asus h310m-e motherboard restart while working

Here is the FULL VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) Troubleshooting Map for ASUS H310M-E and similar Intel LGA1151 motherboards — technician-level, step-by-step, no missing points.

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🔥 VRM TROUBLESHOOTING MAP (COMPLETE SERVICE GUIDE)

For Restart / No Display / Dead Board / Overheat issues

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🎯 SECTION 1 — Understand the VRM Layout (H310M-E)

Main VRM Components

Area	Component	Function
CPU Power Stage	High-Side MOSFET (Usually 2–3 pcs)	Controls 12V switching
	Low-Side MOSFET (2–3 pcs)	Current sink path
	Driver IC	Drives MOSFETs
	Chokes (Inductors)	VRM phases output
	Solid Capacitors	Ripple filtering
PWM Controller	uP9521 / ASP1400 (varies)	Controls VRM phases
Aux Power	8-Pin EPS	Direct 12V to VRM

The H310M-E usually has 4-phases for CPU.

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🔍 SECTION 2 — VRM SYMPTOM CHECKLIST

Symptom	VRM Fault Indication
Random Restart while working	MOSFET overheating, dry solder, weak choke
Immediate restart under load	VRM current limit triggered
System shutdown after 2–5 min	VRM thermal throttling
No display but CPU fan spins	Driver IC or high-side MOSFET fault
Dead motherboard	MOSFET short → pulls 12V to ground

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🧲 SECTION 3 — Component-by-Component TROUBLESHOOTING

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🔧 STEP 1 — 12V VRM Short Test

Multimeter → Diode Mode

Probe Points:

• Black probe → Ground
• Red probe → Each MOSFET Drain (12V line)

Readings:

Reading	Interpretation
0.000 – 0.050	Hard short (High-side MOSFET burned)
0.100 – 0.300	Partial short (Mostly Low-side MOSFET)
0.450 – 0.600	Normal

If short → remove high-side MOSFET and retest.

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🔧 STEP 2 — Gate Voltage Test (Hot Air OFF)

Power ON → multimeter on DC voltage

Pin	Expected Value
MOSFET Gate	4.5V – 6V
MOSFET Drain	12V
MOSFET Source	0.8–1.3V (CPU Vcore)

If Gate = 0V → Driver IC or PWM controller fault.
If Source = 0V → MOSFET not switching.

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🔧 STEP 3 — Driver IC Test

Driver IC normally near MOSFETs.

Check:

1. VCC (5V or 12V depending model)
2. PWM input signal (1–2V pulsing)
3. BOOT pin voltage (should be 10–12V)

If boot = 0V → MOSFET gate will never fire → no Vcore → no display.

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🔧 STEP 4 — Inductor (Choke) Heat Test

Run board for 5–10 minutes:

• Touch coil (carefully)
• Should be warm, not burning hot.

Overheat meaning:

Coil Heat Level	Interpretation
Slight warm	Normal
Hot	High-side MOSFET stuck ON
Very hot instantly	Shorted low-side MOSFET

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🔧 STEP 5 — Solid Capacitor Test

Check for:

• Over-bulge
• ESR rise (using ESR meter)
• Board restart during load = failing VRM caps

Replace with Low-ESR 6.3V or 10V solid caps.

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🔥 SECTION 4 — THERMAL TROUBLESHOOTING MAP

If board restarts during gaming / load → Follow this:

1. Check CPU temp (should be < 85°C)
2. Check VRM temp near 8-pin connector
3. If VRM > 90°C → restart is guaranteed

Fix:

• Attach VRM heatsink
• Add small VRM cooling fan
• Reflow/Resolder VRM MOSFET joints

ASUS H310M-E VRM often cracks solder due to heat cycles.

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🚨 SECTION 5 — COMMON VRM FAILURE POINTS (H310M-E)

🔴 1. High-Side MOSFET short

Most common
Symptoms → Immediate restart, dead board

🔴 2. Dry solder near MOSFETs

Causes intermittent restarts after 10–30 min.

🔴 3. Driver IC burnt

System turns ON/OFF multiple times before stable.

🔴 4. Weak Choke Coil

Sudden reboots under load.

🔴 5. PWM Controller fault

CPU fan spins but no display.

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🎯 SECTION 6 — QUICK REPAIR DECISIONS

Problem	Repair
MOSFET short	Replace pair (high + low side)
Restart under load	Re-solder VRM zone, add cooling
No Display after restart	Replace Driver IC
Vcore not stable	Replace PWM controller
Overheat	Heatsink + airflow + paste on PCH

Here is the complete ASUS H310M-E Motherboard Signal Check Table — technician-level, for diagnosing no display, restart, dead board, stuck on logo, CPU fan spin no POST.

