I'm facing a serious issue after upgrading my home network to 10 GbE. I have a gaming PC with an NZXT N7 Z790 motherboard and an Intel i9-14900K CPU, along with 32GB of G.Skill RAM and a Zotac RTX 5080 GPU. I decided to install a Zyxel XGN100C V2 network card in a PCIe x16 slot to support the new network speed. However, after I installed the card, my PC refused to power on; it's completely dead. I hear a strange ticking or clicking sound, possibly from the PSU or motherboard, but nothing lights up or spins. Removing the network card allows the PC to boot normally. I've tried updating the BIOS, disabling various power management settings, manually configuring the PCIe slot, and even testing other PCIe slots, but nothing works. I've also covered pins 4 and 5 on the card and tested with a second GPU that works fine. I even returned the card for a replacement, but the problem persists. Anyone have any ideas on what might be causing this?
2 Answers
One thing to consider is the wattage of your power supply unit (PSU). For a 10GbE upgrade, you usually want to have at least an 850W PSU, especially if you're overclocking. Since you mentioned you have a Seasonic Prime Platinum at 1300W, you should be good on that front, but it never hurts to double-check that all your connections are secure.
Sounds like your PC is not getting any power at all. Just to clarify, does your motherboard show any signs of life—like lights or fans spinning—or is it completely dead? You might want to double-check the power connections to the motherboard and ensure everything is secured. Sometimes a loose connection can cause this issue.
It remains completely dead - no lights or spinning fans.
I have a Seasonic Prime Platinum 1300W.