POST Diagnostic/Error cards

[ibex333]

I need to get one of these cards so i can troubleshoot my hardware during a POST, but I'm not sure which one to get... There's so many of them on e-bay! Are these cards compatible with ALL hardware? Will they detect problems with newest cpu's, mobos, etc?

Can someone please link me to a card that would be good for me? Thanx very much.

 

[Quiksilver]

Why would you need one of those when you can just use the beep codes.

 

[jamesbond007]

I haven't purchased one before, but you may want to extend your search to include a "port 80 card" as they are frequently dubbed.

Could try here too.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Why would you need one of those when you can just use the beep codes.

My PC doesn't do these beep codes... Do I have to buy a separate speaker for that? I don't have this feature on my mobo or on my case...

 

[VinylxScratches]

Are you sure your PC doesn't do beep codes? If your PC turns on and nothing happens that means it's not even reaching the initial post and is likely a serious failure on the motherboard. Check the manual or look by where you connect all the buttons from the case to the motherboard and see if there is a PC Speaker connection.

 

[ibex333]

Where is the PC speaker itself usually located? On the mobo or on the case?

 

[VinylxScratches]

Usually the case has a really small speaker and you connect it to the motherboard. The usual wire color is red and black and it connects where all the other connections are (Hard drive LED, Power Button, etc....).

 

[jamesbond007]

Give us a motherboard model number please.

 

[ibex333]

it was a gigabyte ds3 (in my sig)

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: Quiksilver
Why would you need one of those when you can just use the beep codes.

Beep codes aren't presented for everything.

These cards can be alot more helpful giving detailed and direct errors, such as a corrupt BIOS chip that needs replaced.

These cards won't catch everything though either. Such as your board won't post do to a bad circuit module where your CPU's aren't even powering up.

 

[ibex333]

So are these cards compatible with most systems?