Red LED on motherboard CPU when power starts on new build

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willyFF7

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Sep 19, 2014
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specs of the PC:
Asus Z97-PRO ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor
Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
EVGA GeForce GTX 780 6GB Superclocked ACX Video Card
Cooler Master Storm Stryker (White) ATX Full Tower Case
Corsair Professional 850W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply
Corsair H55 57.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler

Hey guys so... this is my first PC build, and as soon as I finished and started, I got a red LED on the CPU, was pretty upset so I checked the CPU and the motherboard pins and nothing is bent I'm pretty sure.. checked them all, so I don't think that's the issue. I looked for a lot of solutions here for this problem and I can't find the problem.

List of things I've tried:
-replug the CPU connector multiple times
-reseat the CPU twice and made sure there's no bent pins
-arranged the wires a little more organized and replugged them all (saw that was an issue that fixed for someone too)

Things I haven't tried:
-taking the motherboard out and putting it on a box and do the whole test like that, maybe it'll be the last thing I'll try assuming something could be broken but I don't think the CPU/motherboard are broke.
-memok/bios flash/cmos reset, I don't know how those will help, it's currently just with the red cpu LED and no screen display
-updating bios, I've read some people actually did this to fix this problem, but I don't know if they were able to view the screen unlike me, I've personally never updated a bios so you probably need to see the screen which I can't. Plus I don't see why I would need an update, I thought the cpu/motherboard were both modern

Now I have other things going on, I did accidentally break a little connector for the hard drive fan in the case, so when the power is on and all the fans and LEDs turn on, the fan won't turn on for that particular one, just the LED. I don't think this matters for the computer not POSTing though does it? I plan to fix this later but I assume it's irrelevant
And also I don't think my case or anything came with the "PLED", because I look all over the case and wires and I don't see it at all, even after arranging everything.. it's weird it's not there :/ is this part absolutely necessary? supposedly it's for blinking LEDs for sleep mode and stuff, maybe it is needed for the PC to work though.

As far as I know that's all the things about it so far, would love to get some help, it's been very depressing and stressful for me not being able to get this to work x-x I thought repairing/building PCs was something I wanted to do for a living since I'm CompTIA A+ certified and like computers and specs discussions but I'm almost getting second thoughts and huge doubts.
 
Solution
cin19
You have to try update the BIOS, like you said they are the newer generation, because the cpu is new so that you need update the BIOS to 1008 version ( 2014/05/30 ). Here is from the description : Z97-PRO BIOS 1008 1.Enhance compatibility for new Anniversary Edition and Devil's Canyon CPU. http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z97PRO/HelpDesk_Download/
You can use the USB drive to update the BIOS, here is the info and video too. http://event.asus.com/2012/mb/usb_bios_flashback_guide/

If you don't try those, otherwise return or exchange the MB or CPU, like get i7 4770K then you don't need update the BIOS and can boot the PC right out of box. If the CPU LED is red and the problem is from either cpu or MB. But in this case the problem is...
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cin19

cin19

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You have to try update the BIOS, like you said they are the newer generation, because the cpu is new so that you need update the BIOS to 1008 version ( 2014/05/30 ). Here is from the description : Z97-PRO BIOS 1008 1.Enhance compatibility for new Anniversary Edition and Devil's Canyon CPU. http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z97PRO/HelpDesk_Download/
You can use the USB drive to update the BIOS, here is the info and video too. http://event.asus.com/2012/mb/usb_bios_flashback_guide/

If you don't try those, otherwise return or exchange the MB or CPU, like get i7 4770K then you don't need update the BIOS and can boot the PC right out of box. If the CPU LED is red and the problem is from either cpu or MB. But in this case the problem is the BIOS.
 
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willyFF7

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That would make a lot of sense, thanks a lot, thought this motherboard was up to date with the cpu but I guess it's a tad older. anyways, so I tried what you said, I inserted that same exact file in the USB drive and I inserted it in the indicated slot for bios, and I held the button for 3 seconds and longer 3 different times and every time it did, it flashed 5 times and then stayed lit up, according to the manual it means it failed, so it failed 3 times.. ): not sure what to do now.
I saw on the instructions link that you supposedly have to rename these files..

Rename the file as below table, and then save it to the USB storage device’s root directory.
Model name
X99-DELUXE
X99-S
X99-A
RAMPAGE V EXTREME
Rename the file
X99D.CAP
X99S.CAP
X99A.CAP
R5E.CAP

none of those are what I'm getting, but I tried to look for the one I downloaded and I couldn't find anything to rename it, currently it's Z97-PRO-ASUS-1008.CAP
Maybe the problem is that I haven't renamed it, but like I said, I searched online and haven't found any way to rename this file, it could be correct.. if that file is name correctly then not sure what the problem could be.
 
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cin19

cin19

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Sorry, those are for example only, for your MB you need change the name to Z97P.CAP from Z97-PRO-ASUS-1008.CAP.
Also make sure you format the USB to FAT16, FAT32, or NTFS, we usually use the NTFS before you put the Z97P.CAP in it for the updating.
 
