A cluster of concerning user reports has emerged, highlighting potential stability issues with certain AMD AM5 platforms. In a single day, five separate PC builders took to online forums to report that their Ryzen 9000 series processors had suddenly died or refused to boot when used with ASRock B850 and X870 series motherboards. The cases span different CPU models and ASRock boards, with users describing identical failure symptoms, raising questions about a possible shared cause.
The reports come from Reddit users who built their systems at different times in 2025, noting their PCs ran stable until experiencing a sudden, unrecoverable failure.
The Common ASRock Failure Pattern: No POST, Debug Lights On
Despite involving different components, the five reports follow a remarkably similar pattern. Users describe a system that powers on but never reaches the POST (Power-On Self-Test) stage. The primary indicators are either a “00” post code on the motherboard’s diagnostic display or permanently lit CPU and DRAM debug LEDs.
Affected configurations include:
- Ryzen 5 9600X on an ASRock B850 Pro-A
- Ryzen 7 9700X on ASRock B850M-X and X870 Pro RS
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D on an ASRock X870E Taichi
- Ryzen 9 9950X3D on an ASRock X870E Nova WiFi
In each case, standard troubleshooting steps—including clearing the CMOS, swapping RAM kits, and using BIOS Flashback to reinstall the firmware—failed to restore functionality. One user reported the same CPU also failed to work on a replacement Gigabyte board, pointing toward a processor failure.
The Manufacturer’s Silence and User Frustration
A significant point of contention in the community is the lack of official communication from ASRock or AMD regarding these reports. When similar issues arose on ASUS AM5 boards last year, the company publicly acknowledged the reports and initiated an investigation. ASRock has so far remained silent, offering no guidance to users or confirming if an investigation is underway.
This silence leaves affected customers in a difficult position, navigating the warranty process (RMA) for both the CPU and motherboard without knowing if a firmware update or setting change could prevent a recurrence. It also creates uncertainty for other ASRock AM5 board owners.
Context and Considerations
It is crucial to note that these are user reports, not confirmed failure analyses. Without official manufacturer investigation, a single root cause cannot be definitively identified. The failures could potentially be related to motherboard firmware (BIOS), power delivery components, the CPU’s integrated memory controller, or a combination of factors.
These anecdotal reports also contrast with recent reliability data from professional system integrator Puget Systems, which found Ryzen 9000 CPUs to have a low and stable failure rate in its controlled builds. This suggests the issue may be specific to certain hardware combinations, settings (like high-speed memory EXPO profiles), or environmental factors.
Also, Read
- AMD’s New Ryzen 7 9850X3D Arrives at $499, Pushes Older Model to a More Attractive Price
- Leaked Tests – Ryzen 7 9850X3D Shows Small Performance Uplift Over Predecessor
- AMD Creates Premium Bundle – Ryzen 7 9850X3D, DDR5 RAM, and Cooler in One Box
For now, users experiencing similar “00” or debug LED failures are advised to document their exact configuration and contact both ASRock and AMD support to initiate warranty claims. The growing number of similar reports will likely increase pressure on the manufacturers to investigate and communicate their findings publicly.