Motherboard is stuck on yellow/orange “HRAM” light. Keyboard and mouse don’t turn on, PC won’t POST

Berke_Tan1 · June 2021

Specs:

Mobo- Strix Z390e-gaming

Cpu- I7-8700k

Gpu- GTX 1080ti

Ram- 2 x 8GB DDR4 3200 DRAM

I built my pc with mostly parts from microcenter about two years ago. I haven’t had any problems with it until last night. When I started my pc, my sign in screen had some lines at the bottom half of the screen, but when i logged in, it went away so I didn’t think much of it. About an hour later, my computer suddenly froze so I did a hard restart. After that, everything in the case lit up and turned on, but it showed “no display” on my monitor and wouldn’t connect

Cable and Monitor

Used different dp cable, nothing

Tried dp cable on friends computer, worked fine

Tried monitor on friends computer, worked fine

GPU

-Took out the gpu and tried to run through integrated, still nothing

-Put my friends gpu in, that didn’t work either

When i was pulling out the gpu, i noticed the yellow/orange light stuck on “DRAM” on the Mobo. So at that point, I’m thinking it’s either the Mobo or ram, possibly even the cpu?

RAM

-switched the ram around in different slots, tried booting off one, nothing. Bought new ram and that didn’t fix it either

MOTHERBOARD

-unplugged everything and did a cmos(pulled out battery and jumped), still nothing

CPU

I tried unplugging the cpu and applying new thermal paste, but nothing

So at this point, it has to be a faulty motherboard or the CPU right? I just want to make sure I’m going about this correctly before I completely disassemble my pc

TSTDavey · June 2021

Hello @Berke_Tan1 and thanks for posting on the Microcenter Community Forum. You have a 8700K cpu which normally only supports 2666mhz RAM sticks. You have 3200 Mhz RAM sticks. Its not posting because the bios can't recognize your RAM speed.

There should be MEMOK switch next to the LED lights and its labeled MEMOK. Press that switch and hold it down for 3 seconds then release finger. Turn system off and back on see if the bios will then recognize your RAM speed.

If not, then you have to put 1 RAM stick into the first RAM slot closes to the CPU to get it to post to fix the issue.

One RAM stick is what you'll use in the first RAM slot near CPU.

You should then be able to post. At This point you can install windows and then update your motherboard's bios to see if it will work with your RAM sticks.

Or you can use another working computer ,if you have one; and download the motherboards bios file to a USB and then update the bios on your Z390 MOBO.

If updating the bios does not fix this you may have to go with DDR4-2666 RAM sticks due the 8700K.

See the link below on the Memory Specifications the 8700K supports.

I8-8700K Specs:

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/126684/intel-core-i7-8700k-processor-12m-cache-up-to-4-70-ghz.html

Berke_Tan1 · June 2021

Thank you for the reply
Ive been using that ram and cpu for 2 years and haven’t had any problems
What would’ve changed that caused it to stop working? @TSTDavey

TSTDavey · June 2021

@Berke_Tan1 If its been working for the past 2 years than you may potentially have a hardware issue (ex., wear & tear).

Will the computer post with just 1 RAM stick in the first RAM slot near the CPU?

You could have a bad board, bad RAM, etc. I'd recommend to bring it to the store for a full diagnostic.

Its $40 and they can find out what the problem is.

If its a bad board or RAM, if there is a warranty they can replace it. If no warranty, then at least you know what the problem is and you could do the repair/replacement yourself.

Berke_Tan1 · June 2021

@TSTDavey I tried every possible combination with the existing ram and the new ram that I bought as well, but it didn’t work

At this point, I’m assuming it’s the motherboard. I just bought a new motherboard from you guys and I’m going to test it in a couple hours when I get home

If that doesn’t work, it has to be the CPU right? Or possibly even both the CPU and Motherboard