Your processor is damaged.
Your processor is damaged.
I believe my CPU might be failing, though I’m not entirely certain. I ordered replacement components: an ASRock B660M Pro RS, 12600KF, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and an NVMe SSD. After installing everything, I noticed the CPU and DRAM indicators lit up. I resolved the issue by properly aligning the CPU power connector. Once that was done, the system powered on and shut down normally. In the BIOS I checked temperatures and saw the CPU at 98°C. Before addressing the CPU and RAM problems, I spent around two to three hours trying to resolve the overheating. I attempted to lower the cooler temperature to see if it would help, which did improve things slightly. The CPU wasn’t actually overheating, but it was throttling due to heat. Overall, it was functioning, albeit poorly. After installing Windows, Discord, and a few apps, the PC still ran at around 90°C for several hours. Eventually, I decided to power it off to assess whether the cooling system could be improved. The cooler performance was poor, so I tried repairing it, restarted, and then encountered another issue: pressing the power button caused fans to spin but no display appeared. The CPU and DRAM lights remained active, and the PC kept looping. I’ve tested all possible fixes—reinstalling the motherboard, CPU, and everything else—but without spare parts, I can’t confirm the root cause. Given the temperatures and behavior, it seems the CPU likely failed, especially since its max ratings are in the 80s to 100s. It probably isn’t the hardware I have right now. What do you think?
If it doesn't work, just reset the board and CPU; otherwise, consider getting a Z-board or a B660M PG Ripcurrent if you have one.
I've already sent in a return merchandise authorization for the CPU, but the problem keeps happening—just need to submit an RMA for the board.
I recently enhanced my cooling setup, used new thermal paste, and verified all settings. It seems the problem could lie with the motherboard, possibly unrelated to the CPU. I’m not sure how ASRock’s RMA support stacks up against Intel’s. To be clear, I’ve already started the RMA for the CPU.
It's quite confusing how you're earning 90 cents while the cooler is installed properly.