Hey, all. I return from this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AMDHelp/comments/1i833t6/is_this_a_dead_cpu_unable_to_post_on_build_with/

Quick note on that. Luckily, you've all given me enough reassurance that, at the very least, my CPU isn't physically damaged. As I mentioned in that post: I'm not an engineer, so I'm truly unsure how much PCB can take damage, and where, before it's considered dead.

However, the issues didn't stop there unfortunately. So, here's the FULL recap from the very beginning.

I have a reputation for making exceedingly long and wordy posts. I've always been a technical person trying to cover as much ground as possible to reduce as many questions when I'm seeking answers. This topic kinda requires it, so... sorry, not sorry in advance. Lol

I'm upgrading from an MSI X570 Tomahawk WiFi + 7800X3D to AM5. The goal is to build a computer for my friend out of spare parts so she finally has a decent computer to play with me and the bois. I'm also trying to get one final build in before potentially moving countries next year. I'm not particularly fond of the 5090, so I'll sit pretty with my 4090 and the reported power of the 9800X3D and DDR5 combination.

It ain't working, though.

[FIRST BUILD]

• (OLD) PSU: Corsair RM 850X (2021/22)
• (NEW) MOBO: ROG STRIX X870E-E Gaming Wifi
• (NEW) CPU: 9800X3D
• (OLD) AIO: Kraken 360 Elite Z73 (with AM5 kit)
• (NEW) RAM: 2x24GB DDR5 Corsair Vengeance @ 6K (CMK48GX5M2B6000Z30)
• (OLD) GPU: Zotac RTX 4090 Trinity

TROUBLESHOOTING FIRST BUILD - Part 1

1. Off the rip on build completion, auxiliary lights present on MOBO pre-boot (this is relevant to consider when talking about uncertainty of MOBO failure further in this post).
2. Boot. MOBO displays code 00 with no lights. Doesn't POST. No display. Manual for this board specifically shows 00 as non-use compared to previous boards where 00 had a defined reason.
3. Try all 10 possible 1x and 2x RAM combinations across the DIMM slots. No change.
4. Reset CMOS. No change.
5. Blind Flash BIOS. No change.
6. (Begrudgingly) Reseat CPU. No change.
7. Damage check. No bent pins. No discolored or scratched contact pads. Chip on CPU corner, but as previously mentioned, it doesn't appear to be a factor at this point with it being so minor.

Without any clear indication of immediate failure, I review. Without debug LEDS going off (despite the board having them), the ONLY thing I have to grab onto is that the RAM provided is not QVL'd. I mentioned this in my last post. Historically, I religiously check QVLs and kinda swear by them given that memory is so touchy. However, this set was sent to me by a friend I trust. Now, while I personally have always sworn by QVL's, it's not difficult to find a majority of people who say it's pointless. Keep that in mind as we move forward.

I buy a set of ram that is QVL'd for this board (CMK64GX5M2B6000Z30). 2 days to wait.

NOTE: At time of writing this post and reviewing information to include, I'm noticing this second set of RAM is no longer showing QVL'd for the first board. Without change history, I can't verify this anymore. When shopping for RAM, I copy/pasted from the list so I didn't make any mistake on what to buy for the 9XXX series. I'm going to continue the post as I originally believed the circumstances to be playing out.

The next day, I have a convo with my friends, including the one who sent me the hardware. I'm convinced that it's the RAM because it's the only thing with any tangible evidence of incompatibility/failure. My friend believes the board he sent might have gotten damaged in transit or just died cuz reasons. He assures me that QVL lists aren't 100% set in stone, so... I buy a new board as well that will arrive same day as the RAM so I have something extra to test.

TROUBLESHOOTING FIRST BUILD - Part 2

1. I install new RAM and proceed with all 10 combinations again. No change.
2. Clear CMOS. No change.

[SECOND BUILD]

• MOBO: MSI X870 Gaming Plus WiFi
• RAM: 2x32GB DDR5 Corsair Vengeance @ (6KCMK64GX5M2B6000Z30)

