BIOS issues

[DangerNoodle_msd]

Hi there! I just built a new pc with a gigabyte b650 Eagle motherboard and a ryzen 9 9950x cpu(the mb needs a bios update for them to work). When I first bought the system I got incompatible ram, but before I realized that it was incompatible I reflashed the bios a few times with q flash in hopes of getting it to work. Fast forward to today: I got a new compatible set of ram. The issue is that now the cpu light comes on and I can't q flash the mb. When I press the q flash button the pc stays completely silent.

 

The thing is that when I press the power button everything comes to life: lights and fans and the mb shows the cpu light, showing that it's not completely dead.

 

The thing with the q flash is that it should start blinking some lights and with an old USB that has a light for when it's in use I realized that it's not even reading off of it. 

 

I am kinda afraid of having bored my BIOS. Did anyone encounter this issue? 

[DangerNoodle_msd]

If you're curious, I've already tried resetting the cmos: with a screwdriver for the jumper and by taking the cmos battery out. 

[highduke]

Does your mobo support reflashing without RAM installed? Also you may have to wait it out for RAM training or something like that. Heard on AM5 RAM needs some kind of ... training whatever, does it automatically but takes a long time. Leave it on 5-10 minutes see what happens, since stuff is being turned on, fans and all. Might be related to this RAM training thing

[DangerNoodle_msd]

9 hours ago, highduke said:

Does your mobo support reflashing without RAM installed? Also you may have to wait it out for RAM training or something like that. Heard on AM5 RAM needs some kind of ... training whatever, does it automatically but takes a long time. Leave it on 5-10 minutes see what happens, since stuff is being turned on, fans and all. Might be related to this RAM training thing

Sure, I'll let it running and come back with the result, but that doesn't really explain why q flash doesn't work. Btw, I've got 96 GB of Kingston fury renegade 6000 mt/s, if it helps. 

Edited March 29, 2025 by DangerNoodle_msd
Q flag -> q flash

[highduke]

Could be it doesn't work while the RAM training thing is happening. Although doesn't seem to be taking that long:

 

Try reflashing without memory installed. Did you have a memory profile selected before changing memory? Installing new memory without defaulting to stock speeds/settings for RAM can make the PC hang when turned on. But a BIOS clear should fix that.

Look at your mobo datasheet info regarding reflashing, some of them don't need CPU/GPU/RAM, you plug USB stick press whatever button on mobo and it happens automatically, but do read up on it for your specific board.

[DangerNoodle_msd]

18 minutes ago, highduke said:

Could be it doesn't work while the RAM training thing is happening. Although doesn't seem to be taking that long:

 

Try reflashing without memory installed. Did you have a memory profile selected before changing memory? Installing new memory without defaulting to stock speeds/settings for RAM can make the PC hang when turned on. But a BIOS clear should fix that.

Look at your mobo datasheet info regarding reflashing, some of them don't need CPU/GPU/RAM, you plug USB stick press whatever button on mobo and it happens automatically, but do read up on it for your specific board.

This is a new pc, it's never run before. First time I get the wrong memory(dram light), so it didn't work and after returning and getting a compatible memory the cpu light is on. The issue is that I can't q flash and can't get into the bios since it doesn't give any video out (through the gpu or motherboard). Thought it was the bios version, since I know this cpu isn't supported on the mb with the bios it comes, but I've already updated that when I first had the ram issue a while back. Now I can't get a new bios because the q flash button does nothing. Tried it with nothing but the cpu and power attached already. 

 

And now it's been an hour and it still hasn't started, the cpu light is still on. 

[highduke]

Plugged the CPU power connector? There's a smaller one apart from the wide ATX connector on the motherboard.

Made sure CPU is correctly installed in the socket? Take it off, inspect socket for no damage to pins.

[DangerNoodle_msd]

33 minutes ago, highduke said:

Plugged the CPU power connector? There's a smaller one apart from the wide ATX connector on the motherboard.

Made sure CPU is correctly installed in the socket? Take it off, inspect socket for no damage to pins

So I pulled out the CPU and it doesn't seem to have any problems and the CPU connector I've checked it right now and it looks fine. I've attached photos of the CPU connector and ATX power connector. The red light when I try to boot is still there. 

[Kon-Tiki]

If the above suggestions fail:

 

According to this post (link below) you could be lucky in the sense that your previous attempts probably (?) did not brick the system for good.

Below are the steps I personally would go through in that order if I was in the situation (at your own risk, of course). Some steps might seem trivial but speaking from experience sometimes the solution is somewhere else than you might expect:

1. Double check that you inserted the stick into the correct USB port (manual page 17). Using the wrong port by accident can happen quickly.
2. Verify that the stick is still working? It's unlikely but if it died between flashes this could explain why it doesn't work.
3. Make sure partition table and format are correct (MBR for the partition table, FAT32 for the format). If in doubt, re-initialise the stick with these settings and copy the Q-Flash file onto the stick again.
4. Check that the monitor auto-input selection is turned on or the correct input is force-set in the monitor OSD.
5. Re-seat CPU and try again (see if it POSTs and you get video output).
6. Remove RAM and try again.
7. Remove RAM and CPU and try again.

And finally: Good luck!

 

Edit: Added CPU re-seating to list.

[Kon-Tiki]

Addendum: Did you follow @highduke's advice to re-seat the CPU already? Since only the CPU light is on this might be the problem. If you haven't re-seated it I would do so and try again before performing the last two steps in the above list (I will edit it accordingly).

[highduke]

9 hours ago, DangerNoodle_msd said:

So I pulled out the CPU and it doesn't seem to have any problems and the CPU connector I've checked it right now and it looks fine. I've attached photos of the CPU connector and ATX power connector. The red light when I try to boot is still there. 

Also try using the other RAM slots, seems you are on 1st and 3rd counting from CPU to right side of motherboard, use 2nd/4th.

Push in CPU connector, seems like a sliver of space left, made sure it's fully in?

Worst case it's the CPU but doubt you had a bad CPU/RAM combo, that has to be pretty rare.