Motherboard Testing - Revision history

Cliff: the latest per Tex

2012-11-22T01:23:40Z

the latest per Tex

Elizabeth: marked {{merge}} with link to MotherBoard Testing page

2010-11-23T18:53:02Z

marked {{merge}} with link to MotherBoard Testing page

Tex: /* Boards We Like to Test */

2010-11-04T19:39:38Z

Boards We Like to Test

Tex: /* Boards We Like to Test */

2010-11-04T19:34:30Z

Boards We Like to Test

Tex: /* Process */

2010-11-04T19:33:10Z

Process

Tex at 19:59, 26 May 2010

2010-05-26T19:59:08Z

Wwatson: /* Boards We Like to Test */

2009-08-18T23:19:46Z

Boards We Like to Test

DavidNewcum: minor tweaks

2009-08-15T20:28:31Z

minor tweaks

Elizabeth: /* Boards We Like to Test */ check the boxes on label and add number of slots

2009-05-27T00:13:17Z

Boards We Like to Test: check the boxes on label and add number of slots

Elizabeth: /* Boards We Like to Test */ added image of mobo label

2009-05-26T23:58:15Z

Boards We Like to Test: added image of mobo label

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Process==
-First, grab a motherboard and a motherboard testing kit which contains known good video cards, memory, and processors.
+First, grab a motherboard and the motherboard testing kit which contains known good video cards, memory, and processors.
 Check the motherboard to see if it is on the list of mobos we like by identifying the socket number.
 == Boards We Like to Test ==
 * [[wikipedia:Socket 775|Socket 775]]
 * [[wikipedia:Socket 939|Socket 939]]
 * [[wikipedia:Socket AM2|Socket AM2]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket AM3|Socket AM3]]
 [[Image:Blown_fuse_screenshot.JPG |thumb|''[[Blown capacitors]]'' Check for curved or leaking top.]]
 ; Check for visual defects (blown caps, mutilated components)
-* If only one capacitor is bad, send the motherboard to recycle except if it is one that supports Pentium P4.
+* If even only one capacitor is bad, send the motherboard to recycle.
 * look for burn marks or discoloration.
-; After checking the packaging and the socket type that matches the motherboard,
+; Next:
-* Identify the motherboard by manufacturer, model, version
+* Identify the motherboard by manufacturer, model.
 * Go to the manufacturer website or just search via google and determine with which range of processor the motherboard is compatible.
 * Put a compatible heatsink with a fan on top of it.
@@ Line 29: / Line 28: @@
 ; Boot into BIOS
 * Set clock and date.
-* Change boot order to to CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, Floppy disconnect.
+* Change boot order to CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, disable everything else.
-; Power down, then attach:
+; Power down, then attach an IDE cable (40 pin) to connect the hard drive to the IDE.
-* Use an IDE cable (40 pin) to connect the hard drive to the Primary IDE.
+; Boot up to Linux UBUNTU
-* Use the second IDE cable to connect the CDROM drive to the Secondary IDE.
+* Check that the mouse works
 * If you have on-board video, check that it works.
 * Test all the USB ports with a mouse
-* If you have on-board sound, play a audio cd, if not then open a terminal and run <tt>basiccheck -m</tt>
+* If you have on-board sound, goto a website that has sound
 * For each memory slot, plug in memory and POST to test it.
-* Test each card slot by plugging in network cards and connecting to the internet with each card.
+* Reboot using the SATA hard drive & verify that it works.
-* Run stress-test
+; If the motherboard works and is worthy of the store then label it & and take it to the store.
 * Fill out label (example below) by checking off all working components. For card and memory slots, list the number of slots as well.
 [[image:mobolabel.png|Mobo Label]]
@@ Line 57: / Line 49: @@
 * If you just want an answer to any question around the computer or to understand something, go to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Process==
 First, grab a motherboard and a motherboard testing kit which contains known good video cards, memory, and processors.
@@ Line 102: / Line 103: @@
+   }
 </graphviz>

