PC not starting after shutdown. Orange DRAM indicator lit. Model: ASUS x670e + 9800x3D + G.Skill Flare x5 DDR5
PC not starting after shutdown. Orange DRAM indicator lit. Model: ASUS x670e + 9800x3D + G.Skill Flare x5 DDR5
The system features a 9800x3D processor, 32 GB of G.Skill Flare X5 RAM (2 x 16 GB) using DDR5-6000 CL30, and an ASUS TUF GAMING x670e Plus WiFi motherboard. The GPU is an RTX 4070 TI SUPER. This build was created roughly six months ago after the 9800x3D model failed. It operated normally until a forced shutdown, during which it failed to power back up. The orange DRAM indicator remains lit and the screen is absent.
I have attempted several fixes: replacing RAM, trying one stick at a time, updating BIOS, swapping out the PSU, resetting CMOS, and re-seating the battery. Online reports suggest similar problems often start during the first boot, with solutions involving BIOS flashback updates that didn’t resolve the issue. I’m considering whether reseating the CPU would help, especially given the recent forced shutdown. What typically indicates the underlying problem in such cases?
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
The system was working well until I had to perform a force shutdown (pressing the power button repeatedly). After that, it never came back on.
Could you explain why you needed to force shut down the system?
I replaced the entire PSU—it was quite old, so I didn’t mind swapping it out.
What was the model, brand, and age of the PSU?
Given that this happened after a force shutdown, what issue is likely causing it?
A faulty BIOS seems most likely. If you had access to Asus’s BIOS FlashBack before the pandemic, their support for that feature wasn’t consistent. Some users even used a CH341A BIOS programmer because they had one available.
You might consider transferring all components to another known working motherboard (such as a friend or neighbor). This would help identify if the problem lies with the motherboard itself and could lead to an RMA process.
If the PSU was of poor quality, that’s probably what caused the motherboard to be replaced.
Please let me know what cooling solution you’re using for the processor.
This was a rather awkward moment. I was using BG3 on honour (ironman) mode and my performance dropped close to the end. Even though I pressed alt+f4, the game still saved, so I had to shut down my PC quickly to try and recover the progress. It wasn’t the best decision, but it worked in that instant. This was the only instance I forced a shutdown while playing.
Old: EVGA 750 GQ 750 W 80+ Gold Certified from about six years ago
New: Corsair RM850x Shift
CPU cooler: Deepcool AK620 CPU Cooler
It seems my next move might be swapping the motherboard unless more details come up. Let me know if you have any other suggestions or information to share.