Recent updates for the 7950x have revealed some build challenges.
Recent updates for the 7950x have revealed some build challenges.
Hello everyone, I’m working on assembling a PC, which isn’t my first attempt. Back in 2018 I built one with an Intel platform and was seeking an upgrade. My current setup includes: - MSI Godlike X670e motherboard
- AMD 7950x processor
- Vengeance RGB 32 GB (2×16GB) DDR5 RAM at 7200MHz
- C34 RAM sticks
- Appropriate cooling and power supply, all functioning properly
Once assembled and powered on, the EZ LED indicators on the motherboard lit up to show CPU and RAM status (red for CPU, yellow for RAM). I found a discussion thread where I tried various fixes—such as swapping memory modules one at a time. Initially, using just one stick worked; I accessed BIOS and everything seemed normal.
After some time, the PC began freezing and lagging. I had to power it down. When I restarted, it took about a minute to boot, and sometimes Windows wouldn’t load at all. Once it did boot, temperatures looked stable, voltage readings normal, and no overheating was detected. I even reduced the CPU frequency to 4.4GHz to lower heat and adjusted RAM speed to 4800MHz.
During benchmarking, the CPU would crash or freeze. I shared an example here. Now, when trying to boot, the same problems persist—no progress beyond BIOS, Windows won’t start, but the system appears active with lights on, PSU green, and RAM lit. The CPU indicator stays on while RAM turns off, and CMOS cleared. The RAM light remains off, but the CPU light is still on. I attempted to reset CMOS, changed RAM sticks from two to one, and positioned them correctly, but the issue persists.
I’m uncertain whether the problem lies with the CPU itself, or if there’s an issue with the RAM or another component. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! IMG_2649.MOV
What type of PSU do you have? I’d start with some basic troubleshooting: remove the CPU and reinstall it. Verify all power cables are securely connected—possibly reinserting them completely. If you use a modular PSU, repeat the same steps on the power unit itself. Also consider reseating the RAM; this might resolve issues related to memory. Make sure the system runs with at least one power cable connected. If it functions partially again, run a memory test to check for RAM problems.
Hey there, thanks for your reply! My Corsair AX1600i is working perfectly, though if anything happens it should shut down with a slight ticking sound from the PSU—something similar occurred to me before but it wasn’t harmful. You mentioned removing the cables and putting them back in as you suggested. For the power cables, I took them out completely; the motherboard even has extra power connectors for the CPU, with two 8-pin slots dedicated to it. Even when using just one cable, the problem persisted. I’ve reset the RAM several times, and sometimes the indicator would flash off while only the CPU issue remained—possibly a CPU fault? It seems normal clock speeds, voltage, and temperature, but it doesn’t give the full picture. Tomorrow I’ll install new thermal paste and try again. Would cleaning the socket with a toothbrush help? Before installing, I double-checked that all pins are straight. The RAM sticks are 7200MHz and optimized for Intel—should they still function with the CPU, even if speeds aren’t met? It should automatically reduce to 4800MHz after the first run. There’s also a chance the motherboard is the culprit. I own a 3090 board, which worked fine in my last build without any problems.
This situation is possible but rare. If the connections aren't secure, power delivery to your parts might become inconsistent, leading to crashes rather than short circuits. Your PC would likely remain powered on. I strongly caution against attempting repairs. If you clean anything, use compressed air or similar methods. Avoid touching the contacts at all. I'm also concerned about physical disconnections caused by uneven pressure or debris in the socket, though that's unlikely. Clearing the CMOS should reset it to the JDEC standard (4800 MT/s). However, I can't confirm if this will work on your motherboard with your specific CPU. With such issues, many factors could be responsible—sadly. :c
I wasn't able to find any solid reasoning behind that idea. It seems risky to handle the sensitive component there, so I recommend using compressed air and cleaning the CPU with standard 99% isopropyl alcohol instead.
You're asking about what a crash signifies—whether it's a power loss, system freeze, or reset. It seems your motherboard might be a Megaboard. You want to know if the posting feature works and whether your RAM is properly seated. I should check the CPU connections at the top and confirm they're secure. It doesn't appear to be a RAM issue since the problem occurred before, but there was a spinning hard drive. There should be a noticeable delay before posting starts. Please review your rails.
Hey there! Thanks for your message. It seems like the issue isn’t a blue screen, but rather a freezing behavior that forces the system to restart automatically. The video you shared showed this pattern—freezing and then restarting repeatedly until Windows would finally boot. I noticed it would sometimes freeze for just a few seconds or ten, then recover briefly before giving up again.
I checked my setup: I used the CPU and PCIe cables plugged into the white circle in the attached photo, and the RAM was fully seated. The motherboard is the MEG model. There’s a long pause on the screen with an error code C5, which points to a RAM issue. It sometimes only shows the CPU light, but it can be inconsistent.
I’m wondering if the RAM might not be compatible—maybe it’s DDR5 but not optimized for my system (like AMD or Intel). I saw an optimized RAM for AMD that didn’t work, so I’m concerned about speed and compatibility. I also checked MSI support and found a mismatch with the model.
To summarize:
- System freezes, then restarts itself.
- Sometimes it freezes briefly before restarting.
- CPU and RAM lights stay on during boot.
- Motherboard is MEG.
- RAM LEDs remain active without changing behavior.
- Cables are in the right place, RAM fully installed.
I’d recommend verifying the RAM type and speed with MSI or another trusted source. If it’s DDR5, ensure it matches your motherboard’s requirements. Let me know what you find!
You don't see a numeric LED on the top right of your board. The display should show code numbers. Regarding the memory, it doesn't matter how fast you have it, but if the motherboard BIOS isn't up to date compared to the memory, the BIOS might not recognize it properly. Are you using BIOS version 11? Or have you made any changes recently? If you encountered issues after updating, did you try rolling back? The BIOS updater button might be the cause. I think the problem is likely with the memory—it’s hindering the system's performance.