1.Did you carefully read the motherboard owners manual? Yes. So did my wife, who is computer savvy.
2.Did you plug in the 4/8-pin CPU power connector located near the CPU socket?
Not at first. I did forget first time. But I did, no change.
3.Did you install the standoffs under the motherboard?
I haven’t even gotten to the case stage. It’s sitting on the mb box.
4.Did you verify that the video card is fully seated?(may require more force than a new builder expects.) N/A, as the i3-8100 has a GPU built in.
5.Did you attach ALL the required power connector(s) to the video card? N/A.
6.Have you tried booting with just one stick of RAM installed? Yes. The slots are labeled 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B. The manual said for dual channel put them in 1B and 2B. Nothing. Then I put a single one in 1A. No luck.
7.Did you verify that all memory modules are fully inserted? Yes. Took them out and back in.
8.Did you verify in the owners manual that you're using the correct RAM slots? yes. See #6.
9.Did you remove the plastic guard over the CPU socket? Yes.
10.Did you install the CPU correctly? Yes, but I didn’t see the arrow on the MB. I had to look at the user’s guide to figure out where it was.
11.Are there any bent pins on the motherboard/CPU? Not that I can see.
12. If using an after market CPU cooler, did you get any thermal paste on the motherboard, CPU socket, or CPU pins?
I am, but no, a little got in the side of the chip, but none under it
13.Is the CPU fan plugged in? Absolutely
14. If using a stock cooler... n/a
From here, for every question, the answers are “Yes I tried it”, or “no, it’s not in a case”.
I will try resetting CMOS and reseating EVERYTHING. Any other suggestions? I’m at my wit’s end.