ASRock B560 Steel Legend Motherboard stops at VGA error light any advice?

[Desktopstu]

Hi all you helpful people.

I have recently started building a new pc but have hit a snag. The ASRock B560 motherboard (new old stock, ebay) VGA post light comes on during POST and it goes no further. It passes the CPU and RAM test lights no problem.

Intel i5 10400F cpu so I cannot try onboard graphics
2 x 8GB DDR4 3200
Some no-name 512Gb M.2 hard drive in the first slot
Game Max 700w Rampage PSU - which Ive used in previous builds and has always been ok

Ive tried a GTX 1060 that is used in another build (this very build im using to type this) so I know thats ok, Ive also tried a spare GTX 970 and GTX 770.

Ive tried graphics cards in the second PCiE slot same result.

In each case the graphics cards are getting power - fans spin and where applicable RGB lights up.

I see no damage to either PCiE slot and the motherboard appears unused in so far as it came sealed with back plate still in its sealed wrapper.

Tomorrow I will fit a different PSU but i genuinely dont believe its that. Any suggestions? Board has cost me £100 and I cannot afford to replace it unfortunately.

 

[Quigly]

Hi all you helpful people.

I have recently started building a new pc but have hit a snag. The ASRock B560 motherboard (new old stock, ebay) VGA post light comes on during POST and it goes no further. It passes the CPU and RAM test lights no problem.

Intel i5 10400F cpu so I cannot try onboard graphics
2 x 8GB DDR4 3200
Some no-name 512Gb M.2 hard drive in the first slot
Game Max 700w Rampage PSU - which Ive used in previous builds and has always been ok

Ive tried a GTX 1060 that is used in another build (this very build im using to type this) so I know thats ok, Ive also tried a spare GTX 970 and GTX 770.

Ive tried graphics cards in the second PCiE slot same result.

In each case the graphics cards are getting power - fans spin and where applicable RGB lights up.

I see no damage to either PCiE slot and the motherboard appears unused in so far as it came sealed with back plate still in its sealed wrapper.

Tomorrow I will fit a different PSU but i genuinely dont believe its that. Any suggestions? Board has cost me £100 and I cannot afford to replace it unfortunately.

I *think* those boards should be able to boot without a graphics card (i've done headless on other asrock boards of older generation) though I can't say with certainty as I don't own that particular board and haven't worked with it. Consier checking the manual for this, but either way worth trying to boot without any gpu at all. to see if it behaves differently further without a video card at all.

Also, might recommend removing everything but a single stick of ram and cpu / cpu cooler to make sure there's nothing else going on and resetting the bios (pull battery, cmos jumper if there is one, etc.)

 

[Launcestonian]

OP, this thread from reddit raises concerns about the quality of those Game Max PSUs

 

[Desktopstu]

OP, this thread from reddit raises concerns about the quality of those Game Max PSUs

Im aware of the GameMax somewhat dubious reputation but this is the second one ive used (previous one is still running I believe) and not had any issues to date. Not that thats an endorsement, its just me speaking as I find. This is not planned to be the `final` psu for this build, I am planning to purchase a Corsair RM series psu for this build when I can afford it.

I *think* those boards should be able to boot without a graphics card (i've done headless on other asrock boards of older generation) though I can't say with certainty as I don't own that particular board and haven't worked with it. Consier checking the manual for this, but either way worth trying to boot without any gpu at all. to see if it behaves differently further without a video card at all.

Also, might recommend removing everything but a single stick of ram and cpu / cpu cooler to make sure there's nothing else going on and resetting the bios (pull battery, cmos jumper if there is one, etc.)

Good ideas there, just tried them this this morning but alas none worked.

Ive tried with single stick of DDR4 from a previous build that I know is good, Ive also tried with no graphics card (i wouldnt have thought of that), Ive reset the bios, Ive unplugged all other peripherals, in all cases the pc fires up - lights and fans going. POST light cycle through and stop at VGA.

Im at a loss what to try next. Ive reached out to the seller and hes suggested the usual - check cables, check RAM, try different card etc.

I have found a solution by accidents, and what a peculiar solution it is.

disconnected the display port and just plugged in the hdmi cable. And lo! It works! Isn’t that the weirdest thing?

 

[Quigly]

Bizzare! Do you have to plug in hdmi for the igpu or are you talking about your added graphics card? I'd be cautious here. If that's the case, sounds to me like there's might be some kind problem with this board. Maybe make sure the bios is up to date but i'd be cautious with that board (i've had strange video out issues on gigabyte nucs in the past that were fixed with bios flash). great troubleshooting and good luck!

 

[pressing on]

disconnected the display port and just plugged in the hdmi cable. And lo! It works! Isn’t that the weirdest thing?

The VGA light can mean a loose or incompatible cable. As it was a display port cable a monitor is involved, there might be an issue between the monitor input and the display port output from the card or it might just be the cable. It could be that the display port cable cannot be fully inserted into the video card output even though it seems to be.

 

[AusWolf]

Bizzare! Do you have to plug in hdmi for the igpu or are you talking about your added graphics card? I'd be cautious here. If that's the case, sounds to me like there's might be some kind problem with this board. Maybe make sure the bios is up to date but i'd be cautious with that board (i've had strange video out issues on gigabyte nucs in the past that were fixed with bios flash). great troubleshooting and good luck!

OP has a 10400F, which means, there's no iGPU to rely on.

Im aware of the GameMax somewhat dubious reputation but this is the second one ive used (previous one is still running I believe) and not had any issues to date. Not that thats an endorsement, its just me speaking as I find. This is not planned to be the `final` psu for this build, I am planning to purchase a Corsair RM series psu for this build when I can afford it.


Good ideas there, just tried them this this morning but alas none worked.

Ive tried with single stick of DDR4 from a previous build that I know is good, Ive also tried with no graphics card (i wouldnt have thought of that), Ive reset the bios, Ive unplugged all other peripherals, in all cases the pc fires up - lights and fans going. POST light cycle through and stop at VGA.

Im at a loss what to try next. Ive reached out to the seller and hes suggested the usual - check cables, check RAM, try different card etc.

I have found a solution by accidents, and what a peculiar solution it is.

disconnected the display port and just plugged in the hdmi cable. And lo! It works! Isn’t that the weirdest thing?

Bad graphics card, perhaps? Do you have another one to test it?

 

[Desktopstu]

OP has a 10400F, which means, there's no iGPU to rely on.


Bad graphics card, perhaps? Do you have another one to test it?

Ive tried the follwing graphics cards; GTX 1060, GTX 770 and GTX980Ti. All these cards I know work on other pcs. Looking online someone else had a similar problem and it turned out to be the DP cable. This really threw me as I have used that same DP cable for several builds without issue, and once the pc booted up it was happy to have the DP cable connected, but boot up with cable connected? not a chance!

I dont have a spare DP cable so cant sort that at the mo but I do have a DP tyo HDMI adapter and im now using that without issue.

But all in all, what a peculiar issue eh?