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Solved Do I have a bad motherboard?

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FBC91

PCHF Member
Oct 26, 2022
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#1
B550 MAG Tomahawk
G Skills DDR4 3600 8gb x2

I don't know what the hell is going on. First time I turned it on, I get the red RAM LED light. So I tried swapping the sticks. It booted up, but only recognized one stick of RAM. Then I swapped sticks back to the original configuration, and now I'm getting the red CPU LED light. Also, one of my fans didn't work. So I plugged it into another SYS FAN port. Still didn't work. Then I tried a second SYS FAN port. STILL didn't work. It finally started working on the third SYS FAN port I tried.

Also, I flashed the BIOS to the latest update to see if it would recognize my RAM. Didn't work either.
 
#5
Evan Omo said:
Hi,

Yeah this is pointing to a bad motherboard but I would swap the video card just as a test to see if that makes any difference.

Also reset the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery and see if that helps.
Click to expand...

I got it to recognize one stick of RAM, so I began to install Windows 11 from USB, but didn't realize I needed an ethernet cord to finish the installation. So now when I boot it up, it takes me to Windows setup instead of the BIOS config. If I clear the CMOS will it remove Windows and take me back to the BIOS config? (I want to do this to see if it is recognizing both sticks of RAM now, I don't think I had it properly seated).

Also, the fan I plugged into the third SYS FAN port is no longer working. I don't think I have any more ports to try. Should I just return my MB? I have until Nov. 12th to return it.
 
#6
You have multiple issue pointing towards the board as Evan stated, I would exchange it for a new one/replacement since you're still within the window to do so.
 
#8
FBC91 said:
AMD R7 5800X
Click to expand...

FBC91 said:
G Skills DDR4 3600 8gb x2
Click to expand...

That is the wrong RAM for your CPU, AMD state here up to 3200MHz and if you have XMP or DOCP enabled the RAM will get auto OCd past what the CPU can handle and the PC fall over.

Go into the BIOS, disable XMP and then manually set the RAM to run at 3200MHz and the voltage to 1.35V.

You should also make sure that the Windows Power Plan is set to Balanced and not High Performance or Ryzen Balanced.

FBC91 said:
I got it to recognize one stick of RAM,
Click to expand...

Reason for that is the RAM is only working in single channel which is well below the maximum speed that the CPU can handle.
 
#9
phillpower2 said:
That is the wrong RAM for your CPU, AMD state here up to 3200MHz and if you have XMP or DOCP enabled the RAM will get auto OCd past what the CPU can handle and the PC fall over.

Go into the BIOS, disable XMP and then manually set the RAM to run at 3200MHz and the voltage to 1.35V.

You should also make sure that the Windows Power Plan is set to Balanced and not High Performance or Ryzen Balanced.



Reason for that is the RAM is only working in single channel which is well below the maximum speed that the CPU can handle.
Click to expand...
Ah ok, I should have done more research instead of just relying on PC parts picker. Lesson learned.

How can I access the BIOS now that my PC boots up to the Windows Installation setup instead of the BIOS config screen? I started the Windows installation without an ethernet cord, thinking I wouldn't need one. Should I wait until my Ethernet cord arrives to finish installing Windows and then access the BIOS, or is there a way for me disable the windows installation setup and get back to the BIOS config?

Also, do you have any insight into the fan problem I'm dealing with? Is that a problem with the motherboard? I've tried three SYS FAN ports so far.
 
#10
Your MB manual should tell you how to get into the BIOS and fwiw Windows it has nothing to do with it, the BIOS is pre boot.

Just make sure that if you are using a USB type keyboard that it is connected to a black USB2.9port and not the faster red or blue USB 3.0/3.1 port.

The sys fan you can come back to you and if you have a Windows ISO there is no need to wait for an ethernet cable to complete the Windows installation, you must though have your MBs chipset, storage and the GPUs video drivers on a separate thumbdrive though.
 
#13
phillpower2 said:
Sort the RAM issue.

Get Windows installed.

Take a look at the sys fan problem
Click to expand...
I fixed the RAM problem and the fan problem as well.

The BIOS had the ram speed set to a default speed of 2100 mHz. I enabled XMP and it bumped it up to 3600. Should I manually set it to the CPU speed of 3200?

Today, I played some Counter-Strike for 10 minutes, and the screen blacked out for a second or two, but then came back on.
 
#14
FBC91 said:
I fixed the RAM problem and the fan problem as well.
Click to expand...

Reading all your update suggests that the Windows issue is now resolved as well.

Regarding the RAM speed, as per my reply #8, the screen going black could have been caused by the RAM speed being too fast, you don`t want to overcook your CPU in any event.

phillpower2 said:
Go into the BIOS, disable XMP and then manually set the RAM to run at 3200MHz and the voltage to 1.35V.

You should also make sure that the Windows Power Plan is set to Balanced and not High Performance or Ryzen Balanced.
Click to expand...
 
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#15
phillpower2 said:
Reading all your update suggests that the Windows issue is now resolved as well.

Regarding the RAM speed, as per my reply #8, the screen going black could have been caused by the RAM speed being too fast, you don`t want to overcook your CPU in any event.
Click to expand...

I changed RAM back to 3200 and couldn't find where to change the voltage, but saw that it was set to 1.36V, which is good enough for me. Also I verified my Windows Power Plan was set to Balanced.

Thank you for your help phillpower2 and everyone else who contributed.

This thread is concluded.
 
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