Question Red CPU LED back from vacation, but PC won't post. Should I buy a new CPU or not?

F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Question Red CPU LED back from vacation, but PC won't post. Should I buy a new CPU or not?

Question Red CPU LED back from vacation, but PC won't post. Should I buy a new CPU or not?

Question Red CPU LED back from vacation, but PC won't post. Should I buy a new CPU or not?

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halo_dude08
Member

183

06-02-2018, 12:06 AM

#1

He came back from a three-week trip only to discover his PC wouldn't boot. Fans spin but the CPU lights up red, while DRAM, VGA and BOOT remain off—seems okay. Everything functioned normally before he left, and he had unplugged the machine prior to departure. He attempted to disconnect and reattach everything except the SSD, changed the CMOS battery because it was fully dead, and inspected for bent pins but found none. The system specs are listed as: Ryzen 7 2700, B450 aorus m, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL15 Memory, Gigabyte WINDFORCE GTX 1070Ti 8 GB, Corsair TX550M Gold 550 W 80. The main concern now is whether a replacement CPU is necessary or if another issue exists.

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halo_dude08

06-02-2018, 12:06 AM #1

He came back from a three-week trip only to discover his PC wouldn't boot. Fans spin but the CPU lights up red, while DRAM, VGA and BOOT remain off—seems okay. Everything functioned normally before he left, and he had unplugged the machine prior to departure. He attempted to disconnect and reattach everything except the SSD, changed the CMOS battery because it was fully dead, and inspected for bent pins but found none. The system specs are listed as: Ryzen 7 2700, B450 aorus m, G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL15 Memory, Gigabyte WINDFORCE GTX 1070Ti 8 GB, Corsair TX550M Gold 550 W 80. The main concern now is whether a replacement CPU is necessary or if another issue exists.

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jjabba01
Junior Member

32

06-02-2018, 01:25 AM

#2

Welcome to the forums, newcomer! It seems your motherboard lacks a Q-Flash BIOS feature, so you can't update the BIOS without it being active. It's possible your BIOS is damaged. You might try using a CH341A BIOS programmer to reprogram the chip on your board. Alternatively, you could transfer your processor to another functional motherboard with the latest BIOS, and test if the problem continues. If the CPU fails there, you'll have identified the issue. How old is the Corsair unit in your build?

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jjabba01

06-02-2018, 01:25 AM #2

Welcome to the forums, newcomer! It seems your motherboard lacks a Q-Flash BIOS feature, so you can't update the BIOS without it being active. It's possible your BIOS is damaged. You might try using a CH341A BIOS programmer to reprogram the chip on your board. Alternatively, you could transfer your processor to another functional motherboard with the latest BIOS, and test if the problem continues. If the CPU fails there, you'll have identified the issue. How old is the Corsair unit in your build?

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Ilikepie81
Member

184

06-02-2018, 10:13 AM

#3

Thank you! We could consider examining the CH341A BIOS programmer if there are no other options. Do you know any useful guides or videos that explain how to operate this device? I haven't heard of it before. Also, is it possible that both motherboards might be affected, meaning one could be corrupted along with the other? We don't have any other motherboards available for testing the CPU. The power supply seems to be around 4 to 5 years old at the moment.

I

Ilikepie81

06-02-2018, 10:13 AM #3

Thank you! We could consider examining the CH341A BIOS programmer if there are no other options. Do you know any useful guides or videos that explain how to operate this device? I haven't heard of it before. Also, is it possible that both motherboards might be affected, meaning one could be corrupted along with the other? We don't have any other motherboards available for testing the CPU. The power supply seems to be around 4 to 5 years old at the moment.

J

jspr03
Member

64

06-16-2018, 05:34 PM

#4

Begin with the essentials. Remove CPU, motherboard, PSU, memory, GPU. Disconnect all other components, including peripherals, to confirm the issue. Shorting out the keyboard, mouse, or USB port might cause unexpected results. Inspect the CPU carefully—look for any visible damage. Test with a single RAM stick, swapping it into the opposite channel, and try both channels. Ryzen CPUs can experience memory channel issues, so the problem may lie in the memory placement. If unsure, consider checking the motherboard or having the CPU evaluated by a professional.

J

jspr03

06-16-2018, 05:34 PM #4

Begin with the essentials. Remove CPU, motherboard, PSU, memory, GPU. Disconnect all other components, including peripherals, to confirm the issue. Shorting out the keyboard, mouse, or USB port might cause unexpected results. Inspect the CPU carefully—look for any visible damage. Test with a single RAM stick, swapping it into the opposite channel, and try both channels. Ryzen CPUs can experience memory channel issues, so the problem may lie in the memory placement. If unsure, consider checking the motherboard or having the CPU evaluated by a professional.