PC fails to start following BIOS upgrade (Gigabyte Aorus B450M)
PC fails to start following BIOS upgrade (Gigabyte Aorus B450M)
Hey everyone, I've just updated my PC's BIOS from the standard version to the latest release. The whole process was smooth until I needed to restart the computer for the changes to apply. Once it booted back up, something strange happened—every fan spun at maximum speed, then slowed down, and kept cycling back. I've tried several fixes so far: changing the CMOS battery, jamming the CMOS pins, moving the RAM slots and testing with one or both modules installed, swapping the motherboard to a different model, and even removing the GPU to try booting via HDMI. It seems like the update might have damaged my CPU or both RAM sticks, but the new system should have handled it better. My current specs are: CPU—Gigabyte Aorus B450M, RAM—2x8 Corsair Vengeance DDR4 at 3000 MHz, GPU—Radeon RX 5700 XT.
During the bios update you either jumped straight to the latest version or went through a gradual process. Reviewing each update’s notes helps avoid doing it step by step. From what I gathered in other discussions and the warnings, it seems multiple changes were needed in stages—otherwise the first board might be unusable. While a processor issue is unlikely, it’s possible another component was affected. Have you checked the GPU on another machine to confirm it works? I’d run a test with your GPU and RAM in a completely different setup, possibly using a bench test on the new board with just the essential parts to capture results.
You're facing a situation that requires gradual BIOS adjustments. When using Q-Flash Utility, ensure your BIOS is at least F32 before upgrading to F40. Prior to the F40 update, install the EC FW Update Tool (version B19.0517.1 or newer) to prevent issues with 4DIMM DDR compatibility on third-generation AMD Ryzen processors.
I immediately went for the newest update, which was my first attempt to refresh a BIOS. For additional testing, I checked the GPU and RAM on another machine and everything functioned properly. I also swapped out the old RAM from the main PC with fresh ones, and the outcome remained unchanged. Likely the issue lies on the CPU side, though it's hard to say for sure.
The board has a backup bios (dual bios setup) I'm not entirely sure, and the manual is pretty much useless.... Above the 1st PCI-E slot there is either LEDs or Jumpers. The manual does not specify one or the other and no literature about it...... So if those are jumpers, use the B-Bios which is the backup bios incase a bad flash happens on the M-Bios or Main bios chip. Take a look at that. If it doesn't post on the M-Bios (if LED is lit up) perhaps wait a bit and see if it automatically switches to the B-Bios. Which the board "Should" do automatically. But like I said, the manual says literally nothing about it. Anyhow, use the B-Bios to reflash the M-Bios and you should be back in shape. Install the bios you had originally on the board so you know it's in working order after the flash. Also, before AND after the flash, clear the cmos. Good Luck!
Did you successfully resolve the issue? The same occurred to me following a BIOS update.