What Are the Signs & Symptoms of a Bad Motherboard Processor?

Motherboard problems with your personal computer can affect its systems in frustrating ways. Often, a proactive strategy is the best in fixing motherboard problems, which can be as simple as properly plugging in a component or fitting hardware properly in the case. Failure to correct motherboard problems could result in a full reinstall of PC software or cost you a new computer.

The BIOS menu is the setup menu for your computer. When it appears on its own during the boot-up process, it's usually indicative of an extensive software or hardware error such as a problem with the motherboard. The BIOS menu governs the hardware agreements for your computer, so if your motherboard is having difficulty communicating with recently installed components such as a graphics card, it will show up on this menu when the computer tries to boot. The appearance of the BIOS menu can also indicate that a component on the motherboard is faulty or has ceased functioning.

If your motherboard is able to make it through the boot process, you may experience application malfunctions during operation. This may mean that multitasking with your personal computer greatly slows its processor speed or certain applications that put strain on hardware components, such as video games, may stall your processor or shut it down altogether. Motherboards that are breaking down will show an increased inability to manage all of the computer's hardware components, leading to more shutdowns and application lag times.

The dreaded "blue screen of death," technically known as a Windows Stop Error, is indicative of software or hardware failure such as a motherboard crash. This error occurs when your operating system encounters an error from which it cannot recover and has to shut down the system. You may experience this error frequently or when running specific applications that the motherboard no longer has the capacity to operate. Blue-screen errors can require a complete reinstall to effectively repair or may require a replacement of the motherboard if the error is not software-based.