ASRock AB350 Pro with Ryzen 5 1600 wont post

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   Hello folks,

The last PC I assembled was the good ol' Socket 939 Athlon. So please feel free to remind me of any obvious "gotchas"

Specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Mobo: ASRock AB350 Pro4
RAM: 2x8gb Corsair Vengeance LPX 3200 ( CMK16GX4M2B3200C16 -- this exact serial number is NOT found on the QVL list here: http://asrock.com/mb/AMD/AB350%20Pro4/index.asp?cat=Memory#Memory )
GPU: MSI RX 580 gaming X 4g GPU
PSU: Corsair RM 550x PSU
Case: Corsair Carbide 200R
Extra: PCIe WLAN card

Problem:
The computer wont post. The CPU spins, the GPU lights up, but then nothing. Specifically, I've connected the GPU HDMI to "HDMI1" of my monitor. The monitor displays nothing (yes, I've selected the "HDMI1" channel).

* I've installed the RAM in the A2 and B2 slots ( http://imgur.com/a/dvnzB )
* I tried removing all RAM sticks. When I do that, the system enters a rebooting loop
* I tried keeping just 1 RAM stick into A1 and B1 slots too. No luck, still no POST.
* I looked at the sticker on the BIOS chip (the chip placed just above 
the PCIE1 socket); and it says "P1.49". Is that the bios version? Is 
this version too low and thus causing conflict with my RAM? If so, howw can I update the bios if the system wont even boot.
* There are 2 Chassis fans both connected to Chassis jumpers. However, only one of them spins. Dunno if this is related, but I dont care about this so will debug it later.
* Yes, I've connected the 8 pin CPU power into the PSU. 

Would appreciate your help. I've had one meal in the last 18 hours and just 4 hours of sleep.

Thanks in advance.

Update1:
* I also bought a Corsair Vengeance 2133hz  DDR4 RAM so I can safely discard the "RAM issue".
Still no go. It's still possible I am not connecting the cables properly ... but I don't know which.
* Yes, I've secured the RAM stick firmly and I do hear the click sound 
(actually I hear 2 sounds from both sides of the stick as they "click 
in"
* I have reattached the GPU, and it fits in really nice and snugly. So I doubt it's that
* I have disconnected the SATA power, SATA cable, all jumpers (except POWER BTN), Shassis FAN 1 and Chassis FAN 2.
*
 I have a 144hz monitor, I've tried HDMI1, HDMI2 and Display Port. Do I 
need to change other settings on this specific monitor? Do I need to 
enable FreeSync? btw, my setup doesnt have an internal PC speaker. So I 
dont here the usual beep(s)... I say this because, could it be the 
monitor settings all along?

Update2:
* Please see my PSU cabling setup ( http://imgur.com/a/H6zrn ). Hopefully this is correct
* The Corsair Carbine 200R case comes with pre-installed standoffs for the microATX 
form-factor mobos. Having said that, how do I know (a) how many 
standoffs the ASRock 350AB Pro4 has; (b) where are they? Is there a 
design sketch i can find somewhere?
* I have tried shorting the CMOS 
jumper to clear the CMOS (though, have not tried removing the battery - 
will try that too, I guess)
* My next step is try to find a mobo 
speaker to listen for any sounds that can indicate whats going on. But, 
where can I find the "legend" for what the sounds mean for this 
particular mobo?

Update3:
* I have cleared the CMOS battery entirely per the earlier instructions
* At the moment, the 
1x8 gb 2133 hz Corsair Vengeance RAM stick is in the A2 slot (I am debugging 
with a single stick, as suggested. On that note, I also tried both 
sticks in A2 and B2).

Update4:
* As per suggestions, I breadboarded the system to rule out standoff issues 
(http://imgur.com/a/K6sbJ). Specifically, the only connected components 
were CPU (with and without heatsink -- see pic), mobo, GPU, power 
jumper, 1 stick of 2133 8gb RAM in A2 (but also tested in multiple 
slots) and CPU fan. Still no luck. 

Update5:

 TooQik wrote:

Just
 a thought, you've been checking everything on the motherboard side, 
have you checked that you plugged the 8 pin CPU power cable into the 
correct port on the PSU itself ie. the PSU port labeled 4+4 CPU (Top far
 right) and not the 6+2 PCI-E by mistake?

Actually, 
that's an acute observation TooQik. I wondered the same thing, but 
someone IRC and Discord's #buildapc channel told me that "it didnt 
really matter" -- is that true? (BTW, I got my PC spec suggestions from 
there). 
Nonetheless, here is the picture of the setup... http://imgur.com/OPE6K08
So yes, I put the CPU cable (the end labelled "Type4") into the slot marked "4+4 CPU"

Update6:
Bought and tried a new PSU (Corsair VS650). This is not a modular PSU, thus minimizing the risk of placing the wrong cables on an end (not that it was incorrect earlier, but anyway). No luck. So I assumed it must be the mobo. 
Therefore, I sent the ASRock AB350 Pro4 for RMA and replaced it with another. Still no luck. 
Bought an ASUS Prime b350 mobo. No luck.

Only CPU and GPU remains. New ones will arrive tomorrow. Will keep you updated. 

BTW,
 for some of these tests I am not attaching the heatsink on the CPU as I
 am only looking for a POST signal. On reddit, IRC and Discord's 
#buildaPC, I was assured that that should be OK... and infact, it's even
 possible to run a PC normally without a heatsink (though not 
recommended). Am just curious if these AM4 motherboards would prevent a 
POST due to lack of a heatsink.

Update7:
I am writing this from the new PC! All good now. The problem was the "MSI RX 580 gaming X 4g" GPU that was DOA. BTW, for future reference:
* A glowing GPU doesnt not mean a functioning one
* It is possible to POST without attaching the heatsink, except this mobo will give a "CPU Fan Error" message at startup

Edited by GizRev - 25 May 2017 at 11:29am