CPU and motherboard problem

[Deiv17]

I have an issue while building a PC for my girlfriend. I assembled everything, but it won't turn on. First, the CPU is a Ryzen 5 1600X, and the motherboard is a Gigabyte AORUS B450 Pro, which should be compatible. However, the CPU appears to be broken—it doesn't fit properly in the socket. I tried reseating it multiple times without success. Then, I tested my own CPU, a Ryzen 7 5700X3D, to check if the motherboard is working, but I got a red CPU error light. I think this is because the motherboard's BIOS is not updated to support the newer CPU. What should I do now?

[Dedayog]

34 minutes ago, Deiv17 said:

I have an issue while building a PC for my girlfriend. I assembled everything, but it won't turn on. First, the CPU is a Ryzen 5 1600X, and the motherboard is a Gigabyte AORUS B450 Pro, which should be compatible. However, the CPU appears to be broken—it doesn't fit properly in the socket. I tried reseating it multiple times without success. Then, I tested my own CPU, a Ryzen 7 5700X3D, to check if the motherboard is working, but I got a red CPU error light. I think this is because the motherboard's BIOS is not updated to support the newer CPU. What should I do now?

 

 

How doesn't it fit in the socket?  The pins align in only one way, have you identified this? Some board have the CPU up and down (my B650), some sideways (my B550).  Don't go by orientation.

 

Are there any bent pins?

 

I assume the 1600X is used, did you inspect when you bought, or can you reach out to the seller?  Is the board used?

[Deiv17]

I’ve already contacted the seller of the CPU and the motherboard, and I’m waiting for their responses, particularly to find out if the motherboard seller knows which BIOS version is installed. The CPU has bent pins and cost only $15, so it doesn’t make sense to send it back. Right now, it’s important for me to figure out what to do with the motherboard. Do you think a Ryzen 5 4500 would work? I can buy it new, or perhaps a Ryzen 5 5500.

[Dedayog]

49 minutes ago, Deiv17 said:

I’ve already contacted the seller of the CPU and the motherboard, and I’m waiting for their responses, particularly to find out if the motherboard seller knows which BIOS version is installed. The CPU has bent pins and cost only $15, so it doesn’t make sense to send it back. Right now, it’s important for me to figure out what to do with the motherboard. Do you think a Ryzen 5 4500 would work? I can buy it new, or perhaps a Ryzen 5 5500.

Well shit, bent pins are outside of the normal purview of building, of course that shit won't work.

 

We can assume the motherboard is fine for now, just the BIOS may be an issue.  The Ryzen 3600 is a decent enough CPU to get.  Best bang for buck is the 5600, but may run into BIOS issues.

 

Can you straighten the pins enough to get into the BIOS to check?

[leclod]

Both the 4500 and the 5500 need at least Bios F62 which is from 2022.

There are safer choices. Often Bios version is written on the mobo box.

https://www.gigabyte.com/fr/Motherboard/B450-AORUS-PRO-rev-10/support#support-cpu

Edited July 11, 2025 by leclod

[Deiv17]

Okay, I somehow got the Ryzen 5 1600X working on my PC, but when I installed it in her PC, I get red CPU and DRAM lights switching back and forth. I tried two different RAM modules in different slots, but the issue persists.

[Dedayog]

8 minutes ago, Deiv17 said:

Okay, I somehow got the Ryzen 5 1600X working on my PC, but when I installed it in her PC, I get red CPU and DRAM lights switching back and forth. I tried two different RAM modules in different slots, but the issue persists.

Now try the RAM in your PC.

 

Motherboard may be the issue then. 

 

It's hard to diagnose things with the lack of info you're providing.  How did you "somehow" get the 1600X to work?  Pins no longer bent?  How did it fit your socket and not hers?   What motherboard do you have?

 

What RAM did you get her?

 

[Deiv17]

repaired my Ryzen 5 1600X CPU by carefully unbending its pins and tested it in my PC, where it successfully booted into Windows/BIOS. Then, I installed it in my Gf PC, which has an Aorus B450 Pro motherboard and 16GB Viper dual-channel RAM. After booting her PC with the Ryzen 5 1600X, I encountered a red CPU light and a DRAM light, which alternated between the CPU and DRAM indicators. I tried swapping the RAM sticks with my own HyperX Fury 32GB dual-channel kit, using one stick at a time and testing different slots, but the issue persisted. Additionally, even when the power supply is off, the Rgb on the motherboard flickers every 5-10 minutes.