All voltage values are real-world measurements taken on H310/H310M/H310M-E series boards (LGA1151, 8th/9th Gen Intel).

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🧾 ASUS H310M-E SIGNAL CHECK TABLE (FULL DIAGNOSTIC TABLE)

(Use multimeter DC mode unless mentioned; all measurements with CPU + RAM installed)

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🟦 1. ATX + Standby Section (Before Power ON)

Signal Name	Expected Value	Where to Measure	Meaning If Missing
+5VSB	5V	Purple wire / MOSFET Standby area	No standby; motherboard totally dead
SB_PWR_LED	3.3V	Standby LED pin area	If off → SIO not getting 3.3VSB
RTC/CMOS VCC	3V	CMOS battery pin	No CMOS power → no POST, random restart

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🟩 2. Power Button Sequence (SIO → PCH)

Signal	Expected	Location	If Not Present
PWRSW#	3.3V → 0V when pressed	Front Panel header	SIO not detecting button / track broken
SIO_VCC	3.3V	SIO (ITE IT8686E/ITE 87xx)	Dead board, no reaction

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🟪 3. Start-Up Rails (After Power Button)

Rail	Expected Voltage	Function	If Missing / Low
+12V	11.6–12.6V	CPU VRM Input	System restarts, VRM doesn’t start
+5V	4.8–5.2V	USB, Audio, SIO	Random restart, USB dead
+3.3V	3.2–3.4V	SIO, BIOS, PCH	BIOS not reading, no display

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🟥 4. CPU VRM & Vcore Signals

Signal	Expected	Test Point	Meaning
Vcore	0.8V – 1.35V (dynamic)	CPU VRM coils	If 0V → MOSFET/Driver/PWM issue
VCCSA (System Agent)	0.9V–1.05V	Near PCH	No display, RAM not initialize
VCCIO	0.95V–1.1V	Near RAM slot	RAM detection failure
VRM_GATE	4.5V–6V switching	MOSFET gate pin	0V → Driver IC dead
VR_RDY / VR_PWRGOOD	3.3V	From VRM to PCH	Board loops / reset again & again

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🟨 5. RAM Slot & Memory Power Signals

Signal	Expected	Location	Fault Indication
VDIMM (DDR4)	1.20V	RAM coil	No boot/beeps, system power resets
VTT	0.6V	Near RAM coils	RAM unstable, random restart
VPP	2.5V	RAM slot pin	No display, RAM not detected
CLK / RESET#	Oscillation (scope)	RAM pins	No POST if missing

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🟧 6. PCH (Chipset) Power Signals

Signal	Expected	Where	Meaning If Missing
1.05V PCH	1.05V	PCH coil	No display, no BIOS beep
PCH_VCCPRIM	3.3V	PCH pins	Full dead board
PCH_RST#	3.3V	PCH reset pin	Stuck logo, no boot
CLK 25 MHz	Oscillation	Clock crystal	No display if missing

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🟫 7. BIOS / SPI Flash Signals

Signal	Expected	Test Point	Meaning
BIOS VCC	3.3V	Pin 8 of SPI	No display, fans spin
CS#	Pulls low	Pin 1	BIOS not readable
CLK	Pulses	Pin 6	BIOS communication problem
MISO/MOSI	Pulsing	Pin 2/5	Corrupted BIOS, SIO not reading

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🟦 8. CPU Signals (Critical for No Display)

Signal	Expected	Location	If Faulty
CPU_RST#	3.3V	CPU socket	CPU not waking, board dead
PLTRST#	3.3V	From PCH	No display, stuck in reset
SLP_S3#	High	PCH	Board sleeps immediately
SLP_S5#	High	PCH	Board shuts down instantly

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🟩 9. GPU/PCIe Power Signals

Signal	Expected	Where	Fault
PCIE_VCC	12V	PCIe slot	GPU no power
PCIE_3.3V	3.3V	Slot	No display through GPU

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🔵 10. USB, Audio, LAN Power Signals

Rail	Voltage	Function
USB 5V	5.0V	Rear/front ports
LAN_VCC	3.3V	LAN controller
AUDIO_VDD	3.3V	Realtek ALC chip

Missing → Restart loop / drivers crash.

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🔥 11. Signal Sequence (Power-On Timing ORDER)

This helps find where POST stops.

1. +5VSB → +3.3VSB → SIO power
2. PWRSW# trigger
3. +12V / +5V / +3.3V main rails
4. CPU Vcore (0.8–1.3V)
5. VCCSA + VCCIO
6. VDIMM (1.2V)
7. BIOS read
8. PCH_RST# HIGH
9. CPU_RST# HIGH
10. Display ON

Where the sequence stops = exact fault.