Assuming your motherboard is the ASUS Pro WS WRX90E-SAGE SE, AA is what you want to see typically. The AA Q-Code means that your system is about to enter ACPI mode, meaning UEFI/BIOS is handing control over to the OS (very simplified explanation).
But if you don’t see anything, I would consult the motherboard manual and check that all the on-board switches are set to their default positions. Just check that everything works first before you start flipping switches.
Edit: From the manual:
yup. thanks - already tried switches to default.
It shouldn’t make a difference, I just don’t want that extra screem in Windows Display prferences as it messes with layout and Logitech Flow
realised that I think it boots into bios but doesn’t display it.
So if I hit escape and return a few times it boots.
I turned off the Wait for F1 in Bios and it usually boots now.
Ok so I did have to have the on board vga switch on to get post screen and bios… Still jumps past it sometimes.
Same issue, - the power button(red) and reset button(green) on the MB lights up, the USB2 header connected to my AIO cooler also supplies power (Enermax logo lights up), but nothing else…
All parts new from reputable vendors Sept 2025:
(yeah the RAM is not ideal, temporary solution, but it should run fine with JEDEC only slower, right?)
No fans even try starting, no link on IPMI NIC, no other LEDs at all on the board (Q-LEDs, Q-Code and BMC LED completely dead).
Using the power button on the MB to try to start the PC, - all headers/M2/GPU disconnected, only fans, PSU connections, a single DIMM and the CPU remain connected.
And yes, my CPU appear authentic.
For those of you who have this MB;
Shouldn’t the BMC boot even without CPU/RAM installed on the board?
I have the exact same problem. Did you find a solution?
Sendt my MB back to vendor for RMA a couple weeks ago now, they approved the RMA yesterday confirming faulty MB.
I will update my post with how the new board works (when it arrives), compared to the dead one.
