I'm assembling a system with a B650I Nightdevil motherboard and have installed all the components except the RAM. When I try to start it, absolutely nothing happens—no fans, LEDs, or other signs of power. Could the missing memory prevent the board from powering on, or is there likely another issue? I'm also struggling to understand the front-panel connector diagram and would appreciate a clear explanation of where the power-switch and other case cables should go.
2 Answers
Incorrect front-panel wiring is a strong possibility, especially if the manual is unclear. The power button cable must go on the two pins marked PWR SW or PWRBTN; its orientation does not matter. If shorting those exact pins does nothing, verify the 24-pin motherboard connector, the CPU power connector near the processor socket, the PSU switch, and any modular PSU cable connections. Once RAM is installed, the system should at least attempt to start and may display a DRAM warning, but RAM normally isn’t required for the fans or power indicators to activate.
A system will usually power on without RAM and then stop with a memory or DRAM error, so the lack of memory probably isn’t why there are no fans or LEDs. First, check that the power supply switch is on, the AC cable is connected, and the motherboard’s main power connectors are fully seated. The front-panel header is on the right side of the board, and the pin labels are printed directly on the motherboard near the RAM slots. You only need to connect the case’s PWR SW cable to the power-switch pins to test startup; reset and LED cables aren’t required. You can also briefly bridge those two power-switch pins with a screwdriver to test the board without the case button.
I checked the connections and tried bridging the power pins with a screwdriver, but still got no response. I’ll test it again once the RAM arrives.