My desktop has started repeatedly attempting to start but shutting down almost immediately. The fans spin for less than a second, the GPU lights up, and then the system tries again in a continuous loop. At first, it would start after several attempts, and once running it worked normally without errors or overheating. It was also more likely to start if I tried again shortly after shutting it down, while longer periods powered off made the problem worse. It now will not boot at all. The system has an RX 6700 XT, Intel Core i5-11400F, 16 GB DDR4-3600 memory in one stick, a Cooler Master MWE 650W power supply, and an MSI B560M-A PRO motherboard. What should I check first to identify the faulty component?
2 Answers
Clear the motherboard’s CMOS and try the memory stick in the other recommended slot. Make sure the CPU cooler is firmly mounted and that the CPU power connector near the top of the board is attached. If the board has diagnostic LEDs, check which one remains lit during the restart loop. Testing without the RX 6700 XT is also useful, although the 11400F has no integrated graphics, so you would only be checking whether the system stays powered on rather than getting a display.
A system that powers on for less than a second and immediately cycles usually points to a power-delivery problem or a hardware protection shutdown. Start by disconnecting the GPU and all nonessential drives and USB devices, then try booting with only the motherboard, CPU, one RAM stick, and the power supply connected. Also reseat the 24-pin motherboard cable, the CPU power cable, the RAM, and the graphics card. If possible, test with a known-good power supply, since a failing PSU can behave worse after sitting powered off for a while.
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