The motherboard is the most crucial component in your computer, and it is responsible for communicating with hardware components like the HDD, CPU, GPU, and RAM. If you’ve noticed that your motherboard is not getting power, it can be a cause for concern, and you should try some troubleshooting methods to fix this issue.
Key Takeaways
- The motherboard is the base on top of which other parts of your PC are mounted, thus it needs maintenance so that your whole system can function properly.
- A faulty hardware component, broken cables, a dead power supply, high temperatures, and problems with the CMOS battery are some of the primary reasons behind the Motherboard not getting power.
- You can fix the Motherboard Power issue by establishing proper power connections, checking CPU and motherboard compatibility, and more.
What Is Your Motherboard Not Getting Power?
The following factors may cause Motherboard Power Issue:
- CPU and motherboard are incompatible.
- Issues with the hardware components such as PSU, GPU, RAM, HDD, and other peripherals.
- CMOS battery issues.
- High temperatures.
- Insufficient power supply.
- Improper component seating.
- Short circuits.
- Faulty cable connections.
- Overclocking.
How To Fix The Motherboard Not Getting Power Issue?
Here are a number of troubleshooting methods to try out if you want to fix the issue.
- Check The Motherboard And CPU Compatibility
- Troubleshooting CMOS Battery Issues
- Checking Power Surges
- Checking CPU Temperatures
- Changing The Power Supply
- Seating Components Correctly
- Check The Connections
We also have detailed guides on other issues, such as the red light on the motherboard, the orange light on the motherboard, and the white VGA light on the motherboard.
Check The Motherboard And CPU Compatibility
If you’ve purchased a new CPU or motherboard and are facing this issue, it could be that your motherboard and CPU are incompatible. This means that your motherboard does not support the CPU version you’re trying to run on it.
Checking the motherboard and CPU compatibility is essential to fixing the issue. If your CPU is incompatible with your motherboard, then you should replace it with a compatible one. You should also learn about how to check which motherboard you have, as this can help you with the process. Furthermore, it will be also wise to get familiar with motherboard form factors.
Before proceeding further, make sure to read our guide about if motherboard can bottleneck your PC?
Troubleshooting Hardware Issues
One of the leading causes of this issue is hardware problems. It may be because of some components, such as a corrupt hard drive, a damaged RAM module, or a non-functioning graphics card.
Remove All Peripherals
Check The Power Supply
A common reason for a motherboard not receiving power is a faulty power supply or loose cables. Another cause can be that a power switch on the back of the power supply unit is off.
Also Read: Single-Rail Vs Multi-Rail PSU
So, if the inadequate power supply is due to power cables, you should check whether your cables are properly connected. To ensure all the wires are connected correctly, connect them again. If the loose cables were the issue, your issue should be fixed.
Check The RAM Modules
Another frequent cause of this error is the RAM module placed improperly in the RAM slot, which may hinder you from turning on your computer. So, ensure your RAM module is inserted accurately in its respective slot.
Aside from this, it could also be that your RAM modules are incompatible with your motherboard, which can also cause this issue.
Check The Graphics Card
If you suspect the graphic card is faulty, remove it from the motherboard and replace it with a spare one to see if the issue is resolved. If your CPU has internal graphics, then you wouldn’t need a spare GPU. When replacing the graphic card, choosing a compatible model and carefully following the installation instructions are essential. Some older versions of the motherboards also had integrated graphics cards.
Check The Hard Drive/SSD
The last thing that you should check is the storage devices attached to your motherboard. It could be that one of them is corrupt or broken, which may be causing the issue with the motherboard. If your motherboard powers on when they’re removed, then you should replace them. We also have a detailed guide on how to connect SSD to the motherboard in case you need help with that.
Troubleshooting CMOS Battery Issues
However, if you suspect this is causing the issue, you should purchase a new CMOS battery online or through a retail store and insert it into your motherboard to see if the issue is resolved.
Also Read: How To Connect Power Button To Motherboard
Checking Power Surges
Sometimes, the power to your PC gets cut because of a power outage. Although the outage itself doesn’t cause much damage to the motherboard, the power surge can cause it to fail.
These power surges can do a lot of damage to the motherboard, so if you’ve experienced a power outage, then maybe your motherboard’s internal circuits are damaged. If this is so, you need to take it to a hardware expert or replace it entirely.
Checking CPU Temperatures
Another cause of the motherboard not turning on is due to high temperature of the CPU. Sometimes your CPU’s temperature can get very high and cause the PC to shut itself down. In this state, the computer won’t turn on as the heat can damage the CPU and the motherboard permanently.
A complicated ventilation system, faulty fans, or dust and debris accumulation can cause this. If you suspect overheating is causing the error, you can use a better CPU cooler, clean the dust in your PC case, turn off overclocking, and keep your PC in a cool environment. You should also check out other methods that can help lower the CPU’s temperature.
By the way, if you haven’t given your motherboard a good cleaning for some time, check out our in-depth guide on how to clean a motherboard.
Changing The Power Supply
The motherboard may not receive enough power due to a faulty power supply and loose connections. To check the power supply, see if the PSU is functioning correctly by using a multimeter.
Also, try to check the connections to see if the power cable is not old and securely connected. You should immediately replace the PSU if it’s damaged or showing signs of bad health.
Before getting a new power supply, make sure to read our guide on how long do power supplies last?
Seating Components Correctly
This can be a common cause for motherboards not getting power. The components such as CPU, RAM, chipsets, graphics card, expansion slots, and other peripherals should be seated correctly in the motherboard or connected via cable. Otherwise, you’ll face trouble booting your PC.
Check The Connections
To troubleshoot this issue, you should check the connections. This involves ensuring that all the cables and links to the motherboard are secure and properly connected.
For this, start by inspecting all the connections and cords that go to and from the motherboard. This includes the power supply cables, the cables from the CPU and memory modules, and other hardware links.
Try to unplug or replug if the cables are loosely attached. See if the issue still persists.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are numerous causes for a motherboard not getting power, but we’ve discussed the ones you can troubleshoot and fix by yourself. If you’ve tried and tested all the methods written above and they haven’t worked for you, then it’d be advisable to take your PC to a hardware expert or replace your motherboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your motherboard is not turning on, it might be due to a faulty power supply, loose cables, short circuits, overheating, etc.
High CPU temperatures can cause damage to other PC components, including parts of the motherboard.
Usually, other components, such as CPU fans, hard disk, and lights, turn on when you press the power button on your PC. If this isn’t the case, then your motherboard could be dead.
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[Errors Troubleshooting Expert]
Arsalan Shakil (aka GuyThatDoesEverything on YouTube) is a PC Tech Enthusiast and Electronic Geek. With over 10+ years of experience in Electronics, he then decided to explore Software Engineering to design embedded products and automate existing hardware solutions.
When he started tearing down old cameras to understand how they worked, he was shocked (literally, when he got zapped by a flash discharge capacitor), giving him the power (debatable) to fall in love with videography/photography. He also started making some fun videos that later became YouTube tech reviews.
Skills:
- 10+ years of experience in Electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping
- Majored in Software Engineering
- Research paper publication in IEEE for Embedded Military Uniform & LoRa WAN wireless technology
- Specialized in IoT Solutions
- PC Enthusiast & PC Modder
In his local region, he’s known to expose cheap PSU brands, often claiming fake certification or false claims on the box. He’s a true nerd and needed some friends in his life. Then he met some guys who work at Tech4Gamers, and they also came out to be equal nerds who suggested he join Tech4Gamers as a Hardware Expert.
