I'm on my fifth RMA with MSI because I've repeatedly received the wrong or faulty motherboard. The latest replacement is an MSI B550I Gaming Edge WiFi, but it shows no lights and does nothing when I try to start it. I've tested the PSU with a paper-clip test and it works, and I connected the CPU, RAM, cooler, 24-pin motherboard cable, and 4+4 CPU power cable. I'm testing the board outside the case before rebuilding the whole PC. Could I be missing a required step, or is this replacement also defective?
3 Answers
Remove the board from any case or metal surface and test it on its cardboard box with only the CPU, cooler, one RAM module, 24-pin power, and CPU power connected. Check for bent CPU-socket pins and make sure the front-panel header isn’t being wired incorrectly. If shorting the power pins produces absolutely no LEDs, fan movement, or other response with a confirmed-good PSU, the replacement board is very likely faulty and should be documented for another RMA.
A paper-clip test only confirms that the PSU can turn on with little or no load; it doesn’t prove the PSU is working correctly in a PC. If possible, test with a known-good PSU and verify that both the 24-pin and 8-pin CPU connectors are fully seated. The board should normally show some sign of power even without a graphics card, although you’ll need a separate GPU if the processor doesn’t have integrated graphics.
When testing the board outside the case, connect the PSU, CPU, one stick of RAM, and cooler, then briefly short the two power-switch pins with a screwdriver. Simply connecting the cables won’t make the board start. Also double-check that the CPU power cable is the EPS/CPU cable rather than a PCIe cable, and try a different outlet or modular PSU cable if available.
I tried jumping the power-switch pins with a screwdriver and also tried the case switch afterward, but the board still showed no response.