A520M Gaming - not booting to bios
Printed From: ASRock.com
Category: Technical Support
Forum Name: AMD Motherboards
Forum Description: Question about ASRock AMD motherboards
URL: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=85414
Printed Date: 19 Jul 2025 at 5:03am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: A520M Gaming - not booting to bios
Posted By: pads
Subject: A520M Gaming - not booting to bios
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2024 at 11:43pm
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I have built a new PC on the A520M Phantom Gaming 4 motherboard, and it won't boot into bios - absolutely no dsiplay at all. Not yet loaded windows as cannot get that far. I switch on, press power button and lights come on, fans run but that is all. I have no additional boards installed, and even removed the USB connections. I have tried both HDMI and DP video out. Items installed are - A520M Phantom Gaming 4 motherboard 500W GameMax RPG Rampage 80 Plus Bronze PSU Kingston FURY Beast 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MT/s DDR4 Memory Kit (with both and one stick (slot A2 & B2 - or only B2) AMD Ryzen 5 5500 6 Core/12 Thread AM4 CPU I have tried removing the CMOS battery and replacing. I have previously built a few PCs (one last week using B550 Phantom Gaming4 MB) Please point me where I am going wrong. ------------- Peter |
Replies:
Posted By: jdillipl
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2024 at 4:54am
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From what you posted, you have no video card installed. The Ryzen 5 5500 has no video capability, so you need to add a video card, or swap the CPU for one with integrated video. Jake ------------- Asrock X370 Killer SLI/ac, Amd Ryzen 7 5700X, GSkill Flare X F4-2400C16D-32GFX, RaidMax Thunder V2 735W PS |
Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2024 at 6:43am
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Therefore why does the motherboard have video outputs. In any case, before stripping all accessories off, I had a EVGA Geforce GTX970 installed - still no video? Peter ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2024 at 8:19pm
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The display outputs are there for CPUs that have an iGPU built in. They serve no purpose when a CPU without an iGPU is installed. The GTX 970 may be too old to work on your board without CSM legacy mode enabled. Given you can't get the system to POST you have no access to the setting. Your only options are to clear CMOS (with the 970 installed) and hope it enables legacy mode by default or to get a newer dedicated GPU. I suppose you could also try returning the CPU and getting a 5400g or similar that has an iGPU. Good luck. ------------- 
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2024 at 8:42pm
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Xaltar Thanks for updating about the CPU issue - I hadn't realised that before. Ive never built a pc without using a graphics card. (That is except for very early days when there were 'proper' built in graphics) Just tried clearing CMOS to no avail. I like your advise about swapping the CPU - but what if it turns out to be a faulty m/b? Peter ------------- Peter |
Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2024 at 9:19pm
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An update for further information.... I am building two PC for my two grandsons - one already built and working and this one. So I have just tried swapping the graphics card from the working one to this. ASUS GeForce RTX 4060 Dual Evo OC 8GB GDDR6 But it still isn't working so that lets out the graphics side of the problems. Probably excludes the GTX 970 from being too old {and yes after putting it back, it works ok in the original pc} I truely am baffled! ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2024 at 10:33pm
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Check for a small white sticker on the BIOS ROM, it should have the BIOS version your board shipped with printed on it. The 5500 requires BIOS version 1.60 or newer to run. If that checks out (1.60 - newer) then you can try the following: If you are able, try a stick of RAM from the other system in slot A2 as well as the GPU. There is still a chance the 970 isn't compatible so ruling that out is important. Also make sure your 8pin CPU power is properly connected, it should be a 4+4 cable not a 6+2(pcie) cable, I have occasionally seen the wrong one connected by users on the forums here with boot issues. I wrote up a "foolproof" guide to clearing CMOS here: https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=630&title=how-to-clear-cmos-via-battery-removal" rel="nofollow - https://forum.asrock.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=630&title=how-to-clear-cmos-via-battery-removal It pretty much rules out any kind of UEFI gremlins. -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 12:15am
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I can't find the sticker - whereabout would it (BIOS) be on the m/b. Yes the power is via 4+4 connector. I have done your CMOS reset as discribes ( albeit for 20 min not 4 hours) Whilst looking for a link (clear CMOS) I found a speaker. I am now getting 3 bleeps when I power up. Which I believe means system memory issues. ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 1:09am
 3 beeps could be a RAM issue or CPU not supported (the memory controller is on the CPU so if the CPU isn't detected the system can't detect RAM). -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 3:33am
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The sticker reads P3.4 ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 5:59am
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In that case the RAM is the likely culprit. P3.4 should support the 5500 so that can't be the problem. -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 6:21am
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That's what I thought so I swapped the RAM for the 'Corsair Vengeance LPX 32GB (2x16GB) 3200MT/s DDR4' which are working in the other pc. I still get 3 bleeps. ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 7:23am
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Hmm, could be a DOA CPU, the board is less likely to be the culprit given it is giving you a beep code. Memory controllers are much more touchy these days than they used to be and are a common failure point on modern CPUs (they are built into the CPU these days). A dead IMC could give you 3 beeps (integrated memory controller). Check the CPU for any bent over pins or darkening on the substrate. If possible, try with the CPU from your other build to rule out anything else. If the other CPU works then return the 5500. This kind of issue can be a real pain to get to the bottom of.... Good luck :Y: -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 8:06pm
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I tried swapping the CPU and am wondering if I was giving false information. There is still no display but the three bleeps now rapid sort of bleep-bleep-bleep. Previously it was bleeeep ----- bleeeep ---- bleeeep, long beeps and not as rapid. If you understand my meaning. I didn't appreciate there was adifference until now. ------------- Peter |
Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 9:50pm
