SYSTEM BOARD TESTS

The System Board Tests window runs a series of routines to test the CPU, NPU, DMAs, PICs, RTC/CMOS, 8042 (Keyboard controller) and the speaker. XTs will only have one DMA and one programmable interrupt controller. AT systems will have two DMAs and two PICs. Newer systems will usually use an integrated peripheral controller. This one chip contains two 8237 DMAs, two 8259 PICs, two PITs and RTC/CMOS.

Screen – System Board Tests

Microprocessor Test – The Microprocessor Test will run a series of routines to test the CPU chip, from the 8088 to the latest Pentium IV, AMD64 or Cyrix processor.

The CPU chip performs all the system's logical operations. The tests include a test for the registers (both 16 and 32 bit), logical instructions, arithmetic functions and the instruction set for each type of CPU. Multi-processor systems are also tested and failures are assigned to a particular CPU.

NOTE: The arithmetic test includes a routine to detect the 386 divide bug.

Coprocessor – The NPU Test will run a series of routines to test the numeric processor. The coprocessor can do mathematical operations 10 to 100 times faster than the CPU. This takes the strain off the CPU. Most modern programs can detect and use a coprocessor. Programs that cannot detect and use a coprocessor will do all the mathematical operations through the CPU.

RTC/CMOS Test – This tests the RTC against the CTC to ensure the RTC is keeping proper time and the CMOS RAM is tested for any failing bits.

CTC Controller Test – The CTC test will run a series of routines to test the Clock Timer Circuitry chip or chips.

DMA Controllers Test – The DMA test will run a series of routines to test the Direct Memory Access chip or chips. The 16 bit functions are tested where appropriate. DMA chips allow direct transfer of data from memory to memory or device to memory without the CPU. This allows the CPU to do other tasks while the DMAs handle certain transfers. Each DMA has four channels.

NOTE: If two devices try to use the same DMA channel at one time, one or both devices will not work.

PC's and XT's use one DMA chip and the standard setup is:
Channel 0 Refresh, Channel 2 Floppy. Channel 3 and Channel 1 are available for use by fixed disks, CD ROMs etc.

ATs, ATXs and other modern form factors use two DMAs and the standard setup is:

Channel 0 Available 16-Bit,
Channel 1 Available,
Channel 2 Floppy,
Channel 3 Available,
Channel 4 Cascades lower 4 channels to upper 4 channels.
Channel 5 Available 16-Bit,
Channel 6 Available 16-Bit,
Channel 7 Available 16-Bit.

Interrupt Controllers Test – The Interrupt Controller test will run a series of routines to test the 8259 PIC chip or chips. PIC chips allow interrupt requests to be sent to the CPU by devices needing service. This test ensures that the IRQ lines are toggling correctly within the PIC.

Speaker Test – This sends a pattern of distinguishable tones to the speaker. If a tone is not heard when the test is in progress, the test failed.

PS/2 Mouse Controller Test – This tests the ability of the PS/2 mouse ontroller portion of the keyboard controller to communicate properly with the device.

Keyboard Controller Test – This tests the keyboard controllers ability to communicate with the keyboard and tests the ability of the keyboard controller to toggle the A20 line correctly.

CLICK HERE for the ERROR INDICATORS and most likely causes.

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Platforms Supported - Micro-Scope runs on ANY PC with an Intel or Intel compatible processor (from 386/486 to the latest Pentium, AMD and Cyrix CPUs), with ISA, EISA, PCI, PCMCIA, Plug & Play, and hosting any operating system including all Windows versions, DOS, OS2, Linux and UNIX.