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Sometimes your motherboard starts troubling and you have to check it once in a while. And for that, you have to take it out and test it But, how to test motherboard without CPU? Because this is something that needs discussion as we mostly troubleshoot it within the CPU.
So, if you read the article till the end, you will get to know how you can test a motherboard without a CPU and why is it even better? So, read the article till the end!
How to test your motherboard without CPU?
You can only test your motherboard if your motherboard has the post-on-self-test feature. Because this will allow you to troubleshoot the problem while learning how to test motherboard without CPU.
Also, it will require LEDs for this process. But, please keep in mind that this post-on-self-test feature is only available on the best quality motherboards.
Why test the mother board without a CPU?
Testing your motherboard without CPU may sound strange but there is nothing wrong with it. However, you have to learn that when you take your motherboard out, it will not pass the power-on-self-test.
This means that you will not see anything appearing on the screen. Because the motherboard is no longer connected with the graphics processor.
And, if you think you can make it turn on because you have a dedicated GPU, this won’t work either. This is what you have to keep in mind while learning how to test motherboard without CPU?
Otherwise you may get confused with the problem. However, if your motherboard is alive, it will give beep sounds after troubleshooting if it has a beep code speaker. And, the LED will flash then.
You need to test your mother board right after you purchase it because sometime, they arrive dead already. So, once you have build your computer and CPU, it will be very hard to figure out the issue later. And, that’s why many gamers or pro users do a motherboard test right after purchasing it.
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How to test motherboard without CPU? Complete guide 2022 is here!
Here is how to test motherboard without CPU in the following ways:
- Unbox the motherboard for bench testing.
- Plug the power connectors into the motherboard.
- Install other components.
- Connect your power supply with the wall socket.
- Turn on the motherboard.
How to test motherboard without CPU-unboxing
The first step is to inbox the motherboard that has just arrived. And, you can either place it on the box that it has arrived in, or place it on an anti-static surface. You can also place it on a large piece of cardboard.
Beware to not place the motherboard on a conductive surface or a metallic surface because you don’t want to shine like an LED after touching it right? (Just kidding everybody knows that already!) Here is the next step of how to test motherboard without CPU?
Plugging the power connector
Now it is time to plug the two power connectors. One is an 8-pin power connector on the motherboard for the CPU. And, the second is 24 pin power connector for the motherboard.
These connectors already come with the power supply unit. In my case, my supply unit arrived with an extra 4-pin CPU connector for older CPUs and motherboards.
Almost every CPU arrives with an 8-pin power connector these days. And, this power connector serves 280 watts of power to the CPU. However, for an older system, you should go with 4 pin connector for the CPU that gives 140 watts. So if you are learning how to test motherboard without CPU, take care of these points.
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Installing the components if you want
You can also install RAM, graphics card, or hard disk but they will not be of much use here. However, I recommend that you should at least keep the hard disk is attached to the motherboard so that, if you somehow face any trouble, you don’t end up crying.
Because I lost all my data when I tried it first. So, it is a first-hand experience and you should trust me about that, or else cry like me! I am Kidding of course! You can skip this point if you have to be direct on how to test motherboard without CPU and if you are in hurry.
Plug the power supply
Now it’s time to plug the power supply. And, safety comes first, so wear plastic slippers and nonconductive gloves first of all. Also, plug the power supply after making sure that your motherboard is on an anti-static surface. This is not just about how to test motherboard without CPU but also about life! So don’t mind me!
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Turning on the motherboard
It is time to turn on the motherboard. And, if your motherboard is in the CPU, you can easily turn it on by just finding the power switch pins on the motherboard. You can mostly find them on front panel header.
Once you find them, you can connect the power switch cable to the pins from the case. Once you have done this all, you can turn the ON button on, and that’s it! You are now good to go.
Now, the question is, how to turn on the motherboard without power button?
How to turn on the motherboard without power button?
The latest and high-end motherboards do have power buttons on them. And, you can simply turn the motherboard on to see if it is dead or not as I said above. But, some older motherboards or budget-friendly motherboards need a manual turn-on by you. So, you have two options about them.
- You can use the case’s power switch cable.
- You can manually jump-start the motherboard.
In the first case, you can keep the CPU casing a bit closes to the motherboard so that, the power cable can reach the front panel header.
In the second method, you can take a screwdriver with 2 power switch pins on the front panel header. Now you will use this screwdriver to jump the pins of the power switch ON.
Also, take care that the screwdriver does not touch another pin. Otherwise you will be doing a moon walk while touching the motherboard. (Again, I know! But that’s how I work!)
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Conclusion
So, in this article, I told you how to test motherboard without CPU and you got an easy method to do so with or without the CPU. So, if you have bought a motherboard recently, go for that and check the motherboard if it is dead or not.
FAQs
Can I check the motherboard without the CPU?
Yes, you can check the motherboard without a CPU but this will not show any display at all. This is understood because the graphics processor is not there. However, instead of that, you will hear beep sounds if the speaker is there with the motherboard.
Can we test the motherboard without CPU?
Yes, you can test the motherboard without CPU and this is because it is sometimes necessary to check and troubleshoot the problem.
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