When building or using a computer, the motherboard is the heart of the system. It is responsible for connecting all of the components together and making sure that they work together. However, when something goes wrong with the motherboard, it can be difficult to know where to start fixing. One common issue that you can face is the light yellow on the motherboard.
In this article, we will discuss what it means, common reasons why it may be on, and steps you can take to resolve the issue. Whether you are a computer builder or a novice user, understanding the issue can help you keep your system running smoothly.
What Is Yellow Light on Motherboard?
The yellow light on a motherboard is a common indicator that something is not functioning properly. This light is often located near the 24-pin power connector and is labelled as “CPU_LED,” “DRAM_LED,” or “VGA_LED.” The specific label will depend on the motherboard manufacturer and model.
When the yellow light is on, it typically means that there is an issue with the component indicated by the label. For example, if the light is labelled as “CPU_LED,” it means that there is an issue with the CPU or its power supply. If the light is labelled as “DRAM_LED,” it means that there is an issue with the memory or its power supply.
There are several reasons why the yellow light may be on. It could be due to a faulty component, a loose connection, or an issue with the power supply. To troubleshoot the issue, it is important to identify which component is causing the problem.
What Cause Yellow Light on Motherboard?
The light yellow on a motherboard can indicate a variety of issues. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Firstly, the light yellow could indicate that there is a problem with a specific component on your computer or laptop. This can mean any hardware that is currently on the system is the cause of the problem. This can include you processor, graphics card, RAM or storage device.
- Secondly, a loose connection between the component and the motherboard can cause the yellow light to turn on. You will need to check all the connections present on the system. If was the case then it may resolve the issue.
- If the power supply is not providing enough power to the system, the yellow light may turn on. Now, you will need to ensure that all the power cables is providing enough power to the system.
- Overheating: If the system is overheating, the yellow light may turn on. Check that the cooling system is working properly, and that the thermal paste is applied correctly.
- BIOS issue: A corrupted or outdated BIOS can cause the yellow light to turn on. Updating or resetting the BIOS may resolve the issue.
How to Resolve Yellow Light Issue
Resolving the issue of the yellow light on the motherboard will depend on the underlying cause. Here are some steps that can help resolve the issue:
Check and Secure Connection
Ensure that all connections are secure and properly seated. This includes components like the CPU, memory, and graphics card, as well as power supply cables.
Remove or Replace CMOS Battery
Turn off PC by unplugging power cable and removing motherboard’s battery. Press power button thrice for 30 seconds. Reinstall CMOS battery and turn on PC to restore BIOS settings to default state. CMOS battery maintains motherboard settings including date/time. Optionally, use voltage meter to verify CMOS battery voltage, which should be around 3 volts.
Verify the Power Supply
Check that the power supply is providing enough power to the system. If it’s not, upgrading to a higher-capacity power supply can help resolve the issue.
Change RAM Modules
If you have dual-channel RAM sticks, consider switching from A1, A2 to A1, B1. Access panels on certain laptops enable RAM module replacement, while on other computers, RAM slots may be concealed. Upgrading RAM on specific laptops may necessitate disassembling the device.
Update BIOS to Latest Version
Sometimes light yellow issue on the motherboard happen due to old BIOS install on the system. Check if you are running the latest version or not. If not then follow these steps to update BIOS:
- First, you need to find out which version of the BIOS is currently installed on your computer. You can usually do this by checking the BIOS setup utility or using a system information tool.
- Go to the manufacturer’s website and download the latest BIOS update for your specific motherboard model and version.
- You will need to put the BIOS update file onto a bootable USB drive in order to flash it onto the BIOS chip. You can create a bootable USB drive using software like Rufus.
- Before you update the BIOS, it’s important to create a backup of the current BIOS in case anything goes wrong. Some motherboard manufacturers provide software for this, or you can use a third-party utility.
- Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup utility by pressing the designated key during the boot process. This could be F2, F10, or Delete, depending on your manufacturer.
- Once you’re in the BIOS setup utility, find the BIOS update utility and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to flash the new BIOS onto the chip.
- After the update is complete, restart your computer and verify that the new BIOS version has been installed.
- Check if the issue persists or not.
Check for Overheating
If the system is overheating, make sure that the cooling system is working properly. You may need to clean or replace the fans, or apply new thermal paste to the CPU.
Reset BIOS
If none of these works then the last option left with you is to completely reset your BIOS. This will bring back all the settings back to its factory default. These are the instructions:
- Restart your computer and enter the BIOS setup utility by pressing the key specified during the boot process. This is usually F2, F10, or Delete, but it can vary depending on the manufacturer.
- In the BIOS setup utility, navigate to the option to reset the BIOS settings to their factory defaults. This option may be called “Load Setup Defaults”, “Reset to Default”, or something similar.
- Select the option to reset the BIOS settings to their default values, and then confirm that you want to proceed with the reset.
- After the BIOS settings have been reset to their defaults, save the changes and exit the BIOS setup utility.
- After exiting the BIOS setup utility, restart your computer and verify that the BIOS settings have been reset to their default values.
It’s important to note that resetting the BIOS to its factory default settings will erase any custom settings that you may have made, including any overclocking settings. If you’ve made any changes to the BIOS, you may want to write them or take a screenshot before resetting the BIOS.
Seek Professional Help
If you’ve tried all of these steps and are still experiencing issues, it may be time to seek professional help from a computer technician. Issue like these can be due to several reasons and not all reasons have to do with the motherboard as well. There could be another component in the computer system that may be causing you this issue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the light yellow on a motherboard is an important indicator that something is not functioning properly. While it can be concerning, it is important to troubleshoot the issue and identify the root cause. Read this article to find all the methods to troubleshoot the issue with their step by step instructions.
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