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==
-First, grab a motherboard and testing kit with cards, memory and volt meter.
+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 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 ==
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 423|Socket 423]]
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 462|Socket 462]]
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 478|Socket 478]]
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 479|Socket 479]]
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 603|Socket 603]]
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 754|Socket 754]]
 * [[wikipedia:Socket 775|Socket 775]]
 * [[wikipedia:Socket 939|Socket 939]]
-* [[wikipedia:Socket 940|Socket 940]]
 * [[wikipedia:Socket AM2|Socket AM2]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket AM3|Socket AM3]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket 1136, 1155, 1156|Socket 1136, 1155, 1156]]
+* [[wikipedia:Socket F1|Socket F1]]
 [[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 discolerment.
+* 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.
-;Check the battery for the CMOS, if less than 3 volts replace it.
+; Add memory : DDR, DDR2, DDR3, depending on the manufacturer suggestions.
-; 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.
-; Power down, then attach:
+; Boot into BIOS
-* Use an IDE cable (40 pin)to connect the hard drive to the Primary IDE.
+* Set clock and date.
-* Use the second IDE cable to connect the CDROM drive to the Secondary IDE.
+* Change boot order to CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, disable everything else.
-* Use the floppy cable (34 pin)to connect the Floppy Drive to the motherboard.
+; Power down, then attach an IDE cable (40 pin) to connect the hard drive to the IDE.
-; Boot to Memtest, Let it run for a minute, it will run for ever if you let it (The memtest program is a boot option on the hard drive)
+; Boot up to Linux UBUNTU
-; Boot up to Operating System
+* Check that the mouse works
-* 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 take a look at a data cd
+* If you have on-board sound, goto a website that has sound
-* run stress-test
+* For each memory slot, plug in memory and POST to test it.
-; Some cases might call for testing
+* Reboot using the SATA hard drive & verify that it works.
-* SATA
+; If the motherboard works and is worthy of the store then label it & and take it to the store.
-; If the motherboard works and is worthy of the store then label it, anti-static bag it and put it in the store box.
+* Fill out label (example below) by checking off all working components. For card and memory slots, list the number of slots as well.
- processor type and or speed
+:NOTE - this image is obso, correct one pending
- type of memory it takes
+[[image:mobolabel.png|Mobo Label]]
- special features
 ==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/
 * 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''
-<graphviz>
-  digraph {
-     node [fontname="Helvetica", fontsize="11"], fontsize="9"
-     edge [fontname="Helvetica"]
-   start         [label="START HERE", shape="box", style="bold"]
-   bios          [label="Enter the BIOS", shape="box", style="bold"]
-   recycle       [label="RECYCLE", shape="box", style="bold"]
-   capacitors    [label="Are there any\nBLOWN CAPACITORS?"]
-   addstuff      [label="If needed, add \nRAM, VIDEO\nand/or POWER SUPPLY", shape="box"]
-   connections   [label="Check the connections\nDoes it post?"]
-   memory        [label="Move and\nchange memory modules\nDoes it post?"]
-   video         [label="Are you using\nONBOARD VIDEO?\nTry an AGP card\nand/or a PCI card\nDoes it post?"]
-   oldcpu        [label="Does it still have\nthe CPU\nit came with?"]
-   knowncpu      [label="Swap the CPU\nDoes it post?"]
-   jumpers       [label="Check the JUMPERS\nand BIOS DIP SWITCHES\n(See manufacturer manual)\nDoes it post?"]
-   cmos          [label="Clear the CMOS\nDoes it post?"]
-   start       -> capacitors
-   capacitors  -> recycle [label="YES"]
-   capacitors  -> addstuff [label="NO"]
-   addstuff    -> connections [label="NO"]
-   addstuff    -> bios [label="YES"]
-   connections -> cmos [label="NO"]
-   connections -> bios [label="YES"]
-   cmos        -> memory [label="NO"]
-   cmos        -> bios [label="YES"]
-   memory      -> jumpers [label="NO"]
-   memory      -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
-   jumpers     -> video [label="NO"]
-   jumpers     -> bios [label="YES"]
-   video       -> oldcpu [label="NO"]
-   video       -> bios [label="YES"]
-   oldcpu      -> recycle [label="NO"]
-   oldcpu      -> knowncpu [label="YES"]
-   knowncpu    -> jumpers [label="NO"]
-   knowncpu    -> bios [label="YES"]
-  }
-</graphviz>
-[[Category:Hardware Testing]]
-[[Category:Advanced Testing]]
-[[Category:Motherboard Testing]]
-[[Category:Advanced Testing Kit]]

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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