The motherboard isn't posting, I've tried nearly everything.
The motherboard isn't posting, I've tried nearly everything.
Hello, I own an Asus Maximus VII Hero Motherboard equipped with an i7-4790k, 16GB DDR3 genuine, a 980 SSD, an RTX 2080 Ti, and a Corsair HX850i that no longer boots. A few months ago, I experienced intermittent problems where the PC would briefly power on before shutting down again. After disconnecting it for a day and trying again, the issue seemed resolved. About a week prior, the same pattern occurred, and after days without use, the same outcome persisted. Now, whenever I unplug it for several days, the same failure happens.
Occasionally, the board manages to start up briefly—about 15 seconds—but it fails to boot. The GPU’s RGB display becomes erratic, cycling through colors uncontrollably, while the VGA LED flashes unpredictably. The Q-code reads consistently as 00.
I have attempted various fixes: reseating RAM, removing the CMOS battery, holding the power and reset button during startup, disconnecting the GPU, clearing all drives and peripherals, using a different PSU, pressing startup buttons, flashing BIOS with versions 3103 and 3201, unplugging all fans (including the CPU fan), running the board only with 24-pin and 12V power. None of these steps have identified the root cause.
Interestingly, when I removed RAM and attempted to power on the system, it triggered a standard AMI BIOS error sound, lit the DRAM LED, and displayed Q-code FE. This worked for about five seconds before the Q-code changed to 00, causing the beep to reset and play randomly, with the LED lights dimming as the speaker beeped.
On rare occasions, the Q-code cycles through several codes before getting stuck on 00 or 63. Is this motherboard beyond repair? Are there any risks involved in attempting a fix, or should I consider sending it for professional service? What might be wrong with the board?
I acquired the PSU roughly two years ago. It should also be noted that during my last boot, it performed adequately under normal conditions, supporting 3.3v, 5v, and 12v voltages consistently, as confirmed by Corsair LINK (linked with HWINFO64). The system would produce a coil whining noise whenever I applied load. Additionally, I have been employing Asus' 5-way optimization in AI Suite using the standard settings. The operating system is Windows 10 LTSC 2021, and the BIOS version was 3201 at the time of failure.
It seems like you're dealing with a single 850W Corsair HXi power supply unit. Released back in 2013, this model is now about 12 years old, which means its PSU is nearing the end of its expected lifespan (it originally came with a 10-year warranty). It's only natural that after two years of use, problems started to appear. Based on the symptoms you're experiencing, it appears the issue has already occurred.
Could you clarify the make and model of this particular unit? Also, was this PSU purchased new or used/refurbished?
If MoBo is no longer available, trying a second PSU won't help. The coil whine is simply a side effect of converting AC to DC. Not all PSUs are equally affected by it, but it can be bothersome for those sensitive to such noises. Repairing it might be possible, or at the very least, having a technician inspect it would be wise.
For repair services, Northridge Fix is a reputable option in the USA, and they accept international orders. Their website is: https://northridgefix.com. They also have a YouTube channel with useful electronics repair content: https://www.youtube.com/@NorthridgeFix/videos.
They carry a wide range of equipment for fixing electronics, including soldering stations, microscopes, flux, capacitors, MOSFETs, connectors, etc. If you send the unit along with the CPU, RAM, and cooler, they can properly test it. For example, Alex has repaired an Asus Threadripper MoBo and documented the process here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWc2lsfJUc.
In some cases, like the CPU lacking a cooler, the unit won't power on or function correctly. This is because the CPU requires proper mounting pressure for the cooler to engage with the pins underneath.
Thank you for your response. Regarding the second PSU, it is an RX-635AP.
Raidmax Scorpio? Is that a completely faulty power supply?
Label:
Direct link if image doesn't load: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/casAAOSwv...-l1600.png
If not, it's not a 635W model. The 12V rail can handle up to 48A, which equals 576W. So at most, 550W would be accurate (assuming the label correctly states amps).
Did you purchase this new or is it refurbished like your Corsair HX850i?
By the way, the Raidmax Scorpio was released in 2015, which means it's about 10 years old now. That power supply was already poor ten years ago. It’s only useful as a decorative piece.
Before getting the Corsair unit, did your setup use a Raidmax power supply? Because if so, I’d think there might have been some long-term damage to your hardware. And now you’ve switched to a Corsair unit for two years—could be just a coincidence of total system failure. Still, Corsair is also in use, and it’s hard to say if it contributed to what Raidmax started.
Since the PSU supplies all components, it’s the most critical part inside the PC.
That’s why you should never compromise on a power supply! And avoid buying used ones either.
yes that one although mine's a slightly different version. i got it brand new nine years ago and used it until i got the corsair. surprisingly, it worked well, with a gtx 760 at that time, and i only swapped it out when i got the rtx 2080 ti. as for the corsair failing, i really hope not.
Since you got yours used, there's no telling what kind of abuse it saw in the past 10 or so years. Or if it even outputs voltage within spec. Then, there's the issue of the ripple, which can be high (it causes system instability).
Or let me ask this; for how long do you plan to use HX850i?
🤔
GTX 760 is 170W GPU and while 550W PSU would do, 650W unit would be better.
I too had GTX 760 running in my 2nd build (predecessor of current Astral build) for 9 years.
First 5 years (since 2015) were powered by brand new Seasonic M12II-850 Evo. After 5 years was up (since that was the warranty period for that PSU), in 2020, i replaced the PSU with brand new Seasonic PRIME Ultra 650 80+ Titanium [SSR-650TR]. That's top-of-the-line PSU from Seasonic. 12 years of warranty among other things. 4 more years and in 2024, i upgraded the GPU in the build. While few months ago, i went with new CPU-MoBo-RAM combo, making the build now known as Astral (specs/pics in my sig). While the PSU is still the same Seasonic PRIME, with easy 7 years of lifespan still on the PSU.
So, better look towards brand new PSU. Don't use used PSUs. FAR less headache this way.
It seems the CPU, board, and PSU are all more than ten years old. I regret to inform you that no hardware lasts forever, particularly when used heavily. Sending the board to Northridge Fix would likely cost more due to shipping expenses than its value. As Aeacus advised, you might consider replacing the PSU first; if that fails, you may need to swap out the CPU or board. A 12th generation i5 would be a significant upgrade at a fair price.
Thank you for your responses.
For how long I intend to use the hx850i, if it performs well, the longer the better. I might be taking a risk, but shouldn't the PSU's safeguards identify issues before any damage happens? I understand these protections mainly aim to prevent electrical fires rather than hardware harm, yet I don’t feel justified in discarding or abandoning a functioning unit. Also, if all voltage rails remain stable—just up to 0.07V deviation according to me—what do you think?
Also, it seems the board's VRMs have been running hot (around 65°C) for a while, as noted by AI Suite 3. Could that be a contributing factor?
I’m being stubborn because I own a socket 423 ECS board with faulty caps and a broken cooler mount, yet it still works while a top-tier board from 13 years ago doesn’t.
😛
I’ll look for a local repair shop and hope for the best!
Regarding the Corsair PSU, are there any practical methods to assess its reliability?