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So I decided I needed to put things back together (I need other pc to go to grandchild -christmas). All except power supply still on borrowed one. Low and behold - no bleeps, and a 'BIOS' screen displayed. Not the full BIOS but a screen stating 'New PC installed' and asking 'Press Y to reset fTPM' or 'Press N to keep previous fTPM'. I presume I need to press 'Y' to restore fTPM. I'll await your reply before I do anything else. Thank you ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2024 at 11:57pm
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https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/q62k5h/new_cpu_installed_should_i_reset_ftpm_or_press_no/ Given it's a new system you should be fine pressing "Y"  The joys of system building, I once tore my hair out for 3 days on a client build that wouldn't POST, eventually I gave up and started to tear the whole thing down ready to send it all back to my supplier for RMA, just as I was about to pull the board and CPU I decided to give it one more go, lo and behold it POSTed.... To this day I still don't know what the issue was  -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2024 at 12:13am
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Many thanks - I pressed Y and I now have the the normal BIOS screen. The next thing I dare do is swap back the PSU. Fingers crossed - here goes. ------------- Peter |
Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2024 at 12:21am
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Success. As you say - "To this day I still don't know what the issue was" Many thanks for all of your advice. Peter (ps - I still have to connect the hard drives etc but they should be ok - I hope! ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2024 at 7:43am
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Fantastic, glad it worked out for you. I am sure your grandkids are going to have an amazing Christmas! -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2024 at 8:00am
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Many thanks for your guidance ------------- Peter |
Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 17 Dec 2024 at 9:54pm
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Oh NO! As I mentioned, I got it up and running, with windows10 working fine. So I had to change some setting in BIOS (secure boot) to enable the update to windows11. When I updated the BIOS and reboot I was back to start - no display, no bleeps. I've cleared/reset BIOS, but still nothing Now I really am tearing my hair out. ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2024 at 5:03pm
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The only suggestion I have is to repeat the clear CMOS steps I linked before. 10 mins should be enough, I stipulated longer in the guide because it's meant to be a 100% foolproof option. If 10 mins doesn't work you can repeat for a longer period. This is why I never update the BIOS on a working system. I only upgrade when I need to for hardware support. -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2024 at 8:55pm
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I've been building computers for many year (since 1979 -UK101 - look it up) and this is the worst set of problems I have ever had. Turns out that the monitor has a dodgy DP input (I'm using my own 2nd monitor) HDMI is fine. ?‹So got up windows. However - big however. 1) To update to win11, I need secure boot. I go through the process described by yourselves - https://www.asrock.com/support/faq.asp?id=531" rel="nofollow - https://www.asrock.com/support/faq.asp?id=531 2) But then the system just continually boots to BIOS. and the boot priority list has disappeared. The only way I can get it to boot to windows is to clear/rest bios, but then I am back to step 1 !! What is going on? ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2024 at 10:39pm
Always something you didn't expect isn't it....
I'm afraid this is where my usefulness ends, I have absolutely 0 experience dealing with Windows 11. All this TPM 2.0, secure boot and other "requirements" put me right off. Windows 11 was the last push I needed to say goodbye to Microsoft. If I had to take a stab at it though, I would guess that the secure boot settings mess up your boot settings for windows 10 and cause the system to POST loop into BIOS. Basically the system is behaving as it would if you had no hard disk/SSD installed when you enable secure boot. My guess would be it's the CSM "Disabled" setting. You installed windows 10 with it enabled in legacy mode so it won't boot with CSM (compatibility support module) disabled now. On the plus side, you are out of the woods hardware wise, now you have software issues.... Google should help here: "Can't boot with CSM disabled" FYI, I am just a moderator here, I don't work for ASRock tech support, just another forum member  Sorry I couldn't be more help. -------------
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pads wrote:Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2024 at 10:58pm
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you are right -the CSM "Disabled" setting. However if I enable that then I cannot set the secure boot -- catch 22 ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 18 Dec 2024 at 11:07pm
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This is a very common issue with people wanting to upgrade to windows 11 vs install a fresh copy. Your current OS is installed in MBR mode (master boot record), secure boot needs it to be EFI mode. There are several guides on how to convert to efi mode out there. A quick google search popped this one up: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-move-bios-uefi-windows-10" rel="nofollow - https://www.windowscentral.com/how-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-move-bios-uefi-windows-10 In cases like this our decades of experience actually bite us in the rear a little. A lot has changed -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 12:05am
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It's biting me in the preverbial again. Thanks for the suggestion On using 'mbr2gpt /validate' It comes back as a 'disk layout validation failed' - maybe because windows is installed on the M2: 'drive'. It seems I just can't win this time. ------------- Peter |
Posted By: Xaltar
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 12:11am
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You could just try a boot medium and attempt a fresh install of windows 10 with safe boot enabled. I am guessing you don't have any valuable data on the drive yet so no harm in a fresh start. Maybe the simple solution will do the trick? -------------
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Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 1:26am
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I'm afraid your wrong about the 'valuable' data. The hard disc has windows and data from his previous dynasur pc. From which I cloned the windows prog onto the M2: All is not lost however as I did clone the hard drive before I started. I'll use that to boot from then start the formating and transfer of data all over again. Remembering to format the M2: as GPT -- hopefully - seem to recall saying that a couple of days ago. It's not as if I'd be doing anything else at this time of year! Glad I don't give up easily! ------------- Peter |
Posted By: pads
Date Posted: 19 Dec 2024 at 11:26pm
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All sorted 1 Not only did I have problems changing discs to GPT (more than 3 partitions) 2 Then win11 wanted to reright everything because the languages didn't match. 3 Tried all sorts of suggested ways - eventually resorted to tweeking the registry! ANyway thanks for the guidance along the way. Peter ------------- Peter |