I’m sure most of us know that the motherboard is the heart of the computer. And this is because of a reason! And one would ask; what is that reason?
Well, the motherboard is basically a circuit board that holds together some of the most essential components of your computer. In simple words, a computer is nothing without a motherboard!
Being the most crucial part of the computer, it’s the most expensive one! Even sometimes the repair costs can exceed the price of a new computer. But here is a thing; when a motherboard is dying out, it gives you some warning signals. And if you’re able to notice these signs, you can save your motherboard before it crashes.
Today we’ll go through some of the most common symptoms of a motherboard failure. So, from now on you could be a lifesaver for your computer. Let’s get right to it then!
Blue screen of death
Do you know what a blue screen of death is? Well in BSOD, the whole screen of your PC appears blue with failure messages with error codes keep popping up. BSOD mostly occurs due to hardware issues involving the motherboard, RAM, or HDD but they’re plenty of other reasons too. To find out whether the problem is related to your motherboard you can run the error codes on Google and you’ll know if your motherboard needs a fix.
Slowdown in performance
Another sign that indicates a faulty motherboard is a slowdown in your PC’s performance. Your PC may take too long to boot or programs that would normally run smoothly, load pretty slowly. So whenever you feel your PC is lagging a lot, it may be because of motherboard failure.
Physical damages
One of the most obvious signs of a motherboard failure is physical damage. You can take your PC to a technician or inspect it for yourself if you have the know-how. Physical damages can be caused by poor handling or high electrical surges.
Any motherboard board damage can cause the whole thing to fail. Even the tiniest of scratches on the PCB tracks are enough for a short circuit. Water damages are also quite common. You can easily detect water damage from the discoloration of some small stickers present on your motherboard. And while you’re at it, see for any burns or bubbles on the circuits of resistors.
Sometimes the problem is not with your motherboard. So if you happen to have any spare cards (GPU, hardware, RAM), separately replace each of them to see if it makes any difference in the performance.
Hardware not recognized
When your motherboard is close to dying, it stops recognizing any hardware attached to it. For instance, your mouse, hard drive, USB, keyboard — any peripherals would stop working. Although the problem could also be with your hardware. So try multiple attachments before you give up on your motherboard.
Apps malfunctioning
If you somehow manage to boot up your computer with a defective motherboard, the applications or your PC may start to collapse. This is because a failing motherboard isn’t able to manage hardware components. And this will result in apps lagging or crashing all the time.
Fail to boot
If your computer fails to boot, whenever you press the power button. Chances are your motherboard has gone bad and might need a repair.
Freezes or glitches in performance
Computer freezing is yet another symptom of a malfunctioned motherboard. It could also happen because of some software issues. But if it doesn’t go away for a long time then most likely it’s bad news for your motherboard.
Do you what a BIOS menu is? Well, it’s a setup menu on your computer that can be accessed by pressing some magical keys (F1, F2, F10, F12, Del, or Esc) depending on your computer. But if it keeps popping up out of nowhere whenever you boot up your PC then it could mean something fishy is going on your motherboard. And do remember! It’s not always the motherboard causing this constant problem, other components could also be the culprit.
Beep noises
Whenever a motherboard is close to dying, your PC starts to give beep sounds. More like the last cries for help. When your motherboard is faulty, you will hear a pattern of beeps. It’s either one beep followed by three, four, or five beeps. Or it could be four beeps followed by two, three, or four beeps indicating serial or parallel port problems which also suggests motherboard malfunctioning.
PC restarting randomly
Another typical sign of a motherboard failure is the random restarting of your PC. But don’t start freaking out already! This can also result from a virus attack. So, fully scan your PC before losing hope for your motherboard. If the problem persists even after scanning your PC then you can be a little worried about your motherboard.
PC overheating or burning smell
If you feel like your PC gets much hotter than before or if you notice any bad odor then I’d recommend instantly switching off your computer. This means that your motherboard has reached a dangerously high temperature and should be cooled off before use. But if you keep using your PC in this condition, then your motherboard is going to suffer a bad fate. And there’s also a chance, you might end up damaging other components as well.
Muhammad Allayhan, a gaming and PC hardware virtuoso, breathes life into pixelated worlds. A legendary overclocker, he unlocks hidden power in gaming rigs. Navigating from 8-bit realms to today’s masterpieces, Muhammad’s words immerse readers in an ever-evolving digital odyssey. Join him as he reveals the secrets of gaming’s cutting edge.