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willyFF7

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Alright, update:
Before you mentioned that, I realized that's probably what it meant, so I did rename it to that since I kinda noticed the pattern on that example and the usb was fat32, and it still failed. when you replied saying ntfs is the deal, then I changed it to ntfs and this time it worked, it flashed for minutes and then it stopped. I turned on the PC with a smile and then that red CPU LED is still on and no screen display ;_: and my frown comes back >< I tried again to make sure if something else occured since I went somewhere and just payed attention to it and it happened again. So I guess it already has that bios update now, but the red led is still on..now it must be a different issue I assume, I wonder what. would be strange if the CPU wasn't working, it wasn't mistreated at all, the motherboard could have a problem but I wonder how I can find out which of the 2 are faulty if that's the case..?
 
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willyFF7

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I haven't gotten any beeps either for some reason, but what could be the easiest way to determine if the motherboard/CPU is possibly bad? maybe removing the ram chips and hopefully hear a beep? I read somewhere that if that does happen, it means the motherboard isn't bad, but idk. And some people suggest doing something with the cmos battery, I've never touched it and not sure how I'm supposed to but because I haven't touched it, I don't know how it could be relevant but maybe.
 
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cin19

cin19

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The easy way to test the CPU or MB that is if you have other compatible cpu or MB, or borrow one from your friend, otherwise you are hard to do it.

To clear the CMOS by removing the small battery, make sure you turn off the pc and unplug the power, wait for 5-10 min and put it back, boot the pc. The battery locates near the bottom pciex16 slot.

If you still have problem, that means either MB or cpu has problem, if you buy from local store, you may talk to them to see them can test them, otherwise return or exchange them.
 
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willyFF7

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Well, major update...

I took everything apart, put the motherboard on a box with no ram, just cpu and fan, it showed the ram LED only, then I put the ram in and it did show the bios screen finally... the problem was I put the motherboard in wrong, I used 2 power supply screws accidentally and I had a struggle trying to put it in.. I had to remove the I/O shield because it's just in the way even lining them up, I can't just simply line all holes in. So the motherboard is in place all fine, I set everything up, I booted, then I got a no boot error, I must've put the hard drive and DVD in the wrong holes... I don't know why it didn't work with the ones they were on. I had to put them on the other holes and I couldn't reach since they were under the graphics card, I took the graphics card off and I put them on and put the card back in, and then I rebooted and I got no LEDs, no screen display.. then I thought the video card wasn't in place so I tried reinserting it and then....
The red CPU light is back on all of a sudden -.- I took the ram and video card off and it still just showed it... now I suspect a pin could've bent all of a sudden, I don't know how if minutes ago it was just fine.. but what could be the reason for this now? all cords are hooked just fine. if only I could've inserted the drives in without removing the video card and all that.. it was just in the way.

Edit: also, I noticed the pins for the molex on the graphics card were a little loose for some reason, like pulled back, I pushed them up and connected it, hopefully it's not broken but maybe that's the reason it booted without a display and no LEDs on.. the events after that I just took it apart and put it back in, I did set the case down gently, then that's when the cpu red light striked... don't see how it could be a bent pin all of a sudden, and the cpu connection is fine.
 
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willyFF7

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Alright forget everything I said above, I fixed it, apparently the place I hooked the CPU cooler on was making the CPU not work... the 3 pins near the CPU fan 4 pins thing. instead I plugged it on one of those case connectors hanging from a wire, and now I can hear the water flowing through the pipe, but I get a 5 beep post and something wrong with the CPU fan, even though it's working better than before o.o I changed it to DC and it's still doing that post beep. I'm installing windows though and thed computer is functioning well so far, just that fan post is happening each restart, how could I fix it?
 
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willyFF7

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OMG everything is normal now xD I'm so happy it's all fixed... Wow, I feel like I mistreated the motherboard, I'm surprised everything is running perfectly tbh, holy crap owo
this is good n.n thanks a lot cin19 you've been a lot of help and a really great guy, I like you :3 hardly ever get someone that tries to help me you know xD
The only thing now is I changed the water cooler to the stock fan, because I'm paranoid it could leak, and I was getting POST beeps and all saying the CPU fan isn't plugged in, but the water cooler didn't even have a place to connect to the motherboard, sooo I just said screw it and I'll use it some other time, not planning to overclock a lot anyway, just a little to begin since I never did it before, I'm a noob to good computers since I've been gaming on crappy pcs my whole life v.v
 
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cin19

cin19

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willyFF7

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Yeah I saw that video before and I was wondering how the heck did he connect it... because I only saw 2 4 pin connectors and 1 3 pin, I think the 3 pin was also opt.. I connected it there, I think that was the MAIN reason of this whole problem, because today I got that CPU led because I forgot to connect it and I did it and there... so apparently it's no good to put the 3 pin connector on that. I was actually thinking about connecting the 3 pin connector to that white CPU fan connector or the 4 pin opt but I thought it would've been a bad idea lol. oh well, I'll do that sometime...

Honestly worried because today when I was holding it, I felt 2 drops on my toes, I think it came from that thing, idk where else it could've come from... so I think it has a small leak and idk how it happened, and it only happened that time.. not when it was in the case or anything, soooo yeah.
 
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