I built a gaming PC back in 2017, and it has seen quite a few upgrades since then. Recently, I noticed my USB devices were acting up—my keyboard's RGB would flicker, my mouse wheel would stick, and my webcams kept disconnecting. To fix this, I used a powered external hub, and things seemed okay. However, I discovered that using the back USB ports led to more problems. Given that my old PSU (550w) was one of the last remaining original components along with the motherboard, I upgraded to a Crucial 850w PSU. Now, my computer doesn't seem to boot correctly. The fans spin, including the case fans, but the GPU doesn't seem to power on, and there's no signal going to the monitor. I suspect it might be in a power cycle since it spins for a bit and then cuts off. All the cables match what I had before, except the GPU cable now has two 8-pin plugs instead of one with dual connections. Additionally, when I installed the CPU power cable, the CPU came out attached to the cooler without the locking arm lifted; I checked for damaged pins and didn't find any, but I'm worried about potential unseen damage. Does anyone have suggestions on what I can check next? I'm hesitant to put the old PSU back in, as accessing the CPU power socket is tough. I'm considering getting a new motherboard and processor, but that would be costly!
5 Answers
Looks like the old PSU has given me some life back, but it's still not booting fully. Any recommendations for a new mobo and CPU that wouldn't break the bank?
Many newer power supplies don’t include a -12V rail because it’s obsolete. However, some motherboard models like the x470 might still require it. If you notice issues, that could be the problem. Check the specs of your new PSU to see if it offers that rail!
Since you’ve swapped to the old PSU and the symptoms still persist—no RGB lights, no response on the power button after a long press—it might indicate a failing motherboard or CPU. It could also be worth confirming that all power connectors were properly seated during the initial setup.
If you did use the right cables and everything was seated well, I would strongly advise looking at a new motherboard and CPU combo. You might be able to get an affordable upgrade that works well with your existing GPU and RAM!
Be cautious about mixing up your cables! The 8-pin CPU power cable should be distinct from an 8-pin PCIe power cable. Double-check that you've used the right one and it's properly connected.
I just checked again, and the cable next to the CPU is indeed labeled "CPU" and connected to the "CPU / PCIe" slot. So I'm good there!
My x470 seems to need it, but I can't find definitive info on the PSU specs. I might need to dig deeper!