Safe surface to 'breadboard' a setup

[PapaLazaru]

If there is a backplate on the CPU cooler make sure its not impacting on or shorting any components on the bottom of the board.

Thank you! Finally got round to looking at it properly, removed the new cooler, put on the stock Intel cooler and it boots up fine! Cooler must have been shorting something.

Is using insulation tape on the bottom of the backplate to prevent shorting ok to do?

 

[Rroff]

Maybe - but a chance if there is a sharp metal edge like a pin it will push through. See if you can work out if it was - sometimes it is just the backplate was on too tight causing a loose connection in the socket.