MSI Z690 GODLIKE isn't starting properly—only the RAM lights are active. No other functions work.
MSI Z690 GODLIKE isn't starting properly—only the RAM lights are active. No other functions work.
I'm assembling a new PC every two years for the past decade. I've been working on a 12600K build using the MSI Z690 Godlike. It takes about two hours to set everything up—wiring, watercooling, RAM installed, 1200W power supply, clear CMOS. Once powered on, the white indicator lights up and the LCD remote animates smoothly with sound. After that, it goes blank. Pressing power doesn't work; the RAM lights up but nothing else appears. The motherboard stays on with a white LED, RAM cycles through a rainbow effect, and no fans or display appear. The PSU fan and cooler don't spin. I've reset CMOS multiple times and swapped power supplies without changing the outcome. Even after buying a second Godlike, the results remain identical. No error lights flash, no HDD or VGA issues, CPU, RAM, or any other alerts. Just the white LED stays on, confirming power input. I'm really stuck and don't know where to turn for help.
You purchased a godlike board because there was a clear reason most buyers avoided it—people understood better not to spend $1200 on a motherboard for such a powerful CPU unless they were XOC, and even then... This looks more like a joke than a serious upgrade. It might be due to faulty RAM, a broken CPU memory controller, or needing a BIOS update via a USB flash drive to resolve the issue.
I purchased it for my 13900K after pre-ordering, and I prefer MSI items. The I/O performance is excellent, and the LCD integration is appealing. I understand the 13900K supports Z690 backwards compatibility, but I also realize it likely needs a BIOS update to work with Raptor Lake. I obtained the 12600K to prepare for that upgrade by booting and flashing the board. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, I’m unsure why it won’t work. I have two identical units and suspect both might have faulty memory controllers. It’s quite confusing. Thanks for the advice—I’ll try flashing this morning. I’m open to any suggestions.
Hey, I do have a concern. Since none of the fans are spinning up and the cooler pump doesn't run, if it takes 5 mins to update the BIOS using the bios button, what will keep my CPU cool during this process? The only thing that turns on is the RAM RGB lights. I have no active cooling at all. Nothing else turns on. Will my CPU be fine during the 5-7 mins it takes to update my BIOS using USB?
It should be fine as long as theres something on it, i usually keep a large heatsink on it. IF the motherboard isnt turning on, the CPU isnt under any load then. Usually POST and bios screens will cause it to get toasty, but the mobo isnt even booting so it wont generate all that much heat. I know that z690 takes quite a while to boot up, as long as the bios actually works. But its pretty suprising to see since it really should work out of the box.
I was expecting a standard setup for Raptor Lake, just a 12th gen rig. I thought it would function as expected with the bios included. When I connected the power supply and saw the animation, sound effects, and lights activate, I felt confident moving forward. Pressing the power button revealed an RGB display on RAM only, with no fan noise or cooler activation despite any issues. Both boards behaved identically across two PSUs. I plan to update the BIOS later to investigate further. Thanks for your help!
The power switch for the case is connected properly. For a $1200 model, I’m confused about why there’s no surface-mounted button. Did they omit it from the manual, or did I miss seeing it? / EDIT/ They’re located at the bottom of the board, hmm. These must be the most subtle switches since they aren’t clearly described in the instructions.
It’s 10am. I saved the BIOS from MSI support, created a fat32 USB drive, renamed the file to MSI.COM as instructed. Removed CMOS, connected the USB to the flash port, powered the PSU, saw the power LED light up at the bottom of the board, the remote LCD displayed an animation, then I pressed the Flash BIOS button. The button illuminated and blinked twice. The USB light activated and started its idle cycle, but nothing happened afterward. The BIOS indicator stayed off with no activity, and the USB remained completely idle. I recorded two videos for upload. I’m hoping someone more knowledgeable can help me figure this out. I already ordered a 13900K and intend to get a 4090. If I can’t get it working by then, I’m in trouble. I have no idea what’s going wrong. EDIT: I’ll contact MSI support for assistance. Updated October 3, 2022 by TrueSonic45