The PC won't react even when the GPU is connected.
The PC won't react even when the GPU is connected.
Help, I'm suffering and on a time limit! So I am trying to help my little brother upgrade his PC (I'll have the specs below). I got it all put together and this is my 8th time building a PC; for some reason, only he has problems. If I have the GPU plugged in via the VGA cable from the power supply, the system won't respond or just has the orange DRAM light on indefinitely. To help narrow down potential problems, let me list what I have tried and if I miss anything, I'll let you know:
Tried a different GPU (I hadn't tried the GPU before building this so I slotted it into one of my builds and confirmed the GPU works and isn't the problem probably.)
What WILL work is a GPU with no power cable (It's an old Radeon GPU that doesn't require power from the power supply). However, though the system will turn on, it will not post even after waiting 5-7 minutes. I've checked a few forums for issues related to my motherboard and have tried 1. trying a single stick of RAM for each slot 2. Alternating the sticks of RAM to check if one is faulty.
I've taken out the CMOS battery for a minute to reset the BIOS
Checked the front I/O panel connections (mine case came with all the connectors in a fixed box plastic piece to make it easier to put on the motherboard)
Checked to make sure that the VGA cable is properly connected to the power supply and GPU (It should be noted that the GPU has slots for two sets of power cables. I have tried both and just doing the right slot. I haven't tried having multiple cables but I genuinely don't think that would work but I'm open to the idea)
I wanna note that if I don't use a GPU that requires a power cable and get the system to at least turn on, the CPU fan (the stock stealth wraith prism AMD cooler is spinning at max power it seems, although that could just be what it does. Ive had a Noctua fan for so long so I may just be mistaken)
I am at my wit's end, if anyone has ideas, PLEASE suggest them.
CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X
Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B550-f Gaming (Says it's Ryzen 5000 ready and I bought it from a guy who used the motherboard, CPU, and RAM in his old rig)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB 3200mhz
GPU: EVGA Geforce GTX 1080 FTW
Case: Corsair 4000D
Storage: Sandisk SSD and Team Group
Fans: 3 UpHere RGB fans at the front
PSU: Seasonic Focus GOLD 80 Plus Gold 850FX
this indicates it is not functioning properly.
when you say you have "tried both," it means you tested them individually or used both PCIe power cables simultaneously.
you haven't provided the make and model of any GPUs you are testing, which is essential information.
the amount of power required for these cards plays a significant role here.
some devices might need separate PCIe 8pin cables rather than a daisy-chained setup with two heads.
have you personally observed this system in use with the exact components listed?
if not, it could be a faulty assembly being sold.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
So I am trying to help my little brother upgrade his PC (I'll have the specs below).
You mentioned upgrading the system. The specs listed above is for after the upgrade or before the upgrade? How old is the PSU if it's being recycled?
just has the orange DRAM light on indefinitely.
Are the rams fully seated on slots A2 and B2 on your motherboard? The error light is stopping at DRAM meaning your ram might be the one at fault or your BIOS has ended up with corruption. If the latter, you have a
BIOS Flash
button on the back of your motherboard;
Use that in conjunction with steps outlined in this guide;
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzpVSOtaKBU
(It's an old Radeon GPU that doesn't require power from the power supply).
Which is?
Checked to make sure that the VGA cable is properly connected to the power supply and GPU (It should be noted that the GPU has slots for two sets of power cables. I have tried both and just doing the right slot. I haven't tried having multiple cables but I genuinely don't think that would work but I'm open to the idea)
Please include an image of what you're trying to accomplish, here.
For the sake of relevance, did you breadboard the used parts atop the motherboard box and then tried to see if the system would POST?
I understand the issue, I was just mentioning that the system activates at least.
I changed the GPU I'm trying to install (my mistake), my spare GPU that functions well is the 1070 EVGA GeForce GTX and I've been using it for two years without problems.
Regarding the GPU slots, I meant I connected my VGA power cable with several connectors on one cable and attempted to use just one slot. I was suggesting I could try different PCIE cables.
Before buying, I asked him to provide video proof that it worked and he appeared genuine.
Thank you! I am a little nervous as this is not something I normally do but every Reddit thread said to post my problem here as people are nice and smart!
Honestly, my wording should've been basically that it is a brand-new system. The only thing I took from his last gen (AM3) PC was the storage and that's it so sorry about that!
In regards to the GPU, it just says AMD Radeon graphics, I pulled it out of an old work PC my mom had and figured it could be useful.
I'll post a picture!
I'll have to admit my ignorance but I don't know what breadboard means all the parts besides the motherboard, CPU, and RAM came from different people.
Lemme know if there is any other pertinent info and ill get it to you!
Edit: I haven't tried the bios update but I can give it a go. Give me a bit and also lemme figure out how to post pictures here
and you too?
the issue that your confirmed GTX 1070 also fails in this setup suggests the problem might lie with the motherboard or the power supply unit.
of course, this is only based on the assumption that the used combination (board/CPU/RAM) you have is fully functional.
at this stage I would suggest
@Lutfij
first applying his recommendation;
"breadboard" the system by taking out all parts from the case,
placing the motherboard on a flat, non-conductive surface such as the box it came in,
connect only the essentials (PSU, CPU, one stick of RAM in slot A_2, and GPU),
turn on the system and check if it reaches the POST screen and can enter BIOS.
if nothing happens;
if you cannot test each part individually due to lack of access to a comparable system,
i would advise reaching out to a nearby computer shop for diagnostics."
I performed the BIOS update, which was quite daunting but ultimately successful. I'm having trouble figuring out how to upload photos from my phone, so I've attached an image from Google Images that displays the two slots I used. I hope this helps me locate the correct cable picture.
yes on modern PSU they are 8pin, occasionally 4+4pin, or even currently some 12pin, PCIe cables. both require proper connection. sometimes using separate cables, other times a single daisy-chained 2x headed cable works fine.