My husband and I assembled a completely new PC using an ASUS B650E MAX GAMING WIFI motherboard, Ryzen 7 7800X3D, RAM, graphics card, fans, and power supply. The fans spin and the RGB lighting turns on, but the system never reaches POST and produces no display signal. I successfully updated the BIOS with the correct BIOS FlashBack file, cleared CMOS, tested each RAM stick individually in slot A2, reseated the memory and GPU, tried another power supply, and tested several monitors and cables. I also removed the graphics card and tried the motherboard HDMI output, since the 7800X3D includes integrated graphics. Could this be a motherboard, CPU, or socket problem, or is there a board-specific issue I should check?
3 Answers
Check the motherboard’s diagnostic LEDs and note whether CPU, DRAM, VGA, or BOOT stays lit. Also verify that the 24-pin motherboard connector and both CPU/EPS power connectors near the top-left of the board are fully seated. Confirm that the cooler is connected to the CPU_FAN header, and inspect the AM5 socket carefully for bent or damaged pins. The RAM should be fully locked into place with no contacts visible above the slot.
AM5 systems can take a surprisingly long time on the first boot while training the memory. After clearing CMOS or changing RAM, let the system sit for several minutes instead of powering it off quickly. Start with one stick in A2 and wait to see whether the diagnostic LED changes.
Since the BIOS update, CMOS reset, single-stick testing, alternate PSU, and GPU removal have already been tried, the diagnostic LED is the next important clue. If the CPU or DRAM light remains on indefinitely after giving it time to train, reseat the CPU and inspect the socket. If the board shows no useful progress with known-good power and memory, either the motherboard or CPU may be defective.
I already tested both memory sticks separately in A2 and confirmed the GPU and its power cable are seated. I’ll check the diagnostic LEDs, CPU power connections, and socket closely, then give the board extra time for memory training.