Common Issues and How to Fix Them
When building a PC, encountering problems is common but solvable. If your PC does not power on, first check power connections and ensure the power supply switch is turned on. No display on the monitor may indicate an improperly seated graphics card or faulty RAM sticks. Removing and reseating components often resolves these issues.
Overheating problems can arise if the CPU cooler is not correctly installed or thermal paste is insufficient. Also, listen for beep codes during boot; they provide clues to hardware problems. Following systematic troubleshooting steps will help you identify and fix most common hardware problems during your build.
BIOS Beep Codes Reference
AMI BIOS Beep Codes
| Beep Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 short beep | No errors detected, normal boot |
| 2 short beeps | Parity circuit failure |
| 3 short beeps | Base 64K RAM failure |
| 4 short beeps | System timer failure |
| 5 short beeps | Processor failure |
| 6 short beeps | Keyboard controller Gate A20 error |
| 7 short beeps | Virtual mode exception (motherboard issue) |
| 8 short beeps | Display memory (VRAM) Read/Write error |
| 9 short beeps | ROM BIOS checksum failure |
| 10 short beeps | CMOS shutdown Read/Write error |
| 11 short beeps | Cache memory error |
| 1 long, 3 short beeps | Memory failure (graphics card related) |
| 1 long, 8 short beeps | Display/retrace test failed |
| Two-tone siren | Low CPU fan speed or voltage level issue |
AWARD BIOS Beep Codes
| Beep Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 long, 2 short beeps | Video error (graphics card/VRAM issue) |
| 1 long, 3 short beeps | Video card not detected or keyboard error |
| Endless repeated beeps | RAM problem |
| Repeated fast beeps | CPU overheating |
| Repeated intermittent beeps | Processor issue (possibly damaged) |