Question Not booting? PSU Fan and CPU Fan is off but I see the LED light flash

[Alex Sargoso]

Recently built a PC but it doesn't boot up. LED light does flash for a few seconds once I turn on the power supply (RM 650W) but the fans do not work and it doesn't boot up at all. Could this be the fault of the power supply or the mobo?

 

[Darkbreeze]

What code is the LED signalling? Is there a Qcode display on this board?

What are the rest of your hardware specs including CPU and motherboard model as well as the model of your memory kit?

You should absolutely check everything HERE first:

**Click here for help troubleshooting hardware and No-POST issues

 

[Alex Sargoso]

Now I'm not too sure what code the LED is signalling as it was flashing red on the top left and was obscured by other components, I don't believe there is a Qcode displayed, my current specs are:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 2700x with Wraith Prism RGB LED Cooler
GPU: RTX 2060
MOBO: MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
PSU: Corsair CP-9020178-UK RM650x 80 PLUS Gold 650 W
RAM: Corsair CMK16GX4M2B3200C16 Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4 3200 MHz C16 XMP 2.0
HDD

It's worth noting that I reapplied thermal paste onto the CPU (I removed the heatsink, used alcohol with a microfibre cloth cleaned both the CPU and heatsink and reapplied a drop).

 

[Alex Sargoso]

What code is the LED signalling? Is there a Qcode display on this board?

What are the rest of your hardware specs including CPU and motherboard model as well as the model of your memory kit?

You should absolutely check everything HERE first:

**Click here for help troubleshooting hardware and No-POST issues

Thanks, I will check with this tomorrow as it is getting very late here, hopefully this issue is resolved.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You're right, it does not have a Qcode display, in fact I'm not even sure it has an LED code display either. I think you may need to have a system speaker like this in order to get boot codes from that board.

https://www.amazon.com/PC-Motherboa...board+speaker&qid=1553997926&s=gateway&sr=8-5


Did the problem start BEFORE or AFTER you removed the CPU and repasted it? Because it's definitely always a possibility of having a bent pin or pins on the CPU if the problem began after it was removed and reinstalled or if the problem has existed from day one.

Since you just built this, I'd say you definitely need to pull the CPU back out again and triple check that none of the CPU pins are bent, if you did not specifically check for that already.

 

[hypogogic]

Make sure the power pins are connected in the right order. They need to be a certain way. The manual will help. Also check all connections to PSU and components are in tight, no loose connections. Failing that make sure the fan on the PSU turns over. If it does and still nothing try boot into bios and restore defaults. Sometimes this sorts a wrongly/accidentally tweaked setting. And if you have a B bios (a second bios) try switching to that and booting. If it works it has a bios error of some kind and the other will need flashed.

If none of that works do a bare bones test. Take out all but one dim of RAM and boot it using only boot drive. If it works switch it out until you hit the problem and make sure the PSU is adequate for components. You can check out a PSU calculators online. It does look fine though based on parts listed.

Hope this helps in some way.

 

[Darkbreeze]

This is the last resort methodology if nothing turns up before you get to that point.

*How to properly bench test your motherboard​

 

[Alex Sargoso]

You're right, it does not have a Qcode display, in fact I'm not even sure it has an LED code display either. I think you may need to have a system speaker like this in order to get boot codes from that board.

https://www.amazon.com/PC-Motherboa...board+speaker&qid=1553997926&s=gateway&sr=8-5


Did the problem start BEFORE or AFTER you removed the CPU and repasted it? Because it's definitely always a possibility of having a bent pin or pins on the CPU if the problem began after it was removed and reinstalled or if the problem has existed from day one.

Since you just built this, I'd say you definitely need to pull the CPU back out again and triple check that none of the CPU pins are bent, if you did not specifically check for that already.

It was after I repasted it, I'm fairly new to building PC's and so I had not checked if the PSU worked prior to me reapplying paste. I shall check for any bent pins.

 

[Alex Sargoso]

Make sure the power pins are connected in the right order. They need to be a certain way. The manual will help. Also check all connections to PSU and components are in tight, no loose connections. Failing that make sure the fan on the PSU turns over. If it does and still nothing try boot into bios and restore defaults. Sometimes this sorts a wrongly/accidentally tweaked setting. And if you have a B bios (a second bios) try switching to that and booting. If it works it has a bios error of some kind and the other will need flashed.

If none of that works do a bare bones test. Take out all but one dim of RAM and boot it using only boot drive. If it works switch it out until you hit the problem and make sure the PSU is adequate for components. You can check out a PSU calculators online. It does look fine though based on parts listed.

Hope this helps in some way.

I consulted the manual for the layout of the power pins, annoyingly they were all black wires but I believe I placed them in the right order. I shall check again. Connections to the PSU weren't too bad, the 24pin was difficult to place and might need checking. I haven't tried using only one dim of RAM, I will keep you updated on the results, thank you.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I guess I don't understand WHY you removed and applied fresh paste, if the system had never even been able to power on and POST yet? Thermal paste isn't going to EVER cause a system to not turn on and POST. It can cause plenty of problems, but not that.