TROUBLESHOOTING SECOND BUILD

1. Installed new board with the 48GB kit first since. Performed a hardware damage check while doing so. Pins, contacts, and all other hardware check out.
2. Notice there are no auxiliary lights pre-boot. This concerns me and I assumed that I missed a power cable.
3. Double check everything just in case - all looks clear. Still no pre-boot auxiliary.
4. Boot anyway.
5. Whole machine turns on. No display. While there is no code display, I am, however, seeing CPU (RED) and DRAM (YELLOW) debug lights. Glad to see something different, but not sure how to feel about it. At this point, I'm wondering if the previous motherboard was bad, but considering just how different the two MOBOs are in pre-boot with auxiliary lights (I consider these to be a bare minimum standard in the industry because they're helpful in determining power circulation pre-boot), it's hard to make a determination if both of these boards just behave differently. Frustrating to say the least because it just obfuscates possibilities.
6. Try all 10 RAM combinations. No change.
7. Reset CMOS. No change.
8. Blind Flash BIOS. No change.
9. Swap to new 64GB kit and try all 10 RAM combinations. No change.
10. Removed all RAM. No change. Debug lights still showing RED and YELLOW. Interesting.

Haven't performed a reseat yet, but it doesn't feel necessary with how thorough I've been.

I'm a week into this build today. Over the last 24 hours or so, I've done some research. Unfortunately, I'm seeing way too many strong claims for all possibilities, and I'm at a loss.

RESEARCH

• First thing I'm noticing is that there are VERY few troubleshooting threads between reddit and the official forums of both MOBOs... about these specific MOBOs themselves. So, very small sample size of research which gives me no confidence.
• Further research ended up in learning about RAM training. I didn't know about this until researching after the first build failed. Apparently this is a new thing with AM5. I've heard variations of wait times from 30 seconds to 20 minutes. I certainly didn't wait 20 minutes in all 10 configurations on the first MOBO and 48GB kit, but I did leave it running while troubleshooting in A2, A2+B2, and B2. No changes.
• The next consideration I had was people reporting that AM5 just takes a long time to POST. Well, with no ounce of confidence in outcomes, I can report that over the course of this last week, both builds have been powered on for 30+ minutes at some variations with no change. There are far too many variations to perform.
• A video I've seen in more than one thread is one where the Youtuber Greg Salazar takes viewer builds and troubleshoots them. He stated in his video that he's never seen a combination of CPU + DRAM debug lights before (...great). Ultimately, that video ends in it being an issue with the CPU. Sucky possibility, but more info I guess... except not.
• Trailing off the last point, I've seen more threads than those including that video where people have had the dual debug lights, and it ends up just being RAM training or the sticks being in the wrong slots.

WHY ARE WE HERE... JUST TO SUFFER?

Needless to say, I'm quite frustrated by all of this. Specifically yesterday when I received all the parts, all of this troubleshooting took place over 11 hours because I was WFH while doing so. Exhausting day with a demoralizing end.

Currently, I'm floating over $1,000 in parts on my workbench between 2x MOBOs, 2x RAM kits, and the 9800X3D. Friend is ready to refund me and take the parts back, but the shitty part is that I can't exactly rule out the hardware he's given me. If it IS the CPU, then the parts he gave me are cheaper because he gave me a $250-ish discount (he works with vendors, so he gets parts pretty frequently - he's no scammer). If it's NOT the CPU, its hard to tell if his MOBO is broken because of how differently the new one behaves compared to it. No pre-boot auxiliary lights? I can't remember the last MOBO I had that did that.

Unfortunately, without realizing it; as of the 23rd (the day after I purchased the second new MOBO and RAM kit), my CPU is no longer returnable to Best Buy (online), so even if I wanted to say screw it and go back to my normal build, I'm now $500 committed, and I'm quite upset because I'm pretty hurt, demotivated, fucking bored, and I'm now further delayed on making my build for my friend.

At this point, I'm leaning towards the issue being the CPU, but with all this new shit regarding DDR5 RAM training on AM5 and the varieties of outcomes? I truly have no idea. Not like I have a choice to return the CPU anyway, and have to go through the RMA process - but still...

Additionally, I'm now faced with a new potentiality that's giving me anxiety. Maybe I'm putting the cart in front of the horse here, but should I take the RMA route; MSI's RMA process seems pretty thorough, and in their pre-submission form, they explicitly say that I needed to have tested on a board with QVL'd RAM. Because I was trying to shorten the time I've already had to wait and I took the advice of strangers online, I didn't bother QVL-checking the second set of RAM. Surprise, it's not on the list... of either motherboard. Nor is my first set, now.

Christ. Everyone seems to agree now that QVL's aren't important at least in terms of a bare-minimum functioning PC before the consideration of OC, but now I'm shot in the foot because the RMA process is going to grill my ass for not QVL'ing - something I mentioned that I religiously used to do. I'm feeling some hardcore regret getting into this process, and now I'm gaslighting myself.

What do, friends?

EDIT: Grammar, formatting, etc.