Debug led: what it is and what it is for

We explain what the LED debug is and what it is useful for and because it incorporates many motherboards next to its control panel. During the last years we have seen the arrival of a greater number of motherboards with a Debug LED, an element Quite interesting that very few users know, but it can be very useful when identifying problems on our PC.

What is the LED debug?

Debug LED is a small electronic ink screen that includes some motherboards, mainly the highest-end models within each platform. The debug LED is usually located in a corner of the PCB, next to the buttons for start and restart in case the board has them. We leave you an image that illustrates the LED debug on an Asus motherboard:

How does the LED debug work?

During the PC booting process, the POST process takes place in which all the hardware connected to the motherboard is checked, and in case everything is correct, the system starts normally. But what happens when there is a problem? Normally the POST will warn us of the presence of a hardware problem by means of a beep code, which will be heard through the speaker of the PC box.

We recommend reading our article on What do the motherboard beeps mean?

Debug LED is another way to represent this type of problem, since some equipment may not include the speaker, or you are simply using a motherboard outside of a PC case, for example in a benchtable. The debug LED uses numeric codes to warn us of the hardware problem in question, although it can also warn of problems in the BIOS setup. The meaning of the codes is established by each motherboard manufacturer, so it will be necessary to consult the manual to know their meaning.

We hope it has become clear to you what the LED debug is and what its importance is. You can leave a comment if you have any questions or want to make a suggestion.