does any mobo diagnostic software exist either for linux or standalone that i can download? i have a suspected bad mobo that has given me errors with other diagnostic software, but i'd like to test it with other software as well. it won't boot into windoze, only linux (go figure). any suggestions?

Most motherboard software I have seen is vendor specific however if you want to run a memory test then memtest86 is good and runs standalone off a floppy.

http://www.linux.com/archive/feed/138463

It can be installed via apt in ubunutu.

AFAIK, the Phoronix Test Suite is a benchmarking suite. I doubt that it will help you finding issues with your motherboard.

To be exact, the true test is to use the OS you want or need. I used to work at a line repair a long time ago. You'd be surprised how fragile the whole thing is and how many things can fail.

On many factory tests they do a few tests along the production path. Many are house made diags to run tests on crystals and clock circuits and some do a fancy test of input outputs to a graph. There are plenty of ways to test a board but the ultimate test is the actual OS. A board that can run XP may never run W7 even though they are same level. Normally you get fail's on new versions but almost all boards are made to run the current MS version period.

They do sell diag suites and there are some different pci boards that can do some diags. Unless you are working on a few hundred or thousand you would be better off junking the board and get a new one.

Many tests are on:
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

I would use memtest86 as well as a manufacturer-specific HDD test.

"Since the PTS [Phoronix Test Suite] is what Phoronix uses for its reviews as well, the package also contains a few Phoronix Certification and Qualification Suites (designed by Phoronix for use in their reviews) that test the graphics and motherboards on your desktops and servers."

http://www.linux.com/archive/feed/138463


http://www.phorogit.com/index.php?p=...ccd4f9bed1366e

OK, I agree that Phoronix Test Suite is not diagnostic, as it will not tell you (for example) that a capacitor or chip is bad. The motherboard tests will however be a pretty good indication of whether the motherboard has a problem or not. That is what I was looking for when I found this 2004 post.

If you run this suite, it definitely will tell you if it fails to complete the test. But you don't know if it is motherboard, CPU, RAM or eventually a failing disk, so I wouldn't recommend it to test a machine for diagnostic purposes. There a many tools that test only one component at a given time, and even then it can be difficult to say if the failure is because of a malfunction of a specific part or just a side effect.

TobiSGD,

Here is my situation: I have known good hard drive with kubuntu 8.04 installed -- I use this for testing motherboards. I have known good memory, as it passes memtest86 on more than one motherboard. I have CPU's that work good on most motherboards. Then I have some motherboards that are always OK, and I have some that have acted up, so I am not sure about them.

> There a many tools that test only one component at a given time ....

What do you recommend that should I use to test the motherboards that I am not sure about?

Thanks,

I do this a lot, and IMO there is no easy way to test boards.

Its best to have more than 1 'known good' part of any type. 1 known good is a great start, but the ultimate test is multipule versions...of everything.

Memory that will memtest fine on some boards will fail on others.

You can get the same thing with CPUs as well, even if the board does support the CPU (that is, CPUs that will work on 1 board might not work or work reliably on a different board).

Video cards (PCI, AGP and PCIe) help a lot. I'm currently using a machine fails to load any OS if you use the onbaord video, add a PCIe card and there is no problems.

Having at least 1 'overkill' power supply is another trick.

More odd but useful things to have are PCI/PCIe PATA and SATA controllers. Only really useful if there doesnt seem to be any problems with the basic setup (motherboard, RAM, video card/onboard video) but when you try to run a LiveCD, or install to a HDD, or use a preinstalled OS you get problems.

IMO sound card/chip and network card/chip is the last thing to worry about, get the PSU, motherboard/chipset, CPU, RAM and video working, then check the PATA/SATA ports, then worry about addons like networking and sound.

BTW, there is commercial testing software. Its not cheap, and even then AFAIK it wont tell you if you've got failing caps (which is a major cause of hardware problems)

A lot of the time the eyeball is the best tool for checking major motherboard problems, like failing caps, followed by the nose. Burnt and burning electronics have a very distinctive smell.