Motherboard won't post - please help!

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 18:49

Hi,

After completing my build I went straight into my Bios and changed the XMP profile to the 3000Mhz profile (appropriate for my RAM). I then selected the same setting in the 'memory try it section, saved the changes and restarted. Since then my motherboard will not post. I've tried clearing the CMOS by taking the battery out and also by shorting the CMOS switch, however no matter what I try I can't get the system to post at all.

I'm not getting any troubleshooting lights on the motherboard., just no output onto my screen. I've taken my GPU out and reinstalled it so there's no problem with the card. Like I say I got into Bios before.

Is there anything else I can try? Have I fried my motherboard/RAM somehow?

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 19:44

It's a B450 Gaming Pro Carbon.

I've tried each stick one at a time in the correct slot. The system powers up, but nothing will post. I've been through all of the troubleshooting steps I can think of. If I'm mistaken and I selected the wrong setting on the Memory Try It setting could that have killed my RAM, or worse, my mobo?

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 20:01

Jamin280672 said:
Remove your CPU, clear the cmos.....is there a button on the back you can press to clear it ? make sure your PSU is disconnected, when clearing with the jumper on the board, try various metal objects on it, ive used kitchen knives, screw drivers non of which worked and then a car key which did work in the past, put your CPU back in and try again.

I've tried clearing the CMOS by several different methods. Would removing the CPU really help?

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 20:36

Jamin280672 said:
Worth a try, I had a very similar probalem with an R7 1700 and a B350 motherboard, no matter what I did I couldnt get the damn thing to post again after adjusting something in the bios......I pretty much stripped down the whole computer, I was pulling my hair out, eventually I pulled the CPU, cleared the cmos, powered on without the CPU in, shut down again, put it all back together again and never had a problem with it again, strange I know, still to this day I dont know what happened.

Tried that and it's still not posting...

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 21:34

Mr.Q said:
I'm assuming you've tried changing ram slots?
Did you try powering it on outside your case?

You assume correctly. I've tried both of those ideas. Looking at the MSI forums, a lot of other people seem to be having a similar sounding problem:
https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=321288.0[URL]https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=321288.0[/URL]

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 21:42

Mr.Q said:
You can breath a sigh of relief then, you know what the likely issue is and are just awaiting a bios update.
Sucks you can't get gaming straight away, but hopefully MSI wont take too long.

That's true. I'm hoping that's all it is. I've been kicking myself for messing around with memory settings before I'd actually got it properly up and running and fearing the worst. A few other threads suggested that I might have bricked the mobo, ram or both.

I just worry that a proper BIOS may not be forthcoming. I wonder where I'd stand in that case in terms of returning my B450 and shelling out for a x570.

Phil Smith · 10 Jul 2019 at 21:53

Mr.Q said:
By the sounds of the threads you linked, it probably would have happened regardless.
I'm sure if its a well documented problem you wont have a problem with a refund or exchange.
What voltage did you set the ram to?

It was one of the predefined settings in the 'Memory Try It' menu, which said it changed the timings and the frequency. Shouldn't have made any changes to the voltage AFAIK. I know they have pretty low tolerance on Voltage but surely a pre-defined setting with the name 'try it' shouldn't whack a massive potential difference across your chip that could render it useless?

Phil Smith · 11 Jul 2019 at 04:56

Mr.Q said:
Thought I would ask, what bios are you on?

It's the latest beta Bios that is supposed to support Zen2

Phil Smith · 11 Jul 2019 at 09:50

LeMson said:
Take the cmos battery out, wait an hour, pop it back in?

Hmm I've tried resetting it a number of times, leaving out out for a few minutes. You think an hour is likely to make a difference?

Phil Smith · 11 Jul 2019 at 21:09

Sorry to not have clarified this earlier - the beta 17M bios is the version that I have been using so that is not the cause of the issue. I have RMA'd my motherboard to see if that gets me anywhere. They may at least be able to confirm if it is operational with any older generation CPUs. Thanks all for your input.

Phil Smith · 21 Jul 2019 at 01:24

Pleased to report that the RMA was fairly painless and the supplier sent back a brand new board with v17 (non-beta) pre-flashed and the build has been stable from the first boot. Bloody weird - I'm still none the wiser as to why it wasn't working before, it just seems like a lottery with the motherboard. Hope other's are as lucky as I have been.

Phil Smith · 21 Jul 2019 at 13:22

esoteric said:
Good result, how long was you without a board for?

I was without it for 3 days I think. As it happened I was actually on holiday last week so this all happened while I was away. Part of the reason I was happy to do it as I didn't really have anything to lose.

I'm afraid I don't know the version number of my board or how to find out without physically locating it on the board. CPU-Z says it's Rev. 51 if that means anything. As far as I know the only difference between the two boards is that one of them was flashed by the supplier and the other by myself. Perhaps they did it using m-flash using an older generation CPU and it was this that was more successful than using Flashback+.

Phil Smith · 21 Jul 2019 at 15:33

an0nym0us said:
The version number is printed on the motherboard between the two x16 PCIe slots (just above the 2nd PCIe x16 slot:

Version 1.1