I'm working on an old PC with an i5-6600 CPU on a B150M BAZOOKA motherboard. Recently, I've been having issues where the motherboard lights up with a red light next to the CPU label, and my monitor stays blank when I start the system. I've already tried troubleshooting by swapping RAM, removing and reinserting the GPU, and even taking out the CPU and testing different cable connections (both HDMI and DVI).
I'm starting to think my CPU is bricked. I'm considering buying a new motherboard (specifically, an MSI A520M-A PRO) along with an AMD 5 5500 CPU. Do you think this would solve my problem? Also, how difficult is it to replace the motherboard? Can I simply swap out the old components and transfer everything else like the memory and GPU, or are there other important factors to keep in mind? My RAM is compatible, but I'm worried that after purchasing new thermal paste and hardware, I might still face issues with the PC not booting up.
1 Answer
Just a heads-up: make sure your RAM is indeed DDR4 since your new motherboard will require it. If you're set on that MSI board and the AMD CPU, it should definitely work if the rest of your components are compatible with it. As for the tricky part, replacing the motherboard can be a bit daunting if you've never done it before, but if you just take your time and follow the right steps, you should be fine! The cables from your PSU should generally work with the new setup, so you should be alright there.
Yeah, I checked and my RAM is compatible with DDR4, so that’s a relief. I also think all the PSU cables will fit well with the new board, but I'm going to confirm just to be sure before I start swapping things out.