MSI X370 SLI Plus malfunction – screen remains black despite no post installation.
MSI X370 SLI Plus malfunction – screen remains black despite no post installation.
I encountered a POST issue on my X370 SLI plus motherboard during a stable build starting in August 2017. For reference, the unit was RMA-repaired once in its first year because of audio problems. Here’s what I observed:
- On startup, no POST appears and the video display stays off. No device connections change anything.
- CPU LED flashes briefly when powering on—seems typical. RAM, VGA, and GPU LEDs are off, with no beep codes.
- HDD spins during power-up but the drive indicator is off. Both CPU and case fans spin at startup. Two fan headers remain unpowered.
- After disconnecting/reconnecting all power and SATA cables (including port swaps), I replaced the SATA cables.
- GPU fans and lights activated. Swapped GPU slots and tried another Radeon card without success.
- Changed RAM slots, tried booting with a single stick, and even without RAM installed, CPU and RAM LEDs lit up.
- Checked CMOS battery and reset BIOS via the CMOS jumper JBAT1.
Power supply test passed with a paper clip, and multimeter confirmed voltage on all CPU cables at 100%.
I’m still puzzled. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Blair.
I consider the board to be quite unstable. It was in my system for about a week before it stopped working properly, which suggests the problem might be here. However, the CPU could also be the culprit if the memory controller is failing. You might want to test the RAM in another slot to check if the issue lies with that channel. If that doesn't help, it's probably time to search for a replacement motherboard.
The MSI X370 required constant adjustments and fixes. I favor a straightforward setup but often had to reinstall hardware or restart just to fix audio issues. Without a way to test the CPU on another platform, my confidence leans toward a more reliable new board. I’m avoiding further investment in the faulty MSI and looking for a solid alternative.
I've been dealing with the same problem since Sunday and found this discussion helpful. All my attempts with Xysto's solutions have failed. I've tested everything on a friend's build—GPU, RAM, and power supply—and they all function perfectly. It seems the issue might be related to the MOBO component. My CPU hasn't been under heavy load. Here are the specs: MOBO MSI X370 SLI Plus CPU Ryzen 1700x RAM 16 GB DDR4 3000 - Corsair Vengeance LPX GPU 1080 EVGA PSU EVGA 750 G2 SSD 500 GB Samsung.
Hello, I’m considering replacing my x370 motherboard with an ASUS TUF B450 Plus II. The new model is said to fit my current setup, though it’s a less common revision. My previous B450 Plus version has received mostly positive feedback. I haven’t found any detailed VRM specifications for the rev 2, but I see bigger heat sinks there, which might be beneficial. Since I’m not an overclocker, I’m weighing the risks carefully.
Thanks for your reply. Have you installed the new motherboard? Was your previous one causing the problem? Did the ASUS TUF B450 Plus II support your Ryzen 1600? It’s strange that both our motherboards failed at the same time.
hi, The motherboard is being delivered tomorrow or Wed. Interestingly enough I found another erratic issue on the PSU. I used a multi meter to test the PSU. The first PSU test the voltages were all over, so I thought I would retest the following day. The second PSU test voltages were 100%, so then guessing it was a motherboard issue. Then I had a total loss off all power after rebooting, so on the third PSU test I had 0 volts from the PSU. Now I am awaiting a RMA replacement for my Seasonic which is supposed to arrive later in the week. I may still have an issue with the X370, but I won't know for awhile. Also hope my CPU and DDR4 survived all the trashy voltage from a failing PSU. Were you able to get any progress with your no-boot X370? Sometimes retesting can be helpful? I leaned PSUs can be really tricky. Just sayin
Hello, your PSU swap didn't work. I appreciate the motherboard you chose and plan to buy another soon. I'm hoping the CPU and RAM aren't affected by the issues you're facing.
The story continues. I've got a replacement PSU in place. Luckily, Seasonic offers a 10-year warranty, making it the more affordable option for repairs. The X370 still didn't power on properly, so I swapped it out for an ASUS TUF B450 Plus II with DDR4 and a Ryzen 5 1600 CPU. It started up, but I couldn't boot into Windows, and the system would crash when trying to reinstall Windows 10 or Linux. I managed to run MEMtest for 24 hours without any issues, so I'm hoping my DDR4 memory is still intact. I've also installed a new M.2 SSD and plan to add a Ryzen 5 3600 next. I'm just hoping this ends the big spending spree. I'll share updates soon... How's the MSI x470 performing?