One day, I turned on my PC, and the motherboard was giving me error code 53. I tried updating the BIOS with the flashback feature, but it still gave the same error. I also tried resetting the CMOS, but that didn’t work either. Eventually, I concluded that my memory was bad (Patriot Viper Elite 7000MHz CL36 overclocked to 7200MHz, which, in hindsight, wasn’t the best idea). Fast forward a couple of days, and my new memory arrived (just a cheap single 8GB 5200MHz stick). During that time, I had also replaced my GPU from a 7900 GRE to a 6950XT (I sold the GRE for more than I paid and got the 6950XT for a great deal), which might be irrelevant, but I thought I’d mention it.
After installing the new memory, I got a screen prompting me to reset the BIOS settings to default, but instead, I changed a few settings—only CPU-related ones, though. It then displayed a Windows updating screen, but after it finished, the screen just went black, so I force shutdown the PC. Then when i turned it back on it brought up an SMS (short for Safe Mode Screen), so I went into the BIOS and actually reset it to the default settings. However, upon rebooting, it gave me an SMS again. I kept restarting and resetting the bios (even though there weren’t any changes made and it was already defaulted) until I got a PCIe SMS screen. I also managed to get into Windows a few times, but it would always freeze after a few seconds, and the PC would shut off. Then, more SMS screens.
I tried flashing the BIOS again with the same version it was already on, but that didn’t seem to help either. Sometimes, the PC would just power cycle a few times before showing another SMS. I should also mention that at one point, I got a ‘Windows diagnosing your PC’ screen, but it just led to a blank blue screen (not to be confused with a BSOD). I honestly think there was some user error on my part, and I really want to get this fixed.
SPECS:
ROG STRIX Z690-E
I5-14600KF
8GB 5200Mhz cl42
RX6950XT phantom gaming
UD90 1TB
