How can I check if a motherboard is shot?

What is the best way to test a mother board to see if it shot?

 

Here's a start.

 

My method would be to remove any added hardware. If it has more than 1 stick of RAM, just use one or if there is only one you could check it with the diagnostics in my signature (if you can boot to a floppy). If there is a problem during POST, try disconnecting each drive (CD, HDD, floppy) one at a time. If the graphics are involved, it may be a problem with the graphics and if it is a new graphics card, then it may be that it is not compatible with the motherboard.

I have one motherboard where the IDE controller is faulty, I have added a PCI IDE controller card and it runs fine.

You need to find whether the problem is in the motherboard or the hardware attached to it.

Check the "stickies" at the start of this forum:
http://www.motherboards.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=3
Do a search for the problems you are noticing.

Matt

 

Hi Matt. Wonder what you'd think about a MoBo that won't boot. Don't think a bad cpu could fry a good MoBo, could it? Can a dead MoBo fry a good cpu in testing? Would you substitute the cpu, the motherboard, or both?

"to see if it shot" [sic] sounds like it really won't boot, and I'd consider substitution, possiby starting with the psu.

 

Hi Sparrow,

From one instance I know of, I think it could. (A fellow burnt out two of his neighbour's/friend's motherboards). I think you should try changing the CPU, rather than the motherboard.

No, not that I have heard of.

See above. If you keep the combination of motherboard/CPU, do you need to change the RAM or graphics card? Can you use your old parts?

One thing I forgot to mention, check the BIOS updates at the motherboard manufacturer's website.

Unless we know the symptoms it would be impossible to tell. Can it be isolated to one area (I mentioned the IDE controller)? A faulty PSU could well be the cause, I just try swapping for another.

I think we need to see what the problems are (pleasantlake?) before coming to a conclusion. The motherboard is the "go-between" for all the other hardware.

Matt

 

Depends on the cause of death, e.g. if due to a lightning strike (one experience that occurred in a rural setting) I had to replace everything except the disk drives and case which for some unaccountable reason still worked. But I frequently re-use the graphics card and memory, if they test ok..

Agree that it would be kind of pleasantlake not to keep us guessing.

 

Follow up

I just wanted to let everyone know I appreciate their advice. Right now I have company at our house from out of state so unfortunately I wont be able to try everyone's suggestions until next week. I promise I will and also I will get back to everyone to let them know the status of my problem. I do feel it might be a PSU problem. The processor fan checks out OK. But I am temporarily out of time. Talk to you next week after the company leaves.