skill 4x8GB modules (RGB included). Still no success. Now we suspect the CPU may not support dual-channel memory, so we’re considering a new pair. Clearing the BIOS via CMOS jumpers and installing RAM in slots B1/B2 helped at low speeds (2133 MHz), but not at the intended 3200 MHz. The board performed adequately with the older RAM for a short time. We suspect the dual M.2 SSDs might be causing interference if not properly connected—checking SATA ports and avoiding shared bandwidth could help. It’s frustrating since he invested heavily in upgrades, and we’re running out of options. We’re hoping to get the system working smoothly again so he can use his 32GB RAM in dual channel mode at the correct speeds.
The system launches properly and functions smoothly with 2133 MB of RAM.
He also receives a BIOS postcode 27, but we're not sure what that refers to. Any suggestions?
Not much is known about this. Meanwhile, we replaced the CPU, but eight pins were bent. He keeps trying to boot, always getting the same error code 27. So far, we haven’t changed the PSU or the HDD/SSD, though I’m pretty sure those aren’t the issues. His chances seem extremely low—it’s unbelievable.