How can I tell if it was my motherboard or my processor which died?

[AndrewR]

Had my wife's system die earlier tonight. It's an MSI motherboard so it has the LED diagnostic display, which are all red. According to the book, that indicates that the system hasn't yet reached BIOS initialization. Board does have power though (obviously). I removed the processor and looked at it, but nothing appears out of sorts -- not that I'm using a microscope or anything.

Any ideas?

 

[fatbaby]

Test another working processor on the mobo and test another working mobo with the processor

 

[mchammer187]

i never had a bad proc

more than half the time it is the mobo

the only way is if you have another working proc and motherboard

 

[SexyK]

I think if the mobo is okay, then you can start it up without the processor and it will give you a code on the diagnostic display other than all lit. if its stuck on that no matter what, i'd assume the board blew out.

Kramer