I've been trying to upgrade my PC with a new CPU and motherboard, but now it won't post at all. Previously, I had an Intel i5-7600k on a Z270 board with an RTX 3070, and I've switched to a Ryzen 5 5600 on a B550 board. Everything was working perfectly before the upgrade, but now I'm stuck with a black screen. The fans spin up, but I don't get any video output, and I can't access BIOS. I've tried a ton of troubleshooting steps including swapping cables, reseating components, trying different RAM sticks, and even using different motherboards and power supplies. I've cleared the CMOS multiple times too. I'm really at a loss and could use some guidance on what to check next! Here's my parts list for reference: Ryzen 5 5600 with stock cooler, Gigabyte B550 Aorus Pro AX ITX, EVGA 3070 XC3, Crucial Ballistix 16 GB DDR4-3600, Crucial P3 500GB m.2 SSD, and Corsair SF600 PSU.
4 Answers
Sounds like you're having a tough time there! If you're getting a black screen and nothing else, it's possible that the boot drive could be causing issues. Try removing it entirely and see if you can at least get into BIOS. Also, make sure you've checked the power cables, especially the CPU power cable - sometimes they can get missed during assembly.
Yeah, and don't forget to check the wall outlet too; you never know if that's causing problems.
Man, it sounds like you've covered all the bases, but don’t forget about the PSU cables! Make sure you’re only using the cables that came with your new PSU. Mixing modular cables can cause major issues, even if they look like they'll fit.
Exactly! Even if the connectors fit, they might not supply power correctly if they aren’t from the same PSU.
Also, if you haven't done so, try starting the system with just the essentials connected (CPU, one RAM stick, and GPU) to see if it posts then.
Just to confirm, are you connecting your monitor directly to the GPU and not the motherboard? That can sometimes be an easy thing to overlook.
Yep, I'm definitely connecting the monitor to the GPU. I've double-checked that.
That's good! I would suggest testing with another monitor or TV if possible, just to rule out any display issues.
I feel for you! After trying so many things, I’d say it might be time to get a second set of eyes on your build. If you're feeling confident you've plugged everything in correctly, it could be worth taking it to a local PC repair shop for a diagnostics run. Sometimes professionals can catch something we might overlook.
For sure! Plus, they often have spare parts to swap in and out to identify what's faulty.
I agree with this. If you've done a ton of troubleshooting already, a fresh perspective might save you tons of time.
Good point! I had an issue once where I didn't realize the CPU power cable was unplugged. Sometimes it's the simplest things that trip us up.