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Advanced Testing: Processors

Set-Up Testing Station

Retrieve the CPU Testing Kit box and CPU Motherboard box
CPU Testing Kit should contain the follow:

2 motherboard stands
1 Power Supply
1 PS2 keyboard
1 AGP Video Card
1 IDE Hard Drive
1 "The little things that count" Box with the following:
- 1 jewelers flat headed screwdriver
- 1 power switch
- 1 tube of ZP heat sink compound *best thermal paste for this process
- 1 hard plastic card for pin straightening
- 2 foam pads

Retrieve incoming CPUs for desired socket to be tested
Match CPU socket to label on motherboard from CPU Motherboard Box
Set-up motherboard on test stand. *IMAGE OF ARRANGEMENT GOES HERE
Plug Power Supply and power switch into motherboard; Power switch plugs into Front Panel connectors on
motherboard. Refer to manual if unable to determine appropriate location for switch to plug into.
Install video card if no on-board video is available
Connect keyboard
Connect power cord and VGA cable from Monitor
Unmount heat-sink from motherboard and verify that CPU socket is in good condition

Preparing CPUs for testing

You will need a rag and cleaning agent such as thermal paste remover or contact cleaner

The can of PureElectronics Contact Cleaner is currently the best option

Apply a small amount of cleaning agent to the surface of the CPU and wipe COMPLETELY clean with the rag.
visually Check speed of CPU, if < 2.0GHz (Intel) or < 2000 model number (AMD) recycle
Visually inspect pins for damage, straighten bent or damaged pins. If there is significant damage to the pins, recycle CPU

hint: now is a good time to check that the CPU properly seats on the motherboard

Apply a VERY THIN coat of thermal paste to each CPU. *CONSIDER CHANGE IN PROCEDURE

Testing CPUs

Install CPU into motherboard
Place heat-sink in place and hold down with free hand
Power on motherboard with power switch
If a post screen appears, the CPU has passed
*NEED WORK ON WORDING HOW TO DETERMINE A FAILED CPU
Else, if no Post screen, such as a blinking light on the monitor, determine probable cause of failure

Should this motherboard be able to run the proc?

Yes: recycle proc
No: set proc aside until we have a board that can test it.

Power down the motherboard using the power switch
remove heat-sink
remove CPU
Clean thermal paste from CPU
repeat until all CPUs have been tested OK or recycled
using the fine point sharpie, label the CPUs (see below)

CPU Labeling

Labeling process for Intel procs

All information to label an Intel chip is located on the face of the chip.

across top - proc speed/L2 Cache size/FSB speed

e.g. 2.8/512/533

IF FSB = 800, write HTT (Hyper Threading Tech) immediately under the FSB speed

across middle - provide chip name if not a P4

e.g. Celeron, Celeron D, Duo Core, Pentium D

across bottom - identify month and year that the proc was tested OK

e.g. 8/10 for procs tested in August 2010

Labeling process for AMD procs

AMD chips use a model number system to identify proc speed, L2 and FSB. In the "Book of CPUs" you will find list of AMD procs, locate the model number (e.g. SDA2800AI03BX) from the face of the chip and cross-reference with the list in the binder to find the required information for labeling.

top right corner - write socket type

e.g. 754, AM2, AM2+

across middle - 1st line: Proc Family

2nd line: AMD model number

3rd line: proc speed/L2 Cache/FSB speed

e.g. Sempron

2800+

1.6/256/800

across bottom - identify month and year that the proc was tested OK

e.g. 8/10 for procs tested in August 2010

Tracking CPUs

After testing and labeling, a final incoming count must be made of the procs tested OK before being transfered into CPU storage
Using a sticky note, Label the Socket Type and Date across the top.
Group procs by family, then L2 Cache, then FSB, and finally by proc speed
Note family as a header line for each family
Make a line for each CPU type tested, with a count following the line

e.g.

Celeron:

2.2/128/400 - 2

2.6/128/400 - 1

P4:

2.0/400/533 - 4

2.26/512/533 - 2

2.4/512/800 - 1

3.0/1M/800 - 2

Store this sticky note on the front page of the "Book of CPUs"

=== Finishing Up ===

Now that all good procs have been tested, labeled and counted they need to transfered into stock.
Collect the stack of CPUs from Tardis that matches the socket you just tested.
Integrate incoming procs into Tardis stock by Family, then L2, then FSB then proc speed.
Put CPUs back in storage.
Clean the heat-sink and re-seat onto Motherboard.
tear down and store all equipment in boxes and put back.
Know that you are now awesome and capable of testing CPUs Yaaa!!!!

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