Z590 stuck in bootloop (Solved)

[Remeca]

So I installed an nvme SSD, and now my PC is just going into boot loops. The diagnosis LEDs light up normally for CPU and RAM, but when VGA lights up the PC restarts and it begins over. If I hold the power down it will stop the loop, but then it will restart after a few seconds. I took out the new ssd and tried again, same thing. I took out the GPU and same thing, but the VGA light stayed on a little longer with it gone before restarting. Resetting the BIOS also did nothing. Did I kill it? I have never had an ESD, in over 20 years of building my own PCs, and I take the usual precautions, but I don't know what else it could be?

Solved: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/z590-stuck-in-bootloop-solved.313815/post-5105483

 

[Macro Device]

Bootloops signal about PCI-E instability. Try remounting your CPU, try a different CPU. Less likely than the CPU, your motherboard might have failed.

Considering you have an RKL CPU you might've installed your SSD into PCI-E 4.0 slot. This is why I am suspecting your CPU in being toasted.

 

[ir_cow]

I would just clear CMOS and go from there.

 

[Macro Device]

I would just clear CMOS and go from there.

Resetting the BIOS also did nothing.

 

[Remeca]

Bootloops signal about PCI-E instability. Try remounting your CPU, try a different CPU. Less likely than the CPU, your motherboard might have failed.

Considering you have an RKL CPU you might've installed your SSD into PCI-E 4.0 slot. This is why I am suspecting your CPU in being toasted.

I don't have another CPU to test with. I installed my previous ssd in a 4.0 slot with no problem. This one was installed into an open 3.0 spot. I will try remounting the CPU tomorrow, but it was working perfectly 5 minutes prior.

 

[ir_cow]

Always a first for everything, but I have yet to hear of a MVMe drive killing a CPU. Just saying...

Considering you have an RKL CPU you might've installed your SSD into PCI-E 4.0 slot. This is why I am suspecting your CPU in being toasted.

 

[Macro Device]

I have yet to hear of a MVMe drive killing a CPU. Just saying...

Me too. I don't suspect the SSD to be a killer, I rather consider the CPU being a bit defective and failing due to that.

But OP has to get a different CPU or a different motherboard. Or perhaps a different set of RAM.

 

[Remeca]

Going to be tricky figuring it out without spares. I can try reseating the CPU, and one ram stick at a time in different slots, and a different PSU.

Fixed it. I wanted to eliminate as many possibilities as I could at once, so I unplugged everything unnecessary, reseated the CPU, used one ram stick, and used a different PSU. It started with a boot loop again, but then the VGA light stayed on after the second cycle. So I put everything back together the way it was originally, plus the new ssd, and it booted up just fine, minus having to configure the bios again. So, solved I guess, other than having no clue what caused it. Gave me a heart attack.