PC / Laptop check material
August 6th, 2013
Some guy previously told me about an PCI-card which you can insert in a stand-alone motherboard and then connect with a USB to your PC. You install a program on your PC so you can check if there are any errors in the components of the mainboard you are hooked on to. The PCI-card is supposed to work with tension/voltage.
I am looking for software/hardware to check PC’s if they are in good condition…
Does anyone know what I am talking about?
Greetings and thanks in advance for any advice/feedback!
something like this http://www.everbuying.com/PC-Motherboard-Repair-Troubleshoot-Diagnostic-PCI-USB-AIS-Parallel-Card-6-Digit-Codes-p-30240.html
Get an intelligent one, then you don’t have to look up the codes
eg
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC-PCI-intelligent-debug-card-motherboard-repair-tester-/280666499094
You can get them for about half the price from Hong Kong.
You can also get slightly different ones for lappies.
Thanks guys! I’m really going to look into this and tell you guys how it went. If you got any other tips n tricks, I’m really interested!
For the low price of things like this, it is always worth investing in one. Other items such as a cheap multi-meter, and psu tester are also worth investing in.
eg. (even cheaper from Hong Kong.)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PC-20-24-Pin-PSU-ATX-SATA-HDD-Power-Supply-Tester-UK-/280790934752
or if you want a more accurate one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATX-Power-Supply-Tester-20-24-Pin-Sata-LCD-PSU-HD-ATX-BTX-Voltage-Test-Source-UK-/180750308396
Thanks. I found different kinds of cards on DX:
http://www.dealextreme.com/c/professional-tools-for-pc-334
Which one do you recommend? I’m planning to order a smart one, one with a booklet for PC/laptops (I’m not sure this one will work for Laptops!) and one for Laptops (mini PCI):
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pci-isa-usb-laptop-6-digit-motherboard-analyzer-diagnostic-test-post-card-29062
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-7-lcd-pci-diagnostic-test-debug-card-for-laptop-58372
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-pci-e-pci-lpc-diagnostic-post-test-card-for-laptop-2-digit-codes-37916
I found out out there are some cards on DX called “POST”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POST_card
It doesn’t really clarify, since I’m not sure what the other ones are for… Can you inform me about the difference?
Did you get this?
Sorry mate, i missed the reply to your post.
The second one you have linked to in your post above I actually have one – it’s very handy, but obviously will only work in PCI slots in a PC, not a laptop (nor mobo’s with only PCIE slots like some of the newer high end mobos eg. Asus Rampage IV Extreme, which I am just looking at buying myself).
I think the different cards explain on the links what they will fit anyway, apart from that one which is misleading.
POST – as you have already looked up is “power-on self-test” which is performed by the BIOS before booting into Windows.
If for example you use one of these cards when a pc won’t boot into windows, and it’s not a simple obvious fault, then the information you can read from it will tell you what the problems is.
As mentioned earlier, the older models come with 2 digit codes, which you have to look up for the fault, the more recent ones are “intelligent” and actually display the message rather than having to look it up (can be time consuming if you are not used to working on mobo’s day in day out).
I hope that helps ?
Thanks! I will look more into it.
Are you aware of any RAM-diagnose testing materials? Like reading the clockspeed of RAM or check the amount or something? Or any other usefull tools you recommend besides the previous ones?
RAM, the best test IMHO is Memtest
http://www.memtest.org/
Thanks, this is quite helpfull. I will send you a PM when I made a new list!
3D-Troll replied: Thanks, this is quite helpfull. I will send you a PM when I made a new list!
That’s no problems, however if I am not about for a few days you will need to wait for a response, whereas if you bump this thread then others can help you
*Edit – for testing hard drives, go to the manufacturers support website, they have diagnostics apps, usually boot cd’s.
A useful monitoring tool for hdd’s is HD Sentinel Pro V3.7 which you can find posted on this board.
Hi, man, thanks for your help. Do you perhaps know anything about laptop-screens? I’m in search for some kind of an adapter, like this dude:
http://superuser.com/questions/114728/need-a-vga-dvi-adapter-for-a-spare-working-laptop-screen
Plan is to test separate laptop-screens without having each kind of laptop (so you can assemble everytime). Is the answer on the link I gave something you have knowledge about? Thanks, man.
Edit: New list!
POST-card with screen
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-7-lcd-pci-diagnostic-test-debug-card-for-laptop-58372
POST card: 4 digits PCI + ISA + LED
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pc-post-diagnostic-test-card-motherboard-analyzer-for-pci-isa-slots-4-digit-codes-33305
POST card: 2 digits PCI + Parallel (with USB) + LED / no input PCI clock
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/pc-post-diagnostic-test-card-motherboard-analyzer-for-pci-lpt-2-digits-23015
POST-card: 2 digits mini PCIe
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-pci-e-pci-lpc-diagnostic-post-test-card-for-laptop-2-digit-codes-37916
These were the best I could find (read the reviews and specs).
I haven’t a clue about adapters for LCD screens, I’ll have to ask around a little.
As mentioned previously, this one you have linked above, I have one myself – but you can only use it in desktops.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-7-lcd-pci-diagnostic-test-debug-card-for-laptop-58372
I’m not sure what you are going to be using it on, so you are best to choose one that suits your needs, eg. some you can connect to some lappies via 25 pin parallel printer port (LPT)
the Meerkat replied: I haven't a clue about adapters for LCD screens, I'll have to ask around a little.
As mentioned previously, this one you have linked above, I have one myself - but you can only use it in desktops.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-7-lcd-pci-diagnostic-test-debug-card-for-laptop-58372
I'm not sure what you are going to be using it on, so you are best to choose one that suits your needs, eg. some you can connect to some lappies via 25 pin parallel printer port (LPT)
Yes, that I chose various connections. Sometimes the descriptions differ from the pictures. For example you read “mini PCI” and on the picture “mini PCIe” and on another picture (backside) you read “PCIe” of the same item! I will update when they arrive.
Thanks for any feedback on the LCD-panels! Greatly appreciated.
If you know anything more about the LCD-panels, let me know.
Thanks for any feedback!