Motherboard testing s/w

QuickTech makes a whole host of products for this:

http://www.uxd.com/qtpro.shtml

http://micro2000.com/
The flagship PC diagnostics product is the Micro-Scope Diagnostic Suite, a collection of PC diagnostics routines, benchmarking and other tools for troubleshooting PC computer hardware. It is preferred by professional technicians in computer repair around the world, and includes memory testing, motherboard diagnostics, peripheral diagnostics, utilities for low-level formatting and much more. In a product called the Universal Diagnostic Toolkit the Micro-Scope PC diagnostic is combined with another Micro 2000 exclusive called Post-Probe. The Post-Probe is a POST reader card used to diagnose ?dead? PCs by using the POST codes or Power On Self Test

The only testing of pwer supply that I have used is checking the Power and Ground leads with a volt meter

Generally speaking, if you can boot into Windows, the motherboard and power supply are working.

If you wish to get down and dirty with a dead or questionable system, you can't do much better than a POST card and a power supply test load.

Here is a link to a low cost POST card:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SY-TECHAID&cat=CAS

From time to time, they also have an ATX power supply test load that sells for under $10 (US)

If you wish to thoroughly test a power supply, you need to load all outputs for maximum total combined current.
Then, monitor the DC output lines with an oscilloscope. You can see noise and voltage fluctuations on a scope that you would never catch with a DMM.

Now, if all you want to do is monitor the health of your PC, give Motherboard Monitor a try.

http://mbm.livewiredev.com/

Depending on the motherboard, MBM will report voltages and temperatures.

Chas

To test an operable PC, you can use Burn In Test from Passmark or SiSoft Sandra. See links below:

http://www.passmark.com/products/bit.htm

http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/

Although I use POST cards, they are usually only good for a post mortem. It will tell you what part of the motherboard failed so you can be an expert when telling the customer why he needs a new mobo.

Easiest way to test a power supply is to swap it out with a known good, high quality, high output power supply. A voltmeter will verify output voltages. A basic tester will tell you if it is not functional but will not identify much other than a "dead" power supply.

Dalton