Will wait before posting again, might encounter RAM problem
Will wait before posting again, might encounter RAM problem
I purchased a PC from Facebook Marketplace: Ryzen 7 5800X, RX 6700 XT, 32GB G.SKILL 3200 RAM (8x4), 1TB NVMe SSD, 850W PSU ($200). It arrived damaged—power button was broken and the PSU wasn’t modular. Despite that, it functioned okay. I bought another case from Facebook that included an 850W PSU. At first it worked but would power on and off quickly, no video output. I tried a few fixes:
1. Reconnected cables—then it stayed on but had no keyboard/mouse lights or video.
2. Reinstalled CPU and cooler—still no improvement.
3. Removed the last RAM stick (far from CPU) and tried booting again. The system reported a BIOS error saying it needed to restart, then restarted without booting.
4. Tried adding more RAM, finally got a boot after resetting BIOS, but still faced a BIOS error about a forced shutdown.
I’ve tested multiple configurations, even those that booted before the BIOS warning, now they won’t start. I’m considering other possibilities beyond CMOS or power issues.
I previously had a very sensitive motherboard, and every time I cleaned the case it wouldn't boot. It usually fixed itself by re-placing the RAM sticks 4 to 6 times, switching them into different slots each time. I wasn't sure what was actually resolving the issue—whether it was removing corrosion from the RAM contacts or if the socket alignment was off. Now I'm going to try re-seating about half a dozen more times.
I think that might be the problem. @ShayOh, give the old PSU a try. Resetting the CMOS is usually the best first step for issues like this. It’s a bit annoying at first, but the CMOS battery tends to stay charged by the GPU, so you’ll get used to it after a few uses—probably not a big deal.
I reinitialized the CMOS and reinserted the RAM, and it started working properly! I took a chance by turning it off, adjusted the cable layout, and installed an SSD. Now the machine powers on for a brief moment before shutting down. After resetting everything again, I unplugged it and attempted to turn it on—still no response. The motherboard receives power, but when I try to activate it, the fans briefly spin before stopping. It only works after removing the power cord and then reconnecting it properly.
Remove the board and verify that all standoffs are aligned with the holes, ensuring nothing protrudes that isn’t a board mounting hole.
This situation resembles the PSU entering protection mode due to detecting a dead short. There might be a pinched cable somewhere. I recently nearly triggered a fire using ARGB, a header had a cap fall and the 5V pin shorted against case sheet metal. Also, a fan cable got partially smoked.
It shouldn't be this way—it should work properly after a while, only changing when I adjust the cable management. The main reason I'm hesitant is the CPU cooler is really difficult to handle. Still, if necessary, I might try it. While the motherboard and other parts are out, I couldn't get it to power on because I gave up and plugged in the old PSU, which now works! So... the issue seems to be the power supply.