Asus x570-E White VGA light + post code 36

Bcspd · 2 Jan 2021 at 11:13

Hi,

Just set up a new upgrade and need help deciding the culprit. These are the relevant parts.

1. Asus x570-E MB
2. AMD 5900X
3. Corsair 2x16GB DDR4 4000Mhz 19-23-23-45
4. Corsair AX1200i PSU (PSU is from my old rig and confirmed working - typing with it now)

All fans and lights spin up and it looks and sounds just fine but I'm getting a black screen on boot. The white VGA light on the MB is on and the debug leds hang at code 36. If I long hold the power button to power off and power up again the code leds will flash 00 repeatedly. So I've been using the power switch on the PSU instead.

White VGA led + black screen would seem to suggest the graphics card was not found. 5900x doesn't have an integrated GPU so I'm wondering if that's simply why that light is on? I've tried:

1. Using 4/5 different graphics cards - 2080TI (which I'm typing with now), a Titan X, 670 and some older cards I don't remember the name of.
2. Three different port interfaces, HDMI, DVI and display port.
4. Three different screens.

Post code 36 is according to the manual 'Post memory initialization'.
16GB sticks are not a part of the QVL - https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/...for_AMD_Ryzen_5000_Series_Processors_X570.pdf
but 8GB sticks are and I have 4x8GB sticks with the same CAS timings in my old rig (which are on the QVL) so tried using those as well but the result is the same.

Things I have also tried:
1. Unplugged everything except 24pin + 8pin power, CPU, 1 stick of memory.
2. Moved the graphics card to the other PCIe slot.
3. Reseated everything several times.
4. Cleared CMOS via jumper pins.
5. Flashed the bios with the latest version (3001) using flashback. I have to assume it worked as there's no screen. But the USB light does flash for several minutes indicating files being read.
6. Pulled the battery.

I'm afraid I'm at the end of things I can do. Need advice before I return the board. I'm assuming it's an issue with the MB. I've read a few threads with people having the same problem.

PS. Something a little unusual but I'll note here that the neither the motherboard box or the anti static bag arrived sealed. There was no seal on either which I found odd. It was all packaged well otherwise however. But I do wonder was this board returned before.

mickyflinn · 2 Jan 2021 at 11:40

The only other thing is to check the cpu for any bent pins or flash to previous bios version.

Bcspd · 2 Jan 2021 at 13:38

mickyflinn said:
The only other thing is to check the cpu for any bent pins or flash to previous bios version.

Yep, forgot to mention I checked the CPU pins. Every time I reseated it. Looks fine to me.
Also tried flashing back a version. No luck.

Elevon · 2 Jan 2021 at 13:48

Did you install the two sticks of ram in the correct slots?

Bcspd · 2 Jan 2021 at 13:51

Elevon said:
Did you put the two sticks of ram in the correct slots?

Yep. A2 & B2 (2nd slot from the CPU and the last slot furthest from the CPU.)

mickyflinn · 2 Jan 2021 at 13:52

Bcspd said:
Yep, forgot to mention I checked the CPU pins. Every time I reseated it. Looks fine to me.
Also tried flashing back a version. No luck.

Does look like the motherboard are you going for a straight swap or get something diffrent ?

Slite posibilty both ram sticks are faulty but that would be seriously unlucky

Bcspd · 2 Jan 2021 at 14:00

mickyflinn said:
Slite posibilty both ram sticks are faulty but that would be seriously unlucky

I've used known good sticks from my old rig. So I'm fairly confident it's not the memory.

mickyflinn said:
Does look like the motherboard are you going for a straight swap or get something diffrent ?

That's a thing as well. I've generally gotten on well with Asus stuff in the past. But after returning my 2080ti Strix recently and now this I'm wondering if there's a better alternative. Any suggestions for a good high end board? Wifi is not necessary but the x570 looked like the better board at the time.

mickyflinn · 2 Jan 2021 at 14:10

Bcspd said:
I've used known good sticks from my old rig. So I'm fairly confident it's not the memory.

That's a thing as well. I've generally gotten on well with Asus stuff in the past. But after returning my 2080ti Strix recently and now this I'm wondering if there's a better alternative. Any suggestions for a good high end board? Wifi is not necessary but the x570 looked like the better board at the time.

Msi x570 tomahawk Wi-Fi is a good value and the msi gaming pro carbon is on offer but check out the featres you need.

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-...4-x570-chipset-atx-motherboard-mb-34f-ms.html

Bcspd · 18 Jan 2021 at 08:39

So I sent the motherboard and CPU back to Overclockers and their technician found no fault. The only difference is the tech used some other memory 4x8GB. Unfortunately the tech did not specify the frequency or timings of the memory they used to test.

So it seems it IS to do with the memory. Now like I've said before I tried both the new memory I got:
2x16GB 4000Mhz 19-23-23-45.

And the old memory from my old pc
4x8GB 4000Mhz 19-23-23-45.

And like I also said before, the 2x16GB kit is not a part of the QVL but the 4x8GB kit IS. And both did not work.

Here is the QVL entry from the PDF: CORSAIR CMW32GX4M4K4000C19(Ver4.31) 4x 8GB SS Samsung 19-23-23-45 1.35 Ryzen™ 5000 Series CPU 4000 4000

What I didn't think to try at the time was to test the 2x16GB kit in my old PC. So I did that today and initially the PC did not boot. Powered it off and back on again and this time it the BIOS came up ok but the ram freq had been dropped to 2666 to allow the machine to boot and at least I can configure the frequency, timings & voltage etc. So the question is what is going on with the Asus ROG Strix X570-E? Is it possible it is not falling back to a lower failsafe frequency to allow the PC to boot? Or that whatever values it's falling back to are not good?