Question Red Light. Is this a problem with my Ram or the motherboard?

[Daichii]

A little context. I bought a generic computer like 12 years ago, and with time I did some upgrades which left the motherboard as the only original component along with the processor.

Years passed and at some point I didn't need to keep upgrading it, as it served all my needs. Until just a few day ago when I turned it On, sometimes it didn't boot properly. Fans on, lights on... just didn't load the OS.

Normally I'd just reset and sometimes it did boot and I could work with it just fine until yersterday it didn't work at all. As I'm an idiot, I didn't try to do anything else. This time I took out the graphics card, all the hard drives and anything dispensable, thinking that it could be the Power supply and turned it on. It worked but while loading it turned off for good, and a red light stared right at me... took some pictures. Any idea what it could be? Should I just buy new Ram or just send it to the doctor? I would like to do it myself if it's possible. Thank you for taking your time with my problem.

Edit: Tried switching the slots of the ram, the red light stopped but still windows does not load.

CPU: Intel i7 3770 @ 3.40 GHz
CPU cooler: INTEL E97378-001
Motherboard: ASUS P8B75-M/CSM
Old Ram: KINSTON HYPER X BLU KHX1333C9D3B1/4G x2 (not working properly)
New Ram: Tecmiyo Ddr3 1333mhz 4gb x2
HDD: TOSHIBA 1TB DT01ACA100
GPU: EVGA GEFORCE GTX 970
OLD PSU: EVGA SUPERNOVA 750 G2 (don't know if it broke)
NEW PSU: BALAMRUSH PULSAR 550 PR
Chassis: XPREDATOR X3
OS: WINDOWS 10 PRO X64 22H2
Monitor: ASUS VA27EHE

https://imgur.com/a/Cd6YJmb

View: https://imgur.com/a/Cd6YJmb


Edit2: So, I immediately bought the ram cards and thermal compound. Changed just the cards and it didn't work. I was about to check the CPU but just to be sure, I also bought a new PSU (Balamrush PULSAR 550 PR), changed it and turned it on... first try... nothing, second try and it finally worked.

I was about to claim victory but, I decided to check the BIOS first and it happened again. After the "Resetting" screen, it didn't reset at all it was like I turned it off. But the CPU fan was still working and the frontal lights too; took some pictures.

https://imgur.com/a/qFg2OOg

View: https://imgur.com/a/qFg2OOg


Then I forcefully turned it off with the only frontal button that the XPREDATOR X3 has and it didn't boot for a few tries. To clarify, in these attempts the CPU fan and frontal lights do turn on, but that's all. Was about to call it a day but tried one more time and it worked again, the same red light turned on for less than a second but I could enter the BIOS.

I'm afraid to turn it off haha, I'll check the CPU tomorrow and reapply the thermal compound. What do you guys think it's happening? Thanks again for your time.

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

A little context.
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

Try reseating the sticks of ram. Try and swapping the slot the rams are populating. Please include a list of parts that you've upgraded the system with since it was purchased.

 

[Daichii]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

A little context.
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

Try reseating the sticks of ram. Try and swapping the slot the rams are populating. Please include a list of parts that you've upgraded the system with since it was purchased.

I included most of it but the details escape me since I cannot boot it to check the bios version or the full details of the cpu, sorry for the inconveniences.

 

[Misgar]

it worked but while loading it turned off for good, and a red light stared right at me...

Did you check the user guide to see what the red light indicates?
file:///C:/Users/7950X/Downloads/p8b75mcsm_user_manual.pdf

I did. It's marked DRAM_LED, so the logical deduction is the BIOS has found a memory fault.

Since the DIMMs don't work in any slots, get some more compatible RAM and fit in them in the two blue DIMM slots A2/B2, which are the ones recommended by Asus in the manual on page 1-18 (see below).

"2 DIMMs: Supports two (2) modules inserted into either the blue slots or the black slots
as one pair of Dual-channel memory configuration. We suggest that you
install the modules into slots A2 and B2 for better compatibility."

Red light still on? Carefully remove CPU and check the delicate contacts in the socket are all OK. Refit CPU. Clean old thermal compound off CPU and heatsink. Apply new thermal compound. Fit heatsink/cooler.

If the fault persists, it might be the CPU or the motherboard itself. Only way to tell is to replace things one at a time.

 

[Daichii]

First thing in the morning I tried a few times to make it work after the suggestions in this post and another I made. Same thing happened, it does turn on (CPU fan, GPU, etc.) but no booting process starts.

After trying for a few more times with same thing happening, it finally worked and successfully loaded windows, curiously this final try the DRAM_LED red light flahed for half a second again. For some reason it only boots when this happens or maybe it's a coincidence.

After work, I'll finally take the CPU out and see what that does although I think it's OK since it does boot some times, totally ignorant though. Thank you all.

 

[quadrax]

Red sign on motherboard - CPU detection / error. Try reseat processor and reinstall again the cooler.