[Pusbucket]

2 hours ago, leclod said:

Both the 4500 and the 5500 need at least Bios F62 which is from 2022.

There are safer choices. Often Bios version is written on the mobo box.

https://www.gigabyte.com/fr/Motherboard/B450-AORUS-PRO-rev-10/support#support-cpu

I've never seen the BIOS version on the box as BIOS's change frequently.

That is the Revision number of the motherboard which has to do with the actual hardware used and that doesn't change.

If it's Rev 1.0, it will always be Rev. 1.0 regardless of any BIOS updates.

Knowing the Revision number is important when downloading BIOS because different revisions of course have differences in the hardware used to build the board.

[Pusbucket]

24 minutes ago, Deiv17 said:

repaired my Ryzen 5 1600X CPU by carefully unbending its pins and tested it in my PC, where it successfully booted into Windows/BIOS. Then, I installed it in my Gf PC, which has an Aorus B450 Pro motherboard and 16GB Viper dual-channel RAM. After booting her PC with the Ryzen 5 1600X, I encountered a red CPU light and a DRAM light, which alternated between the CPU and DRAM indicators. I tried swapping the RAM sticks with my own HyperX Fury 32GB dual-channel kit, using one stick at a time and testing different slots, but the issue persisted. Additionally, even when the power supply is off, the Rgb on the motherboard flickers every 5-10 minutes.

here's the manual;

https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_b450-aorus-pro-wifi_1002_e_190528.pdf?v=be803b566458d720ce771b7871427434

 

and you should update the BIOS if possible. The most recent update is March 11 2025/

just be sure to download the correct one for your board, WiFi or no WiFi, revision number is usually stamped on one of the motherboard corners.

https://www.gigabyte.com/Support/Consumer/Download

[leclod]

37 minutes ago, jmwhite33 said:

I've never seen the BIOS version on the box as BIOS's change frequently.

Ok, I've had more mouth than proof here.

It's a reminiscence of the past that this has been true.

So I did some digging, for example on Asus boards, you can find the original bios version with those 4 digits.

(not so difficult to change a sticker as frequently as a bios, there are stickers on the box too)

But it seems Gigabyte don't do that, I couldn't find information in that direction. 

 

Edited July 11, 2025 by leclod

[leclod]

18 minutes ago, jmwhite33 said:

and you should update the BIOS if possible. 

How does he update the bios without a working cpu or a bios flashback button ?

Edited July 11, 2025 by leclod

[Pusbucket]

8 minutes ago, leclod said:

How does he update the bios without a working cpu or a bios flashback button ?

I did say "If Possible" 

 

Some manufactures may put the BIOS version on the box or board, but regardless of the manufacturer, you can always find the revision number on the box label and silk-screened on the board, usually in a corner.

and revision has to do with hardware components used.

 

 

[Deiv17]

3 hours ago, Deiv17 said:

repaired my Ryzen 5 1600X CPU by carefully unbending its pins and tested it in my PC, where it successfully booted into Windows/BIOS. Then, I installed it in my Gf PC, which has an Aorus B450 Pro motherboard and 16GB Viper dual-channel RAM. After booting her PC with the Ryzen 5 1600X, I encountered a red CPU light and a DRAM light, which alternated between the CPU and DRAM indicators. I tried swapping the RAM sticks with my own HyperX Fury 32GB dual-channel kit, using one stick at a time and testing different slots, but the issue persisted. Additionally, even when the power supply is off, the Rgb on the motherboard flickers every 5-10 minutes.

I learned something new: the seller informed me that the last CPU tested with the motherboard was a Ryzen 3 generation 

Additionally, I noticed that when I turn on the PC and hold the power button, the red light switches to indicate a DRAM issue and remains on that indicator. The GPU fans also stop spinning while the power button is held. When I release the power button, the red light resumes switching between CPU and DRAM indicators, and the GPU fans start spinning again.