▷ How to know if the motherboard is dead?

When it comes to hardware related issues, motherboard issues are among the most feared by users. The motherboard is one of the most expensive components, so it means making a pretty big hole in your pocket. Sometimes users and even technicians prematurely declare that some motherboards are dead on arrival without performing extensive diagnostic tests. This article will guide you towards conducting relevant tests to determine if a motherboard is dead.

Index of contents

Learn how to determine if your motherboard is dead

Before taking any action with your motherboard or any other component connected to it, be sure to discharge your static electricity. If possible, buy yourself a static wristband and always wear it before interacting with your PC components. If you don't have access to a static wristband, a simple way to discharge static electricity from your body is to gently touch a metal surface with your fingers.

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Turn on your PC and wait for a short beep. If nothing is displayed on the monitor and a short beep is not heard, these may be indications of a motherboard failure. The short beep signifies the success of the PC power-on self-test. This beep is also technically known as the "POST beep". POST is the way the PC checks the necessary system requirements and hardware connections for the system to power on properly. Almost 50 percent of the time, if no beeps are seen and nothing is displayed, this is indicative of a dead motherboard. You must perform all possible tests, to rule out any other hardware defects, and make sure that your motherboard is really dead.

The first thing is to rule out a fault in the RAM or the graphics card

Remove the RAM and graphics card and turn your PC on again. In this step, we will try to rule out a defect in these two components. Most boards produce a beep code similar to the POST sound if it detects that no RAM is installed. This RAM error sound is characterized by long, repetitive beeps. So if you hear this type of beep after powering on your motherboard it follows that the motherboard is not dead and that it is the RAM that is causing the problem. If such a beep does not occur, then you should continue with the remaining diagnostic tests.

Another way to rule out a RAM-related defect is to try to reset the RAM to other memory slots if possible. This further rules out the possibility of RAM or motherboard slot failure. Try another functional RAM if possible. If you have additional, compatible RAM available, you might want to try using it on your motherboard to rule out memory-related issues.

Check if the speaker on the motherboard is properly connected to its designated slot. Beeps from the motherboard are made possible by a small speaker connected to the motherboard. Check your motherboard manual to find where this speaker is located and check if it is still properly connected.

The power supply, possible cause of the problem

Try a different power supply. There are times when the power supply may seem functional and normal, but it is not true. Just because the power supply fan or CPU fan is spinning and the power LED lights are on, it doesn't necessarily mean that the power supply is delivering the necessary voltage. If you have a replacement power supply, or if you know someone who does, take it and test it on your board.

Reset CMOS

Reset the CMOS. Right now, we are running out of cards to play. The complementary metal oxide semiconductor or CMOS is a part of the motherboard that is commonly known to house BIOS settings. There are two ways to reset the CMOS on the board. The first is to remove the CMOS stack, you should see it without a problem. You need to put the CMOS battery back into its slot after at least 5 minutes and then turn on the PC.

If that doesn't work, you could try another way. You may need to use the jumpers to perform a full reset on your CMOS. The location of these jumpers and the process for resetting the CMOS when using them vary from motherboard to motherboard, so the best way to get complete information on this process is through the motherboard manual. After successfully completing the necessary steps, turn on your motherboard and cross your fingers.

If this doesn't work try mounting your other components on a similar board. This last step could be the last nail in the coffin for your situation. Migration of all essential hardware connected to your motherboard to another motherboard which is the only sure way to validate if your motherboard has finally succumbed to death.

With this ends our article on how to determine if a motherboard is dead, remember to share it on social networks so that it can help more users who need it.