Question about PC failure, motherboard stuck on DRAM/Boot LEDs?
Question about PC failure, motherboard stuck on DRAM/Boot LEDs?
Hi everyone,
I recently assembled my first desktop PC without much experience and am facing some boot problems. Here are the details:
Motherboard: ASUS B650 Plus WiFi
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 2x16GB
Cooler: Thermalright PS120SE CPU Air Cooler
GPU: Gigabyte Radeon RX 7800 XT
Storage: Crucial P3 2TB SSD
Corsair: Corsair RM850x Shift 850W 80+
After turning it on, no display appeared. The DRAM indicator stayed lit. I checked all connections and reassembled everything, but the problem continued.
I tried a BIOS update several times without success. However, when I connected my Windows 11 installation USB, the system booted directly to the TUF Gaming splash screen with no warning lights, then froze.
After some time, I powered it off and back on. This time, the Q-LEDs started cycling:
Orange (DRAM) → Red (CPU) → White (VGA) → back to Orange (looping)
Another BIOS update caused continuous cycling with fan speed changes. My monitor, keyboard, and mouse briefly lit up before turning off again.
Eventually, it settled on the Boot light (white), but I couldn’t enter BIOS or interact with anything.
Troubleshooting steps I’ve tried:
- Reseated RAM multiple times, confirming it was in the correct slots and fully seated.
- Tested booting with one stick at a time in different slots.
- Cleared CMOS by removing the battery for a few minutes and reinserting it.
- Updated BIOS via BIOS Flashback several times, but each attempt failed.
- Used a Windows 11 USB installation, which booted to TUF Gaming without warnings but froze.
- Restarted the PC, cycling through Q-LEDs in this sequence:
Orange (DRAM) → Red (CPU) → White (VGA) → back to Orange (looping).
- Updated BIOS again, now cycling all Q-LEDs, fans spinning up and down, and my peripherals briefly lighting up before shutting off.
- Eventually stuck on the Boot light (white), unable to access BIOS or interact.
I’m considering inspecting the CPU socket first, but I don’t want to risk damaging it. I also want to double-check the SSD connection. At this stage, I’m running out of options. I’m thinking about sending it to a repair shop, but I’d prefer to fix it myself if possible. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 2x16GB
Do you have a link to the RAM kit you used?
For reference, what BIOS version is installed on your motherboard? Did you update the BIOS according to this guide?
View: https://youtu.be/frQApIktgyM
If you don’t have the TUF series board, the general steps apply.
After finishing the build, I turned it on but saw no display output. The DRAM indicator stayed lit.
Did you re-seat the processor and applied less pressure to the cooler this time?
Thank you for your response. Here is the link to the RAM kit I used:
https://www.corsair.com/us/en/p/mem...5G...gY4UKUYyQN
Sorry, I didn't catch the bottom part about reseating the processor. I'll give it a try now and let you know the outcome!