I recently bought an older PC and began swapping out some components. Prior to this, the system was working without issues. Now, after changing parts, when I try to power it up, it only stays on for a second or two before shutting off and repeating that cycle. I've attempted clearing the CMOS and left it unplugged for about 30 minutes, but nothing seems to help. I've double-checked that all cables are securely connected. I'm still a bit of a novice when it comes to building PCs and would really appreciate any guidance. Here are the specs:
- The PC initially had a 300W PSU, which I replaced with a reliable 500W PSU (Gigabyte GZ-EHS50A-C2).
- It has an i5-3470 processor.
- The RAM consists of 2x 2GB DDR3 and 1x 4GB DDR3L sticks.
- Originally, it came with a 500GB WD Blue HDD, but I swapped it out for a 500GB SSD and added a 1.5TB HDD.
- The motherboard is an Intel DQ77CP.
- While I had planned to add a GTX 960 GPU, I've discovered that it doesn't seem to work with this motherboard either. When the GPU is installed, I hear two long beeps followed by a restart and no display, but without it, the PC used to work fine. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
It sounds like you might have a couple of things going on here. First off, the combination of 2x DDR3 and 1x DDR3L RAM can sometimes cause compatibility issues, especially if the motherboard isn't recognizing them correctly. Even though it worked before, removing the RAM sticks and reseating them might help. As for the power cycle problem, it could be related to the PSU or the motherboard itself. Since you swapped to a known good PSU, that helps narrow it down. Have you tried booting with just one stick of RAM? It's a good troubleshooting step.
It’s possible that something got shorted while you were swapping parts, especially if you weren’t grounded properly. Double-check all connections and the motherboard for any visible damage. If you're hearing beeping, that often points to hardware issues—typically RAM or GPU. If removing the GPU helps you boot up, the motherboard might not be able to handle the GTX 960. Just keep experimenting with different combinations and good luck!
I appreciate the insight! I’ll check for any signs of damage and test without the GPU. Thank you!
I haven't tried booting with just one stick yet. I'll give that a go and reseat the RAM. Thanks for the tip!