I recently built a PC that sometimes powers on but does not actually boot. The liquid-cooler fans spin and its LEDs blink, but pressing the power button only starts the fans; there is no display or other sign that the system is starting normally. Previously, powering it off at the switch and trying again after waiting would eventually make it work, but now it will not boot at all. The system has an RX 9060 XT, a Ryzen 5 5700X, and 2x8 GB plus 2x4 GB of reused RAM. The two memory kits came from different sources, so I'm wondering whether the mixed or older RAM could be causing the problem. What should I check first?
1 Answer
Check your motherboard manual for its built-in diagnostic features. Depending on the model, it may have a two-digit debug display, status LEDs for the CPU, memory, graphics card, and boot device, or a header for a small motherboard speaker. These indicators can show which part is preventing startup. Since your board apparently has no diagnostic LEDs, connecting a compatible speaker to the front-panel header may let it report error beep codes. Also try booting with only one RAM module installed, because mixing two different memory kits can cause instability or prevent the system from completing POST.
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