My PC suddenly shut off yesterday and would not power back on properly. I checked the power source and cables, then took the system apart to troubleshoot the RAM, PSU, motherboard, and other components. Everything appeared normal until I tested the GPU.
Whenever the RX 580 is installed in any of the three PCIe slots, the system fails to boot—even if the card is not connected to the PSU. The only signs of life are the motherboard's RGB lighting; the fans, cooler, and display never start. The PC works normally using the integrated graphics with the GPU removed.
The system includes a Ryzen 5 9600X, Aorus X870 Elite motherboard, 32GB DDR5-6000 memory, a Cooler Master 240mm AIO, MSI A750GL PSU, Crucial SSD, and an RX 580 8GB. The RX 580 is an older Chinese OEM model, but it is still covered by warranty. I'm trying to confirm whether the graphics card itself is dead or whether it could have damaged or shorted something in the PCIe power path.
1 Answer
Since the system works normally with the GPU removed and refuses to start with the card installed in any PCIe slot, the RX 580 is the most likely culprit. A short or failed component on the card could prevent the motherboard from completing power-on, even without the card’s auxiliary PSU cable connected. The best next step is testing the card in another known-good system, or testing a known-good GPU in yours. Avoid repeatedly powering it on if it appears to be shorting the slot. If it fails in another system too, use the warranty rather than buying parts at random.
I’m having the GPU tested in a neighbor’s system to confirm. I’m fairly confident the CPU, motherboard, and PSU are fine because the computer runs normally on integrated graphics. The card is an older Chinese OEM model, but it still has warranty coverage, so I’ll replace it if the second test confirms the failure.