Hardware & Technical Testing a cpu on "empty" motherboard ?

Dsign

Dsign
Hey !

So my brother had a very nice rig and one day it stopped working. As I kinda know my way around computers I removed all components to see if anything was wrong. I spotted some burned pins on the gpu, not plugging that back in.

My question is this: as I don't know what caused the pins to burn, I don't know what is safe to use anymore. All I want is his cpu, a nice i7 vs my i5, but I don't know if it's damaged... Nothing unusual looking when inspecting it.

Should I try installing it in my rig ? I thought about removing all my components and just test it on the empty motherboard: only cpu. Would that work ? (my mobo has integrated graphics).
 

Shadowdancer

Shadowdancer
I would consider board, GPU, and PSU dead. The rest has a good chance of being fine. Checking the CPU would not be a problem, if that had shorted out there would be very visible marks around the socket.
 
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winterknight

W
Dsign said:
Alright good to know, 1 stick is 8gb saved :D

And please tell me, what could be the worst thing to happen ? Whole thing fried ?
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The components are not going to be powered by the PSU unless one of the connections PSOK (Power Supply OK) is correct.
If the CPU detects a fault they are pretty good, especially Intel, at shutting down and protecting itself. Unless it is the CPU that's faulty.
The CPU is not going to keep operating if the RAM fails the boot testing.

So in most cases the worst thing that can happen is the motherboard or RAM might release their smoke.

It is a well recognised fact, by electronics and computer engineers, that all things electrical work on smoke, because when it is released the device stops working.
 

Hell Razor5543

H
If my memory is correct, you will need (in order to test things safely) a CPU (with fan), memory, a GPU (to see the BIOS/CMOS screen, and an onboard GPU will do), the motherboard, a PSU and an HDD (as well as a keyboard and monitor). For example, the PSU uses switching technology, and all of the voltage lines (not all of the connectors, just all of the different voltage rails) need a load on them to allow it to switch between loads (otherwise it gets 'trapped' on an unladen line, and could either overload or shut down in self protection).
 
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Dsign

Dsign
Patrick_68000 said:
Have you tested the CPU fan ?

:)
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Shadowdancer said:
I would consider board, GPU, and PSU dead. The rest has a good chance of being fine. Checking the CPU would not be a problem, if that had shorted out there would be very visible marks around the socket.
Click to expand...

I didn't notice anything unusual on or around the socket, I'm pretty sure it's in good condition..

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Patrick_68000 said:
Have you tested the CPU fan ?

:)
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I did not, I have a new Corsair Hydro cpu cooler that I'll install with cpu.
 

EdzUp

EdzUp
Never test components in a computer you cant afford to lose, if a component is broken it could take the host machine with it.
 

Dsign

Dsign
EdzUp said:
Never test components in a computer you cant afford to lose, if a component is broken it could take the host machine with it.
Click to expand...

I would agree but I can't afford an other computer to test components either [where is it]
 
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