Question New Build - CPU Not Booting

Jan 4, 2025
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Good evening,

In some desperate need of some help. Build is:
Motherboard - TUF Z790-Plus WIFI
CPU - i9-12900k
GPU - RX -7900-XTX
RAM - 2 x G.Skill S5 RIPJAWS 16Gb (32 Gb total)
Storage - TN470 2TB SSD
PSU - Cybercore 1000W Platinum
Cooler - CoolerMaster Masterliquid Lite 120

Context: First build and I definitely messed up...I think. Could have been DOA, but, I'm thinking it was user error. Put everything together, when installing the CPU cooler the lever came undone and the CPU partially fell out, just into the CPU housing - wasn't anything major I thought. Put everything back and got it tight. Noticed I didn't plug in both CPU power cords to the motherboard after first failed boot. Plugged everything back and tried to boot again. Resecured cables and tried additional boot, nothing. Noticed motherboard light goes from CPU instantly to DRAM for a few seconds then solid to VGA and then solid to BOOT. Nothing ever comes up on the monitors (they're powered and working and have tried both plugged into the motherboard and GPU). Decided to look at CPU found a bent pin. Saw you can delicately bend it back in place using an empty mechanical pencil. Did so, think it looks pretty straight and should be making full contact. Still not booting. HELP.

 
Good evening,

In some desperate need of some help. Build is:
Motherboard - TUF Z790-Plus WIFI
CPU - i9-12900k
GPU - RX -7900-XTX
RAM - 2 x G.Skill S5 RIPJAWS 16Gb (32 Gb total)
Storage - TN470 2TB SSD
PSU - Cybercore 1000W Platinum
Cooler - CoolerMaster Masterliquid Lite 120

Context: First build and I definitely messed up...I think. Could have been DOA, but, I'm thinking it was user error. Put everything together, when installing the CPU cooler the lever came undone and the CPU partially fell out, just into the CPU housing - wasn't anything major I thought. Put everything back and got it tight. Noticed I didn't plug in both CPU power cords to the motherboard after first failed boot. Plugged everything back and tried to boot again. Resecured cables and tried additional boot, nothing. Noticed motherboard light goes from CPU instantly to DRAM for a few seconds then solid to VGA and then solid to BOOT. Nothing ever comes up on the monitors (they're powered and working and have tried both plugged into the motherboard and GPU). Decided to look at CPU found a bent pin. Saw you can delicately bend it back in place using an empty mechanical pencil. Did so, think it looks pretty straight and should be making full contact. Still not booting. HELP.

If the pin was the issue the board would have come up with a CPU LED and stayed there.

How long have you left it powered on to boot?

Is the RAM in the correct slots as per the motherboard manual?

Have you tried booting with just one memory stick in the correct slot?

Is everything plugged in at the PSU?

Have you tried booting without the SSD attached?

Do you have a windows install media plugged in the USB port?
 
If the pin was the issue the board would have come up with a CPU LED and stayed there.

How long have you left it powered on to boot?

Is the RAM in the correct slots as per the motherboard manual?

Have you tried booting with just one memory stick in the correct slot?

Is everything plugged in at the PSU?

Have you tried booting without the SSD attached?

Do you have a windows install media plugged in the USB port?
I have left it on for a couple minutes to boot with no display coming up.

I just tried one stick of RAM. The 2 and 1 stick configurations are both according to the manual.

Trying without the SSD next.

I had been using a USB plugged into with windows install in it. But now I’m just dead set to just get to BIOS. I’ll get windows sorted when it actually boots.

Also, additional context. The CPU/DRAM/VGA/BOOT lights go from CPU on initial boot (red light) for about 1 second to DRAM (yellow light) for about 5 seconds to VGA (white light) solid and then a couple seconds after that BOOT (green light) solid. Do the different colored LEDs mean anything?
 
SOLVED!! Apparently you need all 3 6x2 connectors for the 7900 xtx! I had only 2 connected because I didn’t want to use one of the daisy chains that came with the PSU. Heard you could just use 2 straights just fine, for whatever reason it didn’t like that. And fired right up to BIOS after I plugged the 3rd one in! Thank you for your help, I would have probably ended up taking apart the CPU again and again if not for your help.