Resolving issues with MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi build – stuck DRAM light, monitor displays nothing.
Resolving issues with MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi build – stuck DRAM light, monitor displays nothing.
Hey there! I’m facing a bit of a challenge with my build and would love some guidance. Here’s what I’ve got so far:
Build Specifications: CPU – Ryzen 5 7600 with stock cooler (new); GPU – Asrock Phantom RX 6800 (used, tested and functioning well at the seller’s end); RAM – XPG Lancer Blade 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 6400MHz CL32 (new); Motherboard – MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi (used, purchased on eBay, still under warranty); PSU – EVGA 1000 GQ 80 Plus Gold (used, verified with a meter upon purchase); SSD – WD_BLACK 2TB SN770 (Amazon “Like New”); Case – Thermaltake Versa H18 (new, but I haven’t installed the board yet).
Issue: When powering on, the PSU and GPU fans activate, and the GPU’s RGB lights illuminate. Initially, both CPU red and DRAM yellow lights are on for a few seconds. After about 20 seconds, the CPU red light turns off, leaving only the DRAM yellow light (uncertain if it stays steady or flashes). The monitor remains black and displays “No Signal” (connected via HDMI to the GPU). I’ve confirmed the monitor and cable work fine on my laptop.
What I’ve tried:
- Updated BIOS via USB BIOS Flashback – light stayed on briefly, but didn’t fix anything.
- Tested RAM individually in all slots – problem persisted.
- Inspected PSU – fan operational, confirmed working with a meter.
- Checked CPU pins – no visible bends.
- Ran tests with motherboard removed from case, using only essential parts (CPU, RAM, GPU, PSU).
- Verified RAM compatibility in MSI QVL – listed as compatible.
- Considered swapping to a different 16x2 DDR5 RAM model on Amazon just to rule out that.
- Contacted ADATA/XPG support – no success; US number unavailable, online form issues.
Questions:
- Might this be a compatibility mismatch between the RAM and motherboard, even though the RAM is marked compatible?
- Could BIOS updates be necessary for full support, especially at higher speeds like 6400MHz?
- Are there other ways to verify power delivery from the PSU?
- Should I try a different RAM brand or frequency?
- Any other steps I should take?
Additional thoughts:
- The monitor and HDMI connection appear solid; the real bottleneck seems to be the GPU or possibly power delivery.
- If you have another system, I’d appreciate any advice on testing the RAM, PSU, or GPU separately.
Thanks for your help!
Best,
[Your Name]
-Clear CMOS when using a used board, it could still have RAM training from another system. Have you given it at least a minute to boot up? DDR5 RAM on AM5 might take that time. If not, it’s probably the eBay motherboard.
Hey everyone, I wanted to provide an update on my troubleshooting journey with the MSI Pro B650M-A WiFi build. Thanks for all the advice so far—it's been incredibly helpful! Below are some pictures of the key components and what I've done so far to diagnose the issue. Any further insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! https://imgur.com/a/2g96j3r https://postimg.cc/gallery/k6Zv7v1 1. CPU Pins Check: Here’s a close-up shot of the CPU pins. This is my first time inspecting pins, so I’m not entirely sure if I’m missing something obvious. If anyone with a sharper eye could take a look and let me know if anything seems out of place, that would be amazing! 2. DRAM Yellow Light: This picture shows the DRAM yellow light that flashes on and off every 10 seconds. That's after getting a first 10-20 seconds of the DRAM yellow light and CPU light staying on. 3. Motherboard Setup: Here’s how I’ve set up the motherboard outside of the case. I’ve kept only the essential components connected (CPU, stock CPU cooler (Wraith), RAM (I tried 1 and 2 sticks, 1 stick was tried in each of 4 slots), PSU) to simplify the testing. If there’s anything about this setup that could be causing issues, please let me know. 4. Monitor and GPU Setup: Here’s how the monitor is connected to the GPU via HDMI. I’ve tested the monitor and HDMI cable with my laptop, and they work fine, but the system still shows “No Signal” when connected here.
Yes, I gave it a go: Slots 2 and 4: I made sure the RAM is snug in the right slots. Check! Cleared CMOS: I tried the ol’ screwdriver trick on JBAT1 while the PC was off—held it there for a solid 10 seconds (did it twice for good measure). Sadly, no luck. I also tried removing the battery from the mobo, and still no luck after that : / Waited for POST: I let it sit there like a meditation session, well over a minute. Still no love from the system. Thanks a ton for the advice on the motherboard! I’m thinking it might be time this time amazon a visit, and this time for a different board, for an easy return if the new mobo doesn't settle the problem. Hopefully, this one won’t ghost me like the current one!
Based on your ideas, I connected the HDMI straight to the motherboard for the iGPU and took out the GPU. I tried running without it, just to see if that would help. I also restarted a few times to ensure everything aligned properly. Still, the system didn<|pad|>, it won’t cooperate.
Based on my analysis and your input, the likely issues are: Motherboard (used), Power Supply (used), CPU (new), RAM (new). At first I thought RAM, but feedback indicates it may not be the main problem. This is my first build, so here’s my approach: request a refund for the motherboard via PayPal – hoping it helps! Consider purchasing a new motherboard on Amazon and testing it. If that fails, swap the PSU and test; if successful, great! If not, I might need to visit a repair shop or try different RAM. Stay positive and keep trying!
They usually start with a low RAM speed (4800MHz) which should be fine. These are basic suggestions from the guide: please link your M.2 drive, connect the CPU-PWR2 port, verify the front panel header (it looks like you're skipping this now), and confirm your BIOS update was applied correctly. Edited August 25, 2024 by leclod
Avoid letting it rest for more than a minute... give it half an hour to eliminate the possibility.