Question Ryzen 3600 error on Tomahawk MAX

[tinpanalley]

I was just going through the relatively basic steps of setting up my new Ryzen 3600 in my new MSI B450 Tomahawk MAX. I plugged in only the CPU, the heatsink, and the motherboard to the PSU. But when I go to boot, I get the Tomahawk's CPU error LED. I mean, I literally have done nothing that could have caused this.

PLEASE, any ideas??
Thanks.

 

[Lebernum]

I am having a somewhat similar and very frustrating moment w my build as well. The tomahawk 450b max w 3600 ryzen shows “white” for about 3 seconds and then goes red. Here is what I have done:
1. Went over each connection point, power cable. Started w the (8?) pin power to the cpu, then the sata to the hard drive, each fan power cord which all are running, and double checked the graphics card power.
2.went down the book trouble shooting and the internets list of “what did you do wrong?!? What’s wrong w you?!?” List. This includes:
-reinserting graphics card And power cord
-changing the sata cord to different ports for my hard drive.
-changing my ram slots as suggested. This entails using only one 8gb in slot 2 (dimmA2).
- changing my hdmi to standard monitor plug in.
I worried that I put in the processor the wrong way, but I triple checked my placement epics and used the triangle for mapping.
Someone please help. I don’t think I did anything amateur like static fried anything; really paranoid and methodical.
Last note:the motherboard has4 red led lights on it labeled “cpu, ram,vga,boot”. After unhappy red lighting of the motherboard and a beep, it lights up red on cpu, NOTHING on ram, then vga and boot. Again, please help.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The tomahawk 450b max w 3600 ryzen shows “white” for about 3 seconds and then goes red. Here is what I have done:

Last note:the motherboard has4 red led lights on it labeled “cpu, ram,vga,boot”. After unhappy red lighting of the motherboard and a beep, it lights up red on cpu, NOTHING on ram, then vga and boot. Again, please help.

Did you use the USB flash to a newer BIOS before you installed the CPU the first time? Maybe try flashing a newer / older BIOS from USB?

Before that, though, try a CLR_CMOS using the jumper, after unplugging the system. Maybe just something glitched in the CMOS config from factory testing.

Barring that, swap CPUs?

 

[Lebernum]

So, I removed the watch battery and let it sit out for 10 minutes to reset the BIOS. I didn't have OR didn't know where they put the bridge jumper connector on the motherboard. I see where to place the bridge jumper, but I didn't have one to connect. I also downloaded the Newer BIOS from MSI webpage. The computer fires up for about 8 seconds with white LED backing, then goes red. I could remove the new graphics card and use the one on my old computer to see if the graphics card is the issue.
If not, any other directions? My last build (8 years ago), i put it all together and TADA! All good. playing with bios and bridging things is pretty new to me. Learning as I go I guess. I will try the swapping of the graphics card next and then maybe pulling the processor to see if somehow I put it on wrong (I didn't. I pretty darn sure I didn't. I was very paranoid about this one fearing that I would fry it if I put it on wrong).

 

[Lebernum]

Did you use the USB flash to a newer BIOS before you installed the CPU the first time? Maybe try flashing a newer / older BIOS from USB?

Before that, though, try a CLR_CMOS using the jumper, after unplugging the system. Maybe just something glitched in the CMOS config from factory testing.

Barring that, swap CPUs?

Update: put my old graphics card in, still didn’t fire up. Attempted to remove the heat sink fan for the processor.
Looked and saw the processor is in right.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

I don't know about using a windows 7 drive from another PC, but I do know that it is possible to do a fresh install of windows 7. However the newer hardware isn't officially supported in windows 7. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to the instructions here but there is a youtube video that has a link to modified drivers that work. Also windows update will no longer work without installing a patch( again not sure if it's alright to post a link to the patch).

As for the USB KB/mouse issue you can use MSI Smart tool to create a bootable windows installer using a thumb drive and it has the option to add USB and nvme drivers. I could only get it to work using the USB 2.0 port on the tomahawk.
If you decide to install windows 10 USB drivers are already included in the ISO/DVD for the installation.

 

[UsandThem]

I don't know about using a windows 7 drive from another PC, but I do know that it is possible to do a fresh install of windows 7. However the newer hardware isn't officially supported in windows 7. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to the instructions here but there is a youtube video that has a link to modified drivers that work. Also windows update will no longer work without installing a patch( again not sure if it's alright to post a link to the patch).

As for the USB KB/mouse issue you can use MSI Smart tool to create a bootable windows installer using a thumb drive and it has the option to add USB and nvme drivers. I could only get it to work using the USB 2.0 port on the tomahawk.
If you decide to install windows 10 USB drivers are already included in the ISO/DVD for the installation.

As long as it isn't a tutorial for piracy, doesn't contain malware, or isn't self - promotion (someone posting their personal video get views), it doesn't violate any rules that I am aware of.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

MSI's new "MAX" version motherboards ship with compatibility for all Ryzen CPUs including 3000 series right out of the box.

I picked up the OG version from Best Buy yesterday as an impulse buy, since it was only $111. They had gotten a fresh shipment in, and it had the Sept. firmware already installed. Works great with a 3600 OOB. The barebones bios does not bother me in the slightest. Lack of Bristol Ridge support is a good thing.

 

[Gorrillasnot]

As long as it isn't a tutorial for piracy, doesn't contain malware, or isn't self - promotion (someone posting their personal video get views), it doesn't violate any rules that I am aware of.

Cool thanks for clearing that up..I don't think what I'm about to post breaks any rules then.

This is a long video so it will require some time and patience to get through it and its a guide for windows 7 on x570 boards, but it also works for b450.
In the description it has a link to some beta drivers and a patch called wufuc to allow windows update to work.
The way I did it was after I installed windows 7 I installed b450 chipset drivers from here https://www.amd.com/en/support/chipsets/amd-socket-am4/b450.
Then I installed windows 7 drivers for LAN and sound from here https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/support/B450-TOMAHAWK-MAX#down-driver.
Installed the USB drivers from the youtube video I linked above.
Next I ran windows update and it installed some drivers for some of the unknown devices.
After I was done device manager showed all the right drivers were installed except I could never find a working driver for whats listed in device manager as PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller which is for AMD Platform Security Processor, AMD PSP 11 to be exact (AMD equivalent to Intel management engine).
I was able to install a driver for it, but device manager showed it as not working properly and on reboot the PC would not boot up.
I had to tap F8 to get to the safe mode screen then I chose Last known configuration that worked.
Uninstalled the AMD PSP driver and in device manager disabled PCI Encryption/Decryption Controller.