Difference between revisions of "Motherboard Testing"

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==Process==
 
==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.
 
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 ==
 
== Boards We Like to Test ==
  
−
* [[wikipedia:Socket 478|Socket 478]]
 
−
* [[wikipedia:Socket 754|Socket 754]]
 
 
* [[wikipedia:Socket 775|Socket 775]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Socket 775|Socket 775]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Socket 939|Socket 939]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Socket 939|Socket 939]]
 
* [[wikipedia:Socket AM2|Socket AM2]]
 
* [[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.]]
 
[[Image:Blown_fuse_screenshot.JPG |thumb|''[[Blown capacitors]]'' Check for curved or leaking top.]]
  
 
; Check for visual defects (blown caps, mutilated components)
 
; 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.  
 
* 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.   
 
* 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.
 
* Put a compatible heatsink with a fan on top of it.
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; Boot into BIOS
 
; Boot into BIOS
 
* Set clock and date.
 
* 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
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; 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
 
* 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
−
**Make sure the audio jumpers on the motherboard are set correctly. Here is a common configuration:
 
−
**[[Image:Jumper_Pins_2.png]]
 
 
* 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.
+
* 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.
−
; Some cases might call for testing
 
−
* 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.
 
 
* Fill out label (example below) by checking off all working components. For card and memory slots, list the number of slots as well.
 
* 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]]
 
[[image:mobolabel.png|Mobo Label]]
  
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* If you just want an answer to any question around the computer or to understand something, go to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/
 
* 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"
 
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    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"]
 
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  connections  [label="Check the connections\nDoes it post?"]
 
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  memory        [label="Move and\nchange memory modules\nDoes it post?"]
 
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  video        [label="Are you using\nONBOARD VIDEO?\nTry an AGP card\nand/or a PCI card\nDoes it post?"]
 
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  oldcpu        [label="Does it still have\nthe CPU\nit came with?"]
 
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  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
 
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  capacitors  -> recycle [label="YES"]
 
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  capacitors  -> addstuff [label="NO"]
 
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  addstuff    -> connections [label="NO"]
 
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  addstuff    -> bios [label="YES"]
 
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  connections -> cmos [label="NO"]
 
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  connections -> bios [label="YES"]
 
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  cmos        -> memory [label="NO"]
 
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  cmos        -> bios [label="YES"]
 
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  memory      -> jumpers [label="NO"]
 
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  memory      -> bios [taillabel="YES"]
 
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  jumpers    -> video [label="NO"]
 
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  jumpers    -> bios [label="YES"]
 
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  video      -> oldcpu [label="NO"]
 
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  video      -> bios [label="YES"]
 
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  oldcpu      -> recycle [label="NO"]
 
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  oldcpu      -> knowncpu [label="YES"]
 
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  knowncpu    -> jumpers [label="NO"]
 
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  knowncpu    -> bios [label="YES"]
 
−
  }
 
−
</graphviz>
 
−
 
−
 
−
[[Category:Hardware Testing]]
 
−
[[Category:Advanced Testing]]
 
−
[[Category:Motherboard Testing]]
 
−
[[Category:Advanced Testing Kit]]
 

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

Mobo Label

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.
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