Steady CPU not detected. Dram, boot, and GPU lights are pulsing. [Updated. Could it be two faulty CPUs in a row?]
Steady CPU not detected. Dram, boot, and GPU lights are pulsing. [Updated. Could it be two faulty CPUs in a row?]
My build (as of this moment) PCPartPicker Part List CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600X 3.8 GHz 6-Core Processor ($230.00 @ Amazon) CPU Cooler: Thermalright AXP120-X67 59 CFM CPU Cooler ($30.90 @ Amazon) Motherboard: MSI B550M PRO-VDH WIFI Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($119.99 @ Amazon) Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory ($77.99 @ Newegg) Storage: PNY XLR8 CS3040 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive ($68.98 @ Amazon) Video Card: PowerColor Red Devil Radeon RX 6600 XT 8 GB Video Card ($595.24 @ Amazon) Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G2 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply Total: $1123.10 Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available Generated by PCPartPicker 2023-03-15 19:32 EDT-0400 Outside of memory, SSD and cooler, all parts used. PSU seller stated powered up for test but never installed, and given the condition, I totally believe it . This is currently a bench build, and it will not post. History: The first time I powered all of this up, I got a steady DRAM light on the MB, as if memory training. After 10-15 min, I decided to power down and reset the CMOS. (I have no idea what ram was previously installed.) The board would not respond to the power jumper, and had to be shut off at the PSU. Next attempt and all subsequent attempts have resulted in the symptoms below. Things I have checked: All cables properly seated GPU seated in PCIe slot Power to GPU through two separate VGA power cables, instead of the daisy-chain (overkill for this card, but get it out of the way...) Reseat ram and CPU Check CPU pins - a couple had a mild bend - not enough to prevent seating, and they straightened easily. CMOS reset - multiple times. Removed the battery and let it sit. BIOS flash is not currently possible. The MB doesn't like the only USB drive that I currently have, and refuses to try to flash. Current Symptoms: On power-on, CPU fan and RGB start up, as does GPU lighting. Steady CPU led readout. DRAM led flicker every ~9 seconds VGA (or sometimes BOOT) led seems to flicker about 1/2 second before the DRAM led, but this is a very faint/short flicker, so it isn't apparent every time. Simultaneous with DRAM flicker, GPU fans ramp up. Maybe 3/4 second under power. GPU Fans cutoff, and the GPU lighting dies for a moment, with a relay-like sound. System does respond to power jumper and shuts down orderly. Current plan is to obtain a smaller/different USB drive and try to run a BIOS flashback, just in case something got messed up there. May also replace the CMOS battery - I don't know how long it sat without internal power, and some of the repair shows I've been watching have had some rather bizarre things happen due to dead CMOS batteries. What else should I be looking at, troubleshooting-wise? I can still claim buyer protection for non-working items, but I'm not sure what to check first.
I discovered that keeping this rig running for about 15 minutes eventually causes it to shut down. The discussion on MSI’s forums matches my experience closely. It seems the original poster didn’t mention whether a new board fixed the issue.
Here’s a revised version of your message:
And just a note: I can’t flash the BIOS with another drive—this one is 32GB and from a different brand entirely. The design suggests it should handle flashback without a CPU, but using two USB drives back-to-back seems problematic. What are the chances of that happening? For me, swapping parts will likely mean buying something new and then getting rid of it later. If anyone has better suggestions, please share them.
I've eliminated any unusual interference from the GPU or SSD. The GPU might still have problems that haven't appeared yet, but the system functions identically without it. Replacing the CMOS battery doesn't affect the outcome. Notably, the bare board with CPU alone is generating sufficient power to occasionally increase the PSU fan speed, though the cooler's heat block remains cool. If testing access isn't possible, I might need to purchase a new CPU and motherboard for a swap.