Distinguishing Between The Pieces
Upon opening a computer case, it may appear that the CPU and motherboard are one piece but in fact, the motherboard is the printed circuit board that occupies the largest space in the average computer tower. It has a socket of specific dimensions, into which a compatible CPU is inserted. Contemporary computers can have rather impressive assemblies attached to the motherboard, usually around the center of the board. This is the heat sink and cooling fan arrangement to keep the CPU within its operating temperature range. There’s usually a tiny speaker on the motherboard, often round, black and the size and shape of a stack of several five-cent coins, though other shapes and sizes occur.
CPU Cooling Issues
A quick visual inspection of the cooling fan may give a clue that the CPU has problems. This requires removal of side panels in computer towers or access panels for laptop computers. Heavy dust build-up lowers the efficiency of the fan and is a sign that all is not well. But you can’t just simply check for spinning fans, since multi-speed fans operate based on the temperature of the CPU. If your computer has been turned off, the CPU will be cool already. If your computer does operate for a short period of time after turning on, it is likely that CPU overheating is the cause of the computer failure.
Computer Speaker
When your computer is started, a short beep is common. Before the computer loads an operating system, the motherboard’s native software, called the BIOS, does a power-on self-test. Beeps are used to communicate problems, and different manufacturers use different beep codes. An unresponsive computer that is now also silent at startup strongly indicates a motherboard issue.
Advanced Troubleshooting
As mentioned, these diagnostic steps aren’t conclusive. Advanced users may follow a troubleshooting flowchart and systematically identify where a problem originates, but this could require replacement of a CPU or trying the CPU in another motherboard. Writer Bio
