Several motherboards lack internet access.
Several motherboards lack internet access.
Hey everyone, a few weeks back I began experiencing problems with my Ethernet and USB connections on my PC. It had been functioning properly before. Here are the details of the machine: an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 with MSI B450 Tomahawk Max Crucial Ballistix 16GB (2 x 8GB), DDR4-3200 EVGA Nvidia 3060 Ti, XC Crucial P1 NVMe 1TB M.2 SSD, Corsair RM850x, and an M.2 NVMe SSD. The system runs on an MSI B550 Gaming Plus motherboard.
Based on what I observed, I thought a hardware failure might be the cause, so I upgraded to an MSI B550 Gaming Plus. But even then, it didn’t work for internet via Ethernet and kept rebooting. I had to update the BIOS just to install Windows, but after a day it became impossible to boot. I suspect something went wrong with the board itself.
Later, I purchased an ASUS ROG Strix B550-F Gaming WiFi II board. The Windows installation was smoother, though I still encounter occasional BSODs and no internet access—neither Ethernet nor built-in WiFi. Most of the time the WiFi fails to connect, but when it does, it drops out. This board uses Intel LAN, unlike the MSI model which relied on Realtek.
My troubleshooting steps included:
- Installing drivers for LAN and WiFi from MSI/ASUS
- Testing various driver versions
- Adding a separate TPLink PCIe Ethernet card
- Confirming the router works elsewhere
- Connecting Ethernet directly to the modem
- Using different cables and rebooting modem/router
- Swapping RAM modules to check for hardware issues
It seems like another component might be the issue. Could a CPU problem be affecting internet connectivity? Thanks for your help!
Are there any CPU pins missing? A faulty I/O die might cause strange problems with PCIe, affecting its link to the chipset and any supported devices or features tied to the I/O die's "North Bridge" role. Honestly, I was puzzled you didn’t opt for an R5 5600 before getting a new motherboard.
A basic check involves attempting to link to another router. If you can obtain one from a friend or purchase and return it later, you can eliminate your current router or verify your system works properly. Good luck!
I need to verify but I’m skeptical about it being a pin problem since the 3600 was functioning well for several weeks before. When installing the new motherboards, I’d insert it straight into the socket without any intermediate steps to minimize pin damage. I assumed the motherboard might be the issue because I suspected problems with the ports or a shorted bus. While I didn’t focus on the I/O die, seeing similar problems across multiple boards makes it more likely. At this point, I think considering a replacement CPU would be wise. Thanks for confirming it’s possible the CPU is faulty—definitely worth double-checking.