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 * Go to the manufacturer website or just search via google and determine with which range of processor the motherboard is compatible.
 * Put a compatible heatsink with a fan on top of it.
-;Check the battery for the CMOS, if less than 3 volts replace it.
+; Add memory : DDR, DDR2, DDR3, depending on the manufacturer suggestions.
 ; Attempt to POST
 * connect the minimal things needed to POST (power, keyboard, video, etc)

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ; Check for visual defects (blown caps, mutilated components)
 * If only one capacitor is bad, send the motherboard to recycle except if it is one that supports Pentium P4.
-* look for burn marks or discolerment.
+* look for burn marks or discoloration.
 ; After checking the packaging and the socket type that matches the motherboard,
 * Identify the motherboard by manufacturer, model, version

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Process==
-First, grab a motherboard and testing kit with cards, memory and volt meter.
+First, grab a motherboard and a motherboard testing kit which contains known good video cards, memory, and processors.
-Check the motherboard to see if it is on the list of mobos we like identifying the socket number.
+Check the motherboard to see if it is on the list of mobos we like by identifying the socket number.
 == Boards We Like to Test ==

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ;Check the battery for the CMOS, if less than 3 volts replace it.
 ; Add some memory : DIMM modules, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM or Rambus RDRAM (remember to install Rambus in pairs and use CRIMMs).
-; Attempt to post
+; Attempt to POST
-* connect the minimal things needed to post (power, keyboard, video, etc)
+* connect the minimal things needed to POST (power, keyboard, video, etc)
 * if you need help see flowchart below.
-* If board beeps but won't post, check the [[Beep Codes]] and diagnose the problem.
+* If board beeps but won't POST, check the [[Beep Codes]] and diagnose the problem.
 ; Boot into BIOS
 * Set clock and date.
 * Change boot order to to CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, Floppy disconnect.
 ; Power down, then attach:
-* Use an IDE cable (40 pin)to connect the hard drive to the Primary IDE.
+* Use an IDE cable (40 pin) to connect the hard drive to the Primary IDE.
 * Use the second IDE cable to connect the CDROM drive to the Secondary IDE.
 ; Boot to Memtest, Let it run for a minute, it will run for ever if you let it (to get to memtest, hit escape on the screen after the BIOS option).
 ; Boot up to Operating System
 * Check that the mouse and keyboard work
-* If you have on board video check that it works.
+* If you have on-board video, check that it works.
 * Test all the USB ports with a mouse
-* If you have on board sound play a audio cd, if not then open a terminal and run basiccheck -m
+* If you have on-board sound, play a audio cd, if not then open a terminal and run <tt>basiccheck -m</tt>
-* For each memory slot, plug in memory and post to test it.
+* For each memory slot, plug in memory and POST to test it.
 * Test each card slot by plugging in network cards and connecting to the internet with each card.
 * Run stress-test
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 ==Useful links==
-* Information on different motherboards with summary description, it's quiet commercial but it provides quickely the basic information you're looking for : http://www.motherboards.org/ For complete and accurate information on motherboard just go to manufacturer website like Abit [http://www.abit-usa.com/], Asus [http://www.asus.com/], MSI  [http://www.msi.com.tw/] and the others. Sometimes you are able to download the motherboard manual.
+* Information on different motherboards with summary description, it's quite commercial but it provides quickely the basic information you're looking for : http://www.motherboards.org/ For complete and accurate information on motherboard just go to manufacturer website like Abit [http://www.abit-usa.com/], Asus [http://www.asus.com/], MSI  [http://www.msi.com.tw/] and the others. Sometimes you are able to download the motherboard manual.
 * The two main processors manufacturers can be visited on : http://www.intel.com/ and http://www.amd.com/us-en/

@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 * SATA
 ; If the motherboard works and is worthy of the store then label it, anti-static bag it and put it in the store box.
 [[image:mobolabel.png|Mobo Label]]