A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) found in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems. It holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, and expansion cards. As such, a malfunctioning motherboard can cause a wide range of problems, from boot failures to system crashes.
Fortunately, there are several ways to check for motherboard problems. One common method is to use a POST (Power-On Self-Test) card. A POST card is a small, inexpensive device that plugs into a PCI or PCIe slot on the motherboard. When the system is powered on, the POST card will display a series of codes that indicate the status of the motherboard and its components.