[SOLVED] Motherboard not detecting CPU or RAM

[NRichter]

I tried upgrading my CPU fan from the stock intel one that comes with your CPU to a better one. After finishing the installation of the new fan my computer would start but no display would come up. I made sure there wasn’t a problem with any connections or power supply but everything seems to be in order. Upon closer inspection my MSI motherboard has a debug LED that holds red on DRAM and flicks to CPU for a fraction of a second before holding red again on DRAM again. I looked into the light and it tells me either my CPU or RAM is not being detected. I took apart the cooling fan and checked the pins on the motherboard for the CPU and there aren’t any that are bent. As for the ram I tried using only one stick in the best DIMM slot and the problem persists. I also cleared my CMOS as an extra resort. If anyone has a solution for me it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[NRichter]

Specs:
Motherbaord: MSI H170A
CPU: intel core i5
GPU: GeForce GTX 1060
RAM: 2x 8GB (Crucial)
Boot Drive: 1TB HDD
PSU: EVG 450 B
Cooling Fan: Cooler Master Hyper212x Turbo

 

[rickypicky5]

Does the fan on the Cooler Master Hyper 212x Turbo spin when you turn your computer on?

 

[NRichter]

Does the fan on the Cooler Master Hyper 212x Turbo spin when you turn your computer on?

Everything turns on, and appears to work fine aside from there being no display and the Debug light

 

[rickypicky5]

When you tried a single RAM stick, did you use the DIMM2 slot (it's the second closest to the CPU)?

Did you completely clean the old thermal compound from your CPU and apply new thermal compound (I'm not sure if the 212x comes with a thermal pad on it)?

 

[NRichter]

When you tried a single RAM stick, did you use the DIMM2 slot (it's the second closest to the CPU)?

I tried putting the RAM in the 2nd slot and it doesn’t work, but I tried a single stick in the 4th slot and the computer turned on normally. Then I added a second stick to the second slot and it stops working again

 

[rickypicky5]

I tried putting the RAM in the 2nd slot and it doesn’t work, but I tried a single stick in the 4th slot and the computer turned on normally. Then I added a second stick to the second slot and it stops working again

I wasn't expecting that. Do both sticks, separately, work in the 4th slot? If so, that narrows the problem down to the 2nd slot.

 

[NRichter]

I was also able to start the computer with both sticks in 1st and 3rd slots as a pair

 

[rickypicky5]

I was also able to start the computer with both sticks in 1st and 3rd slots as a pair

It sounds like slot #2 is bad. I think you'll be fine with them in slots 1 and 3. If you have CPU-Z, bring it up and see if you're running in dual channel and at the speed your expecting from your RAM.

 

[NRichter]

It sounds like slot #2 is bad. I think you'll be fine with them in slots 1 and 3. If you have CPU-Z, bring it up and see if you're running in dual channel and at the speed your expecting from your RAM.

I’m not sure why, but only slots 3 and 4 work now, I tested 2 different pairs of RAM and all 4 sticks work on their own in both slots 3 and 4, but if I put anything into slots one and two the DRAM light persists and the display doesn’t show up

 

[rickypicky5]

Very strange. Maybe you need to clear CMOS each time you change slots? Make sure your system is completely powered down, including the PSU switch on the back while changing slots.