PC operates but fails to start.
PC operates but fails to start.
I built my mom a PC about a year and a half ago. Specs:
Pny cs900 240gb sata3 ssd
Cooler master mwe 500 bronze psu
Asus prime a320m-k motherboard
AMD Radeon rx460 2gb gpu
AMD Athlon x4 970 3.8 cpu
Some random ddr4 ram, don't remember.
My mom said it randomly shut off one day. It still powers up, but no output or signal to monitor.
I tried:
Testing the gpu in another pc (it works)
Reseating the gpu many times.
Another monitor (no change)
Reseating and testing other ram.
I bought another cheap cpu (Was a x4 950, installed a 970)
Re-plugged in 24 pin and cpu power cable to motherboard.
The pc will power on, fans, basic motherboard lights, but no signal to the monitor or bios boot. I'm thinking the motherboard is bad? What should I try next?
It's been a while since we last spoke, but I'm here with an update and still facing an unresolved issue. After CountMike's feedback regarding the PSU, I tried it out. I connected my PC to the PSU I tested, unplugged the 24-pin and CPU power connectors from the original PC, and then connected them to my own setup. I switched the power cable from my machine to the PC and pressed the power button. My PC started up normally, and I also verified the PSU on another machine, which gave the same result. So far, the PSU appears to be functioning correctly.
The only component I hadn't tested yet was the motherboard. It was showing lights and fans spinning, but that didn't confirm it was providing CPU power. I ended up spending $75 and purchasing an MSI B450m Max II. I installed the CPU, cooler, GPU, USB cables, SATA, and JFET1. However, there was no start-up. After checking the connections carefully, I tried jumping the power switch pins on the JFET1, but it didn't work. I've double and triple verified everything so far.
Remove all components, place them on a table and begin with only basic elements: MB, CPU and RAM. If there is no beeper on the MB, ensure it is connected.
Alright, over two weeks later I'm back at square one. I couldn't get that msi b450 to emit any sort of life so i returned it and bought another asus a320m-k.
CPU, Cooler, RAM, install in case, Fans, CPU and 24 pin connectors. No case peripheral buttons cause I destructed the jpf1 connector with last mobo.
I used a screwdriver and jumped the power switch pins. Fans! So I plugged in GPU, monitor, and sata, but no output...
I tried the second monitor, no change.
I reseated the power cables for CPU and 24 pin, no change.
I took CPU cooler off and tried the old CPU... Swapped the RAM out for one out of my personal computer..... Reseated the GPU.... Tried the original monitor.
As previously stated I had the power supply boot up my personal computer with no issue, and the GPU ran in my computer as well. Monitors are good.
I don't know why this little thing isn't working.
I guess I gotta just keep troubleshooting stuff. When I get time I could try putting my personal GPU in the pc and see if that makes a difference.
Any ideas? I'm willing to try whatever you throw at me.
I'm curious about whether the BIOS for the MSI B450 (and possibly the newer A320 board) still includes support for Athlon CPUs. Some people believe that support for certain older Ryzen CPUs was removed in favor of newer ones. It might be that issues with the original A320 led to this change, creating a dilemma between BIOS and CPU compatibility. You could also consider trying a Ryzen 2600.
After checking CPU compatibility for the a320m-k, it appears the athlon x4 models are no longer supported following the bios update 5862. That update occurred on November 5, 2021—well before I purchased my original motherboard. It seems I may have been fortunate enough to acquire an older board that still supported the older CPU for the project to start. I’m not very familiar with firmware or BIOS updates, so it’s possible my original board could have unexpectedly updated its BIOS. As you suggested, it might be worth checking if something unusual was happening with it. The next step would be to search for a more affordable Ryzen processor and test it out. Thanks.
It relies on inventory and how quickly new board releases reach customers. You might have had the chance to purchase older models. Bios won’t refresh by itself, I’m certain. Let me know if you decide to test a Ryzen processor.