 

[Alex Sargoso]

I guess I don't understand WHY you removed and applied fresh paste, if the system had never even been able to power on and POST yet? Thermal paste isn't going to EVER cause a system to not turn on and POST. It can cause plenty of problems, but not that.

I have a friend who said that the thermal paste they put on the heatsink is not good so I used his thermal paste.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I understand. Your friend is both wrong and right. Depending on what thermal paste he has, it may or may not be better than the thermal interface material (TIM) that comes pre-applied to most stock coolers including the AMD Wraith cooler, however, for a system that you won't be overclocking on the stock cooler does "ok", besides which, it's usually a good idea to make sure things are working properly BEFORE bothering to take more advanced measures like using aftermarket paste on a stock cooler.

I would just about guarantee based on this conversation we've had that you have a bent CPU pin but there are certainly other possibilities as well. I'd start there and look for ANY pin on the CPU that looks like it might be abnormal, obviously bent or discolored.

 

[scout_03]

when the board boot first led is cpu then memory after gpu last one is complete boot proces check if any of those stay on and made sure all power ccable are fully in the board and ram is clip in same for gpu and the hdd .

 

[Alex Sargoso]

when the board boot first led is cpu then memory after gpu last one is complete boot proces check if any of those stay on and made sure all power ccable are fully in the board and ram is clip in same for gpu and the hdd .

There is a red light that flashes three times in the top left of the board, not sure if that's LED, but that's all that lights up.

 

[Alex Sargoso]

I understand. Your friend is both wrong and right. Depending on what thermal paste he has, it may or may not be better than the thermal interface material (TIM) that comes pre-applied to most stock coolers including the AMD Wraith cooler, however, for a system that you won't be overclocking on the stock cooler does "ok", besides which, it's usually a good idea to make sure things are working properly BEFORE bothering to take more advanced measures like using aftermarket paste on a stock cooler.

I would just about guarantee based on this conversation we've had that you have a bent CPU pin but there are certainly other possibilities as well. I'd start there and look for ANY pin on the CPU that looks like it might be abnormal, obviously bent or discolored.

Thanks, I will have a look today and check.

 

[scout_03]

follow the order to see witch one it is you could see all in the board manual .

 

[Darkbreeze]

follow the order to see witch one it is you could see all in the board manual .

Yeah, not really. The manual is just about useless in this regard. It says NOTHING about which LED color, or anything else, those LEDs are supposed to provide identification for the problem with. This is ALL the manual says, anywhere, about those LEDs.

It does however SPECIFICALLY mention troubleshooting with the system speaker beep codes, so unless you can find some board specific information regarding those LEDs elsewhere, I'd get as system speaker and attach it so at least you know which subsystem is causing the problem.

 

[Alex Sargoso]

Yeah, not really. The manual is just about useless in this regard. It says NOTHING about which LED color, or anything else, those LEDs are supposed to provide identification for the problem with. This is ALL the manual says, anywhere, about those LEDs.

It does however SPECIFICALLY mention troubleshooting with the system speaker beep codes, so unless you can find some board specific information regarding those LEDs elsewhere, I'd get as system speaker and attach it so at least you know which subsystem is causing the problem.

I have ordered it and it is coming tomorrow.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Good deal. Lets see what that turns up. At least it should get us in the right direction since right now we are kind of clueless without some kind of error code.

 

[scout_03]

i use a msi board and if the led stay lighted red that means it stop at this process when it pas the proces the go off .

 

[Darkbreeze]

At WHAT process? Nowhere in the manual does it indicate what color or led is for any particular process or component. Without that, I think it's useless. I'd rather see a Qcode indicator on every board or see them all come with system speakers like they used to do.

 

[scout_03]

the msi booard only have a boot sequence led option as describe in manual .

 

[Darkbreeze]

His manual doesn't describe anything about a sequence or stop codes. It ONLY shows what I posted above. I went through the whole manual. Nothing in there about any sequence under the board sections or troubleshooting section. Totally left out of the manual from what I could see. Not surprising since MSI often does things halfway.

 

[Alex Sargoso]

His manual doesn't describe anything about a sequence or stop codes. It ONLY shows what I posted above. I went through the whole manual. Nothing in there about any sequence under the board sections or troubleshooting section. Totally left out of the manual from what I could see. Not surprising since MSI often does things halfway.

I have not yet tried checking the CPU but I did manage to use the internal speakers I bought. Unfortunately, there were no beeps at all. Does that indicate a mobo issue? (P.S. I am very anxious to take components out so I might get a friend or professional to do it for me if it needs complete disassembly, just curious as to what the problem may be).

 

[Darkbreeze]

Make sure it's connected correctly, because even on a normally working system there should usually be at least one beep when the system is powered on and begins the POST process. Maybe not in all cases though.

I'd definitely bench test it using the guide I posted earlier.

Also, check ALL of these things, first.

"No POST", "system won't boot", and "no video output" troubleshooting checklist

"No POST", "system won't boot", and "no video output" troubleshooting checklist This checklist is a compilation of troubleshooting ideas from many forum members. It's very important to actually perform every step in the checklist if you want to effectively troubleshoot your problem. 1.Did you...

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