Difference between revisions of "Motherboard Testing"

Latest revision as of 18:23, 21 November 2012

Process

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

Blown capacitors Check for curved or leaking top.

Check for visual defects (blown caps, mutilated components)

If even only one capacitor is bad, send the motherboard to recycle.
look for burn marks or discoloration.

Next

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.

Add memory: DDR, DDR2, DDR3, depending on the manufacturer suggestions.
Attempt to POST

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.

Boot into BIOS

Set clock and date.
Change boot order to CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, disable everything else.

Power down, then attach an IDE cable (40 pin) to connect the hard drive to the IDE.
Boot up to Linux UBUNTU

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, goto a website that has sound
For each memory slot, plug in memory and POST to test it.
Reboot using the SATA hard drive & verify that it works.

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.

NOTE - this image is obso, correct one pending

Useful links

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 [1], Asus [2], MSI [3] 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/

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===
+==Process==
-;Check the motherboard and be able to identify :
+First, grab a motherboard and the motherboard testing kit which contains known good video cards, memory, and processors.
-*Motherboard type (ATX family, Baby AT, LPX, NLX
+Check the motherboard to see if it is on the list of mobos we like by identifying the socket number.
-*Packaging type ( SECC, PGA…)
-*Socket type (Slot 1, Slot A, Socket A, Socket 370…)
-.[[Image:Blown_fuse_screenshot.JPG |thumb|''[[Blown capacitors]]'' Check for curved or leaking top.]]
+== Boards We Like to Test ==
-;Check the capacitors
+* [[wikipedia:Socket 775|Socket 775]]
-*If only one capacitor is bad, send the motherboard to recycle except if it is one that supports Pentium P4.
+* [[wikipedia:Socket 939|Socket 939]]
-*If  no capacitors look bad, carry on…
+* [[wikipedia:Socket AM2|Socket AM2]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket AM3|Socket AM3]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket 1136, 1155, 1156|Socket 1136, 1155, 1156]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket F1|Socket F1]]
-;After checking the packaging and the socket type that matches the motherboard,
+[[Image:Blown_fuse_screenshot.JPG |thumb|''[[Blown capacitors]]'' Check for curved or leaking top.]]
-*Identify the motherboard by manufacturer, model, version
-*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.
-;Add some memory : DIMM modules, SDRAM, DDR SDRAM or Rambus RDRAM (remember to install Rambus in pairs and use CRIMMs).
+; Check for visual defects (blown caps, mutilated components)
+* If even only one capacitor is bad, send the motherboard to recycle.
+* look for burn marks or discoloration.
+; Next:
+* 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.
+; Add memory : DDR, DDR2, DDR3, depending on the manufacturer suggestions.
+; Attempt to POST
+* 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.
+; Boot into BIOS
+* Set clock and date.
+* Change boot order to CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, disable everything else.
+; Power down, then attach an IDE cable (40 pin) to connect the hard drive to the IDE.
+; Boot up to Linux UBUNTU
+* 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, goto a website that has sound
+* For each memory slot, plug in memory and POST to test it.
+* Reboot using the SATA hard drive & verify that it works.
+; 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.
+:NOTE - this image is obso, correct one pending
+[[image:mobolabel.png|Mobo Label]]
-;Attach all the cables on the motherboard.
+==Useful links==
-*Use an IDE cable to connect the hard drive to the Primary IDE.
-*Use the second IDE cable to connect the CDROM drive to the Secondary IDE.
-*Use the third IDE cable to connect the Floppy Drive to the motherboard.
-;Check the battery for the CMOS, if less than 3 volts replace it.
+* 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.
-*Try to get the board to POST (see flowchart).
-*If board beeps but won't post, check the [[Beep Codes]] and diagnose the problem.
-[[Category:Hardware Testing]]
-[[Category:Advanced Testing]]
-[[Category:Motherboard Testing]]
-===FROM NOW ESD PRECAUTION===
-*While testing, when you change the display screen, sometimes the mouse doesn't respond. At this point, NO PANIC !!! All you need to do is to press Ctrl + Alt + F1 then Ctrl + Alt + F7 and you get it back.
-*Now you are ready to connect the ATX power connector on the motherboard. Then turn the power supply on.
-*The system can POST immediately or if not, you need to turn on the switch on the motherboard. (You have to be careful and make the contact between two metallic pins)
-*Now starts the fun. You’re mission if you accept it is to determine if this motherboard works or not.
-*Before to make any hurry diagnostic, be sure that your processor is compatible and works, the memory modules are reliable, AGP video card is working.
-.[[Image:Dip_switches_screenshot.JPG|thumb|''[[Dip switches]]'' Check for dip switches setting in the motherboard manual.]]
-*You can also have a look to the BIOS jumper setting or dip switches if present on the motherboard. They are sometimes not set properly. See manufacturer manual.
-*Ok so now your motherboard POST correctly and let you access the Basic Input/Output System or BIOS. (Esc, F1, F10 or Delete are the potential key to access it)
-*At this stage, you need to know that the BIOS recognize the Hard Drive,  the CDROM drive and the floppy drive. Don’t worry if you don’t see the CDROM drive in the bios it doesn’t show it all the time, but instead you will pay close attention to the screen when booting.
-*When the system boots, you will be able to check one more time that the basic hardware are detecting.
-*From now you can consider the motherboard is working. Don’t forget to stick a gizmo number on it with a quick description of the processor.
-===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.
 * The two main processors manufacturers can be visited on : http://www.intel.com/ and http://www.amd.com/us-en/
 * If you just want an answer to any question around the computer or to understand something, go to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/
-===Flow Chart===
-''Here's a chart flow that can help you to visualize the process''
-<graphvizr>
-  digraph D {
-   start         [label="START HERE", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
-   bios          [label="Enter the BIOS", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
-   recycle       [label="RECYCLE", fontsize="11", shape="box", style="bold"]
-   capacitors    [label="Do you notice any blown capacitors ?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   p4        [label="If motherboard supports pentium 4 send it to tree house otherwise recycle it", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   connection    [label="After checking the connections, Does it post ?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   memory        [label="After moving, changing memory modules, Does it post ?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   video         [label="On board video, try an AGP card. Does it post ?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   cpu           [label="CPU may not work, and need to be changed. Does it post ?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   jumpers       [label="Check the Jumpers and Bios Dip Switches. See manufacturer manual Does it post ?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   cmos          [label="After clearing the CMOS, does it post?", fontsize="9",shape="box"]
-   start       -> capacitors [taillabel=""]
-   capacitors  -> p4 [taillabel="YES"]
-   capacitors  -> connection [taillabel="NO"]
-   connection  -> cmos [taillabel="NO"]
-   connection  -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-   cmos        -> memory [taillabel="NO"]
-   cmos        -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-   memory      -> jumpers [taillabel="NO"]
-   memory      -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-   jumpers     -> video [taillabel="NO"]
-   jumpers     -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-   video       -> cpu [taillabel="NO"]
-   video       -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-   cpu         -> jumpers [taillabel="NO"]
-   cpu         -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-  }
-</graphvizr>

Difference between revisions of "Motherboard Testing"

Latest revision as of 18:23, 21 November 2012

Process

Boards We Like to Test

Useful links

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