Motherboards

For more details on the subject, check out Motherboard Testing

Boards We Like to Test

• Socket 423
• Socket 462
• Socket 478
• Socket 479
• Socket 603
• Socket 754
• Socket 775
• Socket 939
• Socket 940
• Socket AM2

How to Test

• Grab a Motherboard, check for visual defects (blown caps, mutilated components)
• Secure MoBo to plate, ensuring the risers are not grounding out the board.
• Test battery,
• Add a tested processor and a fan for that MoBo
• Add tested memory
• Attempt to post
  • Connect the minimal things needed to post (power, keyboard, video, etc).
  • If it does not post replace the processor (do an internet search with the socket number to find the range the range of compatible processors).
• Power down, then attach:
  • Imaged hard drive to IDE1 (Primary)
  • CD Drive to IDE2 (Secondary
  • Floppy Drive to FD controller
  • Peripherals (mouse, keyboard, Video)
• Boot into BIOS
  • Set the clock and date.
  • Change the boot order to be CD Rom first , Hard Drive second, Floppy disconnect.
• Boot to Memtest, Let it run for a minute. Test all memory slots. (The memtest program is a boot option on the hard drive)
• Boot up to Operating System
  • Check that the mouse and keyboard work.
  • 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
  • Open terminal and run stress-test.
  • Test all card slots by plugging in a video card, turn on computer, if you get a screen turn off computer and repeat with all slots.
• Some cases might call for testing
  • SATA