Share this article

Improve this guide

Dead Or Failing Motherboard: What Are The Symptoms?

Overheating could be the main reason for a failed motherboard

4 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

Share this article

Improve this guide

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

Key notes

The motherboard, amain circuit board, connects all the hardware components to your processor. It defines which storage device, memory module, and graphics cards can be connected to your PC.

If anything happens to the motherboard, your computer will fail to start. This guide will cover all the causes and symptoms to look for to be sure that your motherboard is dead.

What are the reasons for motherboard malfunction?

There could be various causes of motherboard failing; some of the popular ones are mentioned here:

How can I tell if the motherboard is dead?

1. No Power

The first thing to look for is the computer not turning on or showing no signs of power. Next, check for all loose connections and ensure the power cables are correctly connected.

Check if the power supply is supplying power to the motherboard. Use a PSU tester and multimeter or a different power supply cable.

You can use Newegg and Coolermaster to check the total power supply supplied to the motherboard.

2. Check for physical damage

Check your motherboard for damaged pins, printed circuit boards, or water damage. Also, check for burned transistors, chipped circuits, or bulged capacitors. Then, open the cabinet and look for the following to determine the cause.

3. Remove GPU or RAM to check

If the GPU is not seated correctly, then it could interfere with the motherboard’s ability to turn on. If you see the lights or LED turning on, pull out GPU and RAM to check if the motherboard powers without them. If it restarts, try to seat GPU and different slots for RAM to check if it works with the motherboard.

4. Disconnect everything

Check the internal components to analyze if they are using an unusual amount of power, failing the motherboard.

Try removing the SSD, USB, or other memory disks to check if the motherboard powers on.

5. Check the motherboard standoffs

Standoffs are metal risers that can keep your motherboard elevated from your motherboard tray. If the standoffs are touching the motherboard back can cause a short circuit.

Check the standoff positions to see if they are lined up with motherboard holes. Please remove them and reinstall your motherboard.

6. Check the CMOS battery

As the CMOS battery powers up your PC’s BIOS and maintains the system settings saved, it is an essential element. ACMOS batterywithout power can also mistakenly make you think that the motherboard might be dead, as this battery is used to power it.

Before doing anything else, take out and check the CMOS battery. If at fault, replace it with the new one.

7. Check beep codes or LED indicators

If your motherboard has status LEDs or beepers, they can indicate the problem with beep codes and error codes. With the motherboard speaker installed, you can get beep codes for troubleshooting. These are some examples:

If the motherboard has LED indicators, they may flash to indicate the issue with the CPU or motherboard. You need to check the manufacturer’s design to understand what your LED is indicating.

8. Freezes and glitches in the computer

If your computer is showingBSOD errorsor is running slow, then this could also be a sign of a motherboard issue. But, again, some errors in the description might point you toward the problem.

Also, if the computer is running hot or the fan is at full speed, it could be due to a bad cooling system. Check if the fans are working and remove the dust from the fan and PCB.

So, these are the symptoms that could confirm if the motherboard is dead or failing. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to mention them in the comments below.

Vladimir Popescu

Being an artist his entire life while also playing handball at a professional level, Vladimir has also developed a passion for all things computer-related.

With an innate fascination for research and analysis, and realizing many other people share his passion for this subject, he delved into writing Windows-related articles, so other people can also benefit from the acquired information.

When not writing kick-ass articles, Vladimir likes to spend his time doing Crossfit and creating art.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Δ

Vladimir Popescu