Hey all! I'm building my first PC and I'm a bit worried. I tried to power up my custom build to test my Corsair QX120 fans without installing the CPU first, using an ASUS ROG Strix B650E-E motherboard. Will the fans spin, or do I definitely need to have the CPU installed?
3 Answers
Flashing a new BIOS could help if your motherboard supports it. Some boards are designed to power the fans even without a CPU, while others may not. Just make sure to do your research before you try anything, especially if there are bad reviews about bricking.
You can definitely power it on without the CPU, but don't expect much to happen. Your fans might spin, but you won't be able to boot into an operating system or anything like that.
It really depends on the motherboard and how the manufacturer coded the BIOS. Some boards will allow fans to spin without a CPU while others won’t. So you might want to check your specific motherboard's manual.
So my PC is okay as it is right now?