Intel Motherboards - Z170 Gaming K4

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Z170 Gaming K4 - dropped dead

Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: Intel Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock Intel Motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5710
Printed Date: 27 Jul 2025 at 11:25am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Z170 Gaming K4 - dropped dead

Posted By: Osmium
Subject: Z170 Gaming K4 - dropped dead
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 9:48pm

" rel="nofollow - For about a year I used the Z170 Gaming K4 motherboard without problems. 3 days ago this happened:

The computer turned off unexpectedly from one second to another. I was just browsing and I didn't overclock anything, so I doubt it was a temperature problem.
After hitting the power button, nothing started. No fan movement, no signal on the monitor. I disconnecting the power supply and slightly rocked the computer out of despair. After reconnecting the power supply the computer went in a cycle where the fans started moving (and the LED lighted up) for a split second, stopped again and repeated. All this without me touching the power button at all, just by connecting the power cable outside the power supply unit. I have never seen something like this.
After some more dis- and reconnecting and rocking, the computer booted up normally and was fine for a while.
The next day the same happened again out of nowhere, it went again in this strangle cycle of powering up and shutting down. But in the end it went back to dead mode and stayed there since.

What I tried so far:
- I dis- and reconnected every single accessible connection to make sure nothing is loose.
- I tried a different power supply unit (which runs fine with another computer).
- I tried a different power switch (which runs fine with another computer).
- I removed GPU and all drives.

Nothing. Everything dead. No fans moving, no LED lighting up, no signal on the monitor, no sounds. I can only assume there is something horribly wrong with either the motherboard or the CPU.

What else could I try?

Replies:

Posted By: clubfoot
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 10:33pm

Take a good look at the capacitors on the motherboard to see if any are swollen/bulging/leaking.

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Posted By: parsec
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2017 at 10:54pm

" rel="nofollow - You could try removing the CMOS battery for a complete clear of the UEFI/BIOS, while moving the jumper to the clear position at the same time. Or try replacing the battery.

That you could get the board to work, at one point, by moving the PC case, might indicate a short circuit of the board somewhere, usually at the bottom. Such as a screw or other metal part that is loose within the PC case.

Usually a dead CPU will still allow the board to power on.

I've had a bad drive cause the PC to shut off shortly after it was turned on, but you said you removed all the other components, correct?

You did not mention doing anything with the memory, which is the only reason I mention it.

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Posted By: Osmium
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2017 at 2:33am

" rel="nofollow - Thanks a lot guys, a CMOS reset restored my system. Only now I recall that I did a BIOS update some hours before the problem occured. Maybe something wrong with it?