How to test and see if new motherboard is working correctly?

[Adrian15]

I have just bought a new motherboard and a Intel I7 4790K and would like to know the easiest way to find out if motherboard is working correctly without placing it in my case which will be a hassle to take out afterwards if faulty as I will be doing cable management aswell. Should i place all the components on the motherboard, connect everything while the motherboard is on the box it comes with? I'm sorry if I sound stupid but I've never done this before and would like advice from experienced people like you. Thanks in advance for any answers.

Build: ( in case needed )
GC Vantage case (red)
Power supply- EVGA G2 750W Gold
CPU-Intel I7 4790k
Motherboard-Mod 1150 ASUS Z97-A ATX
CPU Fan- Hyper 212
Hard drive- Seagate 1tb
Graphics card- MSI R9 280 Gaming Edition

 

[Sammyjo20]

Yes. That is highly recommended before any build. You should use the box the motherboard came in as a stand for the motherboard. Do not use the plastic that your motherboard came in on as a stand as it might short out your motherboard.

- Sam

 

[clutchc]

Yes. I always 'bread-board' my new motherboards outside the case before building.

 

[geofelt]

Yes, by all means breadboard first.
Start with the minimum parts you need to boot to bios.
Then, boot to memtest86+ on a usb stick.
There is no reason why you can't go all the way through windows install and update.
Even overclocking.

 

[Adrian15]

Thanks for the answers, I've already got a fully running pc with those specs except a amd 6600k processor and a fm2 motherboard but all I am updating is the motherboard and processor so is there anything I have to install ( drivers or discs) once I start the pc up?

 

[geofelt]

Updating a motherboard to a different chipset may require a clean windows install.
Exactly what are you changing from/to?

 

[Adrian15]

Oh no I hope I don't have to re-install Windows. I am updating from a AMD A8 6600K with a gigabyte ( I think ) FM2 motherboard to a Intel I7 4790K with a Mod 1150 ASUS Z97-A ATX motherboard. Same graphics card, power supply, ram, CPU cooler and hard drive.

 

[geofelt]

You will not be able to boot because the current windows does not have the drivers for the new motherboard.
That is for windows 7, windows 8 might be different.
I have been mostly successful with intel to intel, but never from amd to intel.
Do some research, here is one article I found, but I have not tested it.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html

This might be an opportune time to convert to a ssd.
You can transfer your files and settings using windows easy transfer, but apps will need to be reinstalled.

 

[clutchc]

+1^
Any time you change motherboards, you have to expect that. And going from an FM2 platform to an Intel Haswell platform almost guarantees it. The next hurdle will be when you go to re-activate Win if it is Win7. About a 50-50 chance they will catch that you have a "new" PC. If that is an OEM WIN7 license, you may have a few hoops to jump thru before it is allowed re-activation. But don't panic. Just follow the procedure set out if they catch it and you'll probably be OK.

 

[Adrian15]

Ok, in that case I will buy an SSD aswell and install a new Windows on that as the Windows I have on now is (don't hate me but cousin for this) a very good pirated one where it has a new activation key each time the Windows is installed on a new pc and I get all the updates and everything else just like a genuine Windows and so I will have to buy a real version of Windows. Also, what will I have to do with my current hard drive in terms of all the games and game saves I have on it as some are in the part of the hard drive where Windows is installed and some are in data d? I'm so confused at the moment.