So, my gaming PC just stopped working one day, and now it powers up perfectly – all the fans and LEDs light up as expected – but I get no display or USB power. Here's what I've tried so far to troubleshoot the issue:
1. Removed all RAM sticks and tested with just one at a time, trying different slots.
2. Used different RAM altogether.
3. Took out the CMOS battery for about 10 minutes and then put it back in.
4. Swapped my Asrock B250 Pro4 motherboard with an ASUS Z-170.
5. Tested with a different CPU, making sure they're all LGA 1151 compatible.
6. Installed a new PSU.
7. Booted the system with only the SSD connected, but I figured if the SSD were faulty, I should still see the BIOS screen – right? (Correct me if I'm wrong.)
8. Took everything out of the case to check for grounding or short issues.
9. CPU cooler is off, and I unplugged all fans.
10. Tried a different power cable for the PSU.
11. Jumped the motherboard to clear the CMOS.
12. Booted without the GPU to see if that made a difference, but it didn't.
I'm pretty tech-savvy but mostly with Dell workstations, so I'm a bit lost here!
2 Answers
Have you checked if the CPUs you're testing have onboard graphics? If so, it might be worth giving that a shot! Also, just because the GPU is powered up doesn't necessarily mean it’s functioning correctly. Sometimes it can still be an issue with the GPU rather than the power supply or other components.
I'd recommend trying to boot without any storage connected; it might help rule out some weird driver issues, but that's probably a long shot. If you have a different GPU handy, that could be the real culprit, so maybe give that a try too. Also, check if you're using different HDMI cables or a different monitor.
I actually attempted that with no storage connected too. Just to clarify, would the absence of a GPU affect the USB ports at all?
Good point! I don’t think those CPUs have integrated graphics, though. But would the lack of GPU cause the USB ports to have no power? My keyboard isn’t lighting up at all.