I built a new system with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, ASUS PRIME Z890-P WIFI, Patriot Viper Venom 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 CL30, Gigabyte RTX 5080 Gaming OC, Phanteks AMP GH 850W ATX 3.1 power supply, Corsair NAUTILUS 360 RS ARGB cooler, and a DeepCool CG530 case. The fans spin normally, but there is no display. I also get no video from the motherboard's HDMI or DisplayPort outputs with the graphics card removed. This board uses Q-LED Core through the power button instead of physical diagnostic LEDs. The button blinks quickly at about four times per second, then changes to a slow blink every two seconds, repeating continuously. ASUS documentation indicates that the fast pattern points to missing DRAM and the slow pattern points to missing VGA. I have removed the GPU, reseated the CPU, inspected the socket for visibly bent pins, cleared CMOS, and successfully used BIOS FlashBack. I have not yet completed every single-stick memory test. Since the system moves past the fast DRAM pattern, I'm wondering whether the memory is actually initializing and the failure is specifically during video or iGPU initialization. Has anyone experienced compatibility problems with this memory and the 285K on this board, or found a reliable way to get this combination through POST?
2 Answers
This may be a memory-compatibility issue rather than a failed GPU. Some ASUS Z890 boards have been unusually picky with certain DDR5 kits, including Patriot, TeamGroup, and PNY models. A technician reported that the same board and Core Ultra 9 system POSTed immediately with a basic Corsair 8GB module. Try one stick at a time in the recommended slot, verify the kit is on the board’s memory support list, and test a different low-capacity DDR5 module if possible. Successful BIOS FlashBack does not guarantee that the installed memory will train successfully.
Try testing with no RAM installed and compare the blink behavior. Also check the cooler mounting pressure carefully. Excessive or uneven pressure can flex the board or affect contact in the LGA socket, especially around the CPU mounting area. Inspect for any damage and make sure the cooler is tightened evenly. If available, testing with a different socket retention frame instead of the standard ILM may also help identify a contact-pressure problem.
The graphics card may still be fine if it works in another computer. The VGA indication can be a downstream symptom of failed memory training or incomplete CPU initialization, so I wouldn’t replace the GPU based on that blink code alone.