I just finished building my first PC, but it's not turning on at all! The only sign of life is the RGB light on the Asus ROG Strix motherboard when I switch on the power supply unit (PSU). Neither the power button on the case nor the motherboard itself seems to work, and I'm not getting any response—no fans are spinning or other lights coming on.
I've checked all connections multiple times, ensuring that the ATX 24-pin and 8-pin CPU cables are properly connected. I tried resetting the cables, just running the system with only the necessary components, and even using cables that came with the PSU. I'm starting to suspect that the PSU might be faulty; it's an MSI MAG 850W GLS that I got on sale and was rated well.
Here are my specs:
- CPU: 9600X
- GPU: 9070XT
- Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix B850A
- RAM: 32GB 6000MHz (2x16)
- CPU Cooler: Thermalright Frozen Vision.
Is there something I'm missing here? Any tips to pull this back from the brink would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
From what you’ve described, if the motherboard lights up when the PSU is on, it’s unlikely the PSU is the problem. It might be worth reseating the CPU just to be sure. In addition, shorting the power pins on the motherboard could help in case the case power button’s faulty.
Make sure the RAM configuration is correct as well—use only one stick just to rule that out. If you're still having trouble, don't forget to reset the CMOS before trying again.
Have you considered that the motherboard may need a BIOS update? Sometimes they don’t work well with parts that don't get recognized right out of the box. There’s usually a BIOS flash feature, and you should check the manual for details. If there’s an indication that it's in a memory training cycle, give it a bit of time—it sometimes takes a few minutes. After the initial POST, remember to disable Fast Boot in BIOS to avoid future issues on boot.
Check that all connectors are in the right place—especially the smaller CPU power plug. You mentioned you’re using an 8-pin; ensure it's fully seated. Try booting with just one stick of RAM and be patient waiting for memory training, which can take time. Also, verify that all front panel connectors are inserted correctly—this includes the power and reset buttons.
It sounds like you’ve done quite a bit of troubleshooting already! Just to double-check, ensure that the two 8-pin CPU power connectors are securely attached. It's common to overlook these. Also, verify that the 24-pin motherboard connector is firmly seated.
You might want to take out the RAM and try booting with just one stick to see if it helps. It's also a good idea to confirm that your CPU is installed correctly and that the power switch from the case is connected to the right header on the motherboard. If everything seems fine, let us know what happens when you try booting after these checks.
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