Boot loop even after testing PSU and replacing motherboard

[zolt56]

As the title states, my 5 y/o build is stuck in a boot loop (5 seconds on, 3 off, etc.) even after testing with a different power supply and ordering/installing an entirely different motherboard, with the same CPU transferred from the old board. The motherboard is factory refurbished from a reputable seller. Everything is unplugged except the mboard/CPU power connectors, CPU fan and the on/off switch. Is it likely that my CPU is dead rather than the motherboards?

CPU: Intel i5-3570 3.4
old mboard: GA-Z77-HD3
new mboard: GA-Z77P-D3

 

[Kasper Jorgensen]

Check your RAM.

 

[zolt56]

Check your RAM.

The RAM sticks are and were disconnected from the board during testing with both boards.

 

[urbancamper]

You can not boot without ram.

 

[Paul NZ]

If you changed mobos did you reinstall windows?

What do you mean by looping? On the post screen or before it boots into windows? If its looping on the post screen, dont flash the beta bios

If it's the other I would reinstall windows

 

[zolt56]

You can not boot without ram.

Thank you, I did not know this... with all that research and troubleshooting including taking it into a highly-rated repair shop you would think somebody would have mentioned this sooner. Something else was still causing it to happen on the first board though and now I'll probably retest that one again for thermal issues.