The motherboard is the foundation on which the system is built. Of course, it will not work without a central processor and power supply, but it is still considered a “circulatory system” of a PC. As with any other component, some problems can also occur with the board. And many are very upset when the platform crashes, because buying a new one can lead to hardware incompatibility of components.
If malfunctions occur, you should immediately think about how to check the motherboard. You may be able to fix some defects yourself. In addition, many problems can be seen even by inexperienced users.
What is needed for diagnosis?
Some people want to know if a motherboard can be tested without a processor. Immediately answer that without this component it is allowed to diagnose. But you can’t do without a power supply.
CPU, GPU and PSU are the components that most often fail. It is because of them that many begin to check the performance of the board. This is especially true for the power supply, which is important to learn how to choose correctly so that the system works stably.
Before checking
How to check the motherboard for performance? The first step is to carefully examine it. But before that, connect the power supply to it. If you have one of the latest models, then on it you will find the toggle switch, which in the assembled state of the PC is located on the rear panel of the system unit.
If the board is of the old type, you will need to “play the shaman” to connect it. You will have to close several contacts. To do this, you need to find out the model of the board and find ways to connect it without a button.
If the component is operational, a light will come on on it. A red or green LED is located on one of the edges of the device. Therefore, you will need to carefully examine the platform.
Visual inspection
How to check the motherboard? If the indicator does not light up, and you understand that there are some problems with the board, you will need to identify them. To do this, you will have to carefully examine and, possibly, even smell the board (in order to identify burnt areas). What should I look for?
- scratches on the component;
- condition of capacitors;
- extra details;
- deformed elements and connectors;
- pollution;
- BIOS battery.
External damage
How to check the motherboard - not everyone knows, but it is easy to guess that the first thing you need to inspect it. If you notice any scratches or cracks, then the performance of the device is already at risk. Even the smallest scratches can harm both the board and the system. This is due to the fact that the contact lines are intertwined and pass through the entire textolite. If at least one millimeter of this space is violated, then failures will be observed.
Capacitors
Batteries are often prone to various problems. Swelling of capacitors is a common problem that can happen with both the motherboard and the power supply. In one case and another, the problem indicates that something really happened with the board.
Capacitors look like cylindrical turrets. They are easy to spot, although they have significantly decreased over the past few years. How to understand that they are swollen? Well, firstly, capacitors do not swell all at once, so you will notice a difference in their appearance and can compare. When bloating, the element loses its cylindrical shape and a certain deformation is noticeable. The outer coating of the part is also violated.
What to do if such a problem is detected? You can take the board to a service center, where you will be replaced by capacitors for workers. There is also an option to do it yourself. To do this, you will need to purchase new parts on the radio market and replace the damaged ones.
It is important to understand that over time it may be necessary to once again figure out how to check the motherboard for performance, since such a procedure does not give any guarantee.
Extra parts and deformation
If something can happen to the capacitors, then other parts may become unusable. You need to inspect the board for the presence or absence of any details. If something is missing, you will notice it almost immediately. You may find on the board a chipped piece of one of the parts of the device. In this case, it will become clear that some element is not working properly.
You also need to inspect the device for deformations. For example, one of the contacts may be unnaturally arched in the other direction and you will notice a trace on which it should be located. It may be that the contacts of one of the slots are broken or deformed. All this accurately affects the performance of the system.
In this case, you are unlikely to be able to do anything. It is advisable to take such a fee to a service center, where specialists can "make a diagnosis" and determine the fate of the device.
Cleaning
How to check the computer motherboard? In the case of visual inspection, pollution of the platform can tell a lot. The fact is that few users pay much attention to cleaning the computer. Because of this, many errors and failures occur.
It is necessary to monitor not only the cleanliness of the cooling system and the power supply, but also the motherboard. Some small hairs and dust may interfere with the operation of some contacts. And if whole pieces of dirt are noticeable on the board, then you need to seriously clean it up.
It should be noted right away that synthetics cannot be used because of its static properties. It is recommended to use compressed air (not more than 3.4 atmospheres). This is the safest option that does not force the user to touch contacts and other connections with his fingers.
For thorough cleaning, use a soft brush. She needs to work in those places where dust is most accumulated: power supplies, fans, air intakes and radiators.
Reset
How to check if the motherboard is working? Sometimes the above procedures are not enough. It may be that the performance is suspended due to a system failure. Users note that often the board began to work actively after resetting the settings. What do I need to do?
On the motherboard there is a BIOS battery. It is very similar to the one used in watches, only in large sizes. The battery is responsible for all computer settings.
For starters, you can try to get it. Do not try to pick it with improvised means. Near the connector there is a lever that easily removes the battery. Wait 5-10 minutes and reinstall it in the slot. After resetting the system, the system may work again.
Why did a system crash happen? Some inexperienced users and novices overclocking can harm the system with their experiments. To avoid critical situations, the BIOS protects the system and blocks its operation. After the reset, everything will return to the original settings.
If the board refuses to respond to any commands, try replacing the battery. If a low-quality battery was installed on the motherboard, it could lose all its charge in a year. Due to the low battery, the board does not turn on. Find the markings on the battery and purchase the same new one.
Output
How to check the motherboard, few know. If you do not have enough knowledge, it is better not to experiment on your own. In the service center, specialists themselves diagnose the breakdown and advise what to do next. If you still have enough knowledge and experience, you can carry out the above procedures, but not the fact that the breakdown can be visually diagnosed or corrected by resetting the settings. You may need a speaker that sounds to indicate a problem.