I built my PC about a year ago, and it had some intermittent posting issues. Initially, all the lights would turn on and the fans would spin, but I'd get an amber DRAM light and a red CPU light. It took multiple attempts to get into Windows, but once I was in, everything worked smoothly, so I mostly ignored it. Eventually, the problem seemed to resolve itself. However, after I moved back home from college, the issue came back hard. Now, it takes several tries to get the PC to post. I tried loosening the CPU cooler thinking it might be too tight, but that didn't help. I even went into the BIOS and slowed down the RAM profile, but now it barely boots—only about 1 in 10 tries—and when it does, I get a green boot light with no display output. I cleared the overclock profile by resetting the CMOS, but that didn't work either. I've also tested the RAM by removing one stick at a time and trying different slots. My setup includes a Ryzen 7800X3D, 32GB of DDR5 6000 RAM, and an SSD running Windows 11.
1 Answer
It sounds like you've been through quite a bit with your PC! Honestly, messing with BIOS settings can complicate things, especially since it won't reliably boot. My first suggestion would be to reset everything to default in BIOS and just get it stable before tweaking any settings.
Here are a few things to check:
1. Make sure the CPU is getting enough power. Check if your motherboard has extra CPU power connectors, and if it does, ensure they're all plugged in properly.
2. Check that your RAM is compatible with your motherboard’s list. If it's not listed as compatible, consider trying a cheaper, compatible RAM just to rule that out.
3. Look around for any cables or components that might be touching the case and potentially causing short circuits.
Good luck getting it sorted!
Thanks for the advice! I definitely need to check the compatibility of my RAM and make sure I'm using both power connectors. I appreciate your input, but just a heads up: it might help if we keep our critiques constructive!