Issue: Brand new build. When plugged in, no components lights up except Motherboard logo. Start/Power buttons do nothing. Computer won't boot.
Parts: Asus ROG Strix X670E-E AM5 Motherboard | AMD 7950X3D CPU | Geforce 4090 | G. Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series 32gbx2 | Cooler Master ML240 Illusion AIO Cooler | Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1000W ATX 3.0 | Hynix P41 M.2 SSD x2 | Crucial M.2 SSD x1 | Seagate 14TB 3.5inch Hard Drivex1 | Case: Azza Regis
Detailed Information
First new computer in a decade. When I plugged the finished build in and turned the power supply on (but before hitting the start button), it was immediately apparent there was an issue because none of the RGB components lit up. The only component that lit up was the “STRIX” in the upper left of the motherboard-- It fully lit up and would transition between different colors. The case and the AIO cooler have RGB that were plugged into addressable RGB slots on the mother & the G.Skill ram has inherent RBG, but all of that stayed dark.
Here are two direct images of my Motherboard with all components/connectors labeled which can be referred to when reading my description of things below: View: https://imgur.com/a/7LgsoTb
The power button does nothing. The motherboard also has a "start" button inherently built into the board with no wiring, which is supposed to be able to boot the computer, and that also does nothing when pressed. I think this rules out an I/O power button wiring issue.
The motherboard has two features to show errors: A Q-Code LED which displays numerical error codes & the strip of Q-LEDs that will show a red light to indicate if the issue if there is an issue with CPU/DRAM/VGA/BOOT. Neither lit up.
Three potential issues that came up during the build:
1. The first time I plugged it in I had only connected the 24 pin ATX-PWR on the motherboard to my power supply, as I did not realize I also needed to plug in the two ATX_12V_1&2 connectors as well. A little red light turned on next to the ATX_12V power connectors letting me know my error. I went back and wired that up and the little red light disappeared the next time I plugged it back in.
2. While looking everything up to type up this post, I noticed that G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series says (Intel XMP). I didn’t know RAM was cpu specific. I googled this just now and it seems like most people say it actually doesn’t matter and any ram can be used with any CPU? The ram slotted into the motherboard just fine. Even if the RAM was incompatible, wouldn’t other components still light up and I would just get an error with the RAM?
3. The main part of the build I had issues with was securing the AIO cooler over my CPU. It is an AM4/5 compatible AIO which means it works with the stock AM5 motherboard. The AM5 back plate has two hook-like curvatures & so the AIO includes a square bracket on each side that slides around the hook, and then tightens with a hand screw. It was difficult to get one side to securely hook in, so I had to pre-tighten it, and then just push down with mild force to get it to slip around the hook. Could this somehow be applying too much force on the CPU? Could it be making contact where it shouldn’t and creating a short or something? Picture attached.
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Other than those 3 things above, I can’t think of anything else I did wrong. The current problem seems pretty major issue given that nothing on the motherboard other than the logo will even light up with just latent power. I imagine I’ve probably screwed up something silly and easy that has to do with the power supply – Motherboard interaction. I can totally myself making a dumb error given how long it's been since I last built a computer.
Any ideas on what I should do next to try and troubleshoot this?
Parts: Asus ROG Strix X670E-E AM5 Motherboard | AMD 7950X3D CPU | Geforce 4090 | G. Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series 32gbx2 | Cooler Master ML240 Illusion AIO Cooler | Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1000W ATX 3.0 | Hynix P41 M.2 SSD x2 | Crucial M.2 SSD x1 | Seagate 14TB 3.5inch Hard Drivex1 | Case: Azza Regis
Detailed Information
First new computer in a decade. When I plugged the finished build in and turned the power supply on (but before hitting the start button), it was immediately apparent there was an issue because none of the RGB components lit up. The only component that lit up was the “STRIX” in the upper left of the motherboard-- It fully lit up and would transition between different colors. The case and the AIO cooler have RGB that were plugged into addressable RGB slots on the mother & the G.Skill ram has inherent RBG, but all of that stayed dark.
Here are two direct images of my Motherboard with all components/connectors labeled which can be referred to when reading my description of things below: View: https://imgur.com/a/7LgsoTb
The power button does nothing. The motherboard also has a "start" button inherently built into the board with no wiring, which is supposed to be able to boot the computer, and that also does nothing when pressed. I think this rules out an I/O power button wiring issue.
The motherboard has two features to show errors: A Q-Code LED which displays numerical error codes & the strip of Q-LEDs that will show a red light to indicate if the issue if there is an issue with CPU/DRAM/VGA/BOOT. Neither lit up.
Three potential issues that came up during the build:
1. The first time I plugged it in I had only connected the 24 pin ATX-PWR on the motherboard to my power supply, as I did not realize I also needed to plug in the two ATX_12V_1&2 connectors as well. A little red light turned on next to the ATX_12V power connectors letting me know my error. I went back and wired that up and the little red light disappeared the next time I plugged it back in.
2. While looking everything up to type up this post, I noticed that G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB Series says (Intel XMP). I didn’t know RAM was cpu specific. I googled this just now and it seems like most people say it actually doesn’t matter and any ram can be used with any CPU? The ram slotted into the motherboard just fine. Even if the RAM was incompatible, wouldn’t other components still light up and I would just get an error with the RAM?
3. The main part of the build I had issues with was securing the AIO cooler over my CPU. It is an AM4/5 compatible AIO which means it works with the stock AM5 motherboard. The AM5 back plate has two hook-like curvatures & so the AIO includes a square bracket on each side that slides around the hook, and then tightens with a hand screw. It was difficult to get one side to securely hook in, so I had to pre-tighten it, and then just push down with mild force to get it to slip around the hook. Could this somehow be applying too much force on the CPU? Could it be making contact where it shouldn’t and creating a short or something? Picture attached.

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Other than those 3 things above, I can’t think of anything else I did wrong. The current problem seems pretty major issue given that nothing on the motherboard other than the logo will even light up with just latent power. I imagine I’ve probably screwed up something silly and easy that has to do with the power supply – Motherboard interaction. I can totally myself making a dumb error given how long it's been since I last built a computer.
Any ideas on what I should do next to try and troubleshoot this?
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