PCA Forums

Posted: **Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:58 pm**

Like this one:

http://www.dealsonic.com/sosydecare.html

TechAID debug card: A shortcut to all your hardware problems! Just plug into the PCI slot and it will conduct a complete hardware diagnostic test to detect the defective hardware in no time!

The purpose of the SOYO TechAID (debug card) is to make the difficult troubleshooting procedure easier and quicker. This debugging card will assist any technicians (from novice to advance users) in accurately and conveniently locating their hardware problems faster, cutting down the troubleshooting time drastically simply by displaying an easy to follow POST (Power On Self Test) code on its display.
Features:

* Quick and easy to install into an open PCI slot of your motherboard.
* Easy to read LED Display on both the TechAID and the Mini Display.
* Will assist in revealing where problem is while troubleshooting.
* Can be used to identify whether CPU or motherboard is defective.
* Will help to determine if the memory is faulty.
* Able to pinpoint whether the Video card is problematic.
* 6 LEDs that can hint whether power supply is failing.
* Simple to follow POST Code table for problem description.
* Drastically reduce troubleshooting time.
* Helpful to both Novices and Experienced users alike.

Package Contents:

* Soyo TechAID
* Mini Display Plate
* 9 Pin Ribbon Cable
* Installation Guide

LED Description:

* PCIRST LED: Initial Power LED
* +3V3SB LED: Standby Power
* 3.3V LED: 3.3V power present
* +5V LED: 5V power present
* +12 LED: +12V power present
* -12 LED: -12V power present

Requirements:

* Any motherboard with an open PCI slot.

Compatibilities:

* WinXP / Win2000 / WinNT / WinME / Win98SE / Win95 / Win31 / Linux / FreeBSD

Sounds decent for 25.99. If it indeed does do all it says it does.

Posted: **Fri Mar 11, 2005 11:58 pm**

i wouldnt waste my time on it.....mostly cause of it being made by Soyo (and we all know what kind of high quality stuff they are pumping out lately)

Posted: **Sat Mar 12, 2005 12:08 am**

If it works as good as the one built into my MOBO then yea i would say its worth it. Having an Epox that thing looks stupid... But i dont think many mobos have it built in.

Posted: **Sat Mar 12, 2005 12:14 am**

I looked into something like this at a tradeshow a few years ago. The really good ones are expensive ($200+) because they have their own processor. You can have a board with a fried CPU and no ram and it'll still diagnose it.

The cheaper of these cards (like this one) require that the mobo and CPU and some memory actually work.

I don't see this card being much help. Nowadays a mobo usually works or it doesn't. Same for the CPU. There's decent free RAM testers.

Most intermittent problems tend to be RAM or PSU related, or most often someone's tweaked or overclocked their rig.

Posted: **Sat Mar 12, 2005 8:31 am**

I'm not a pro PC builder by any means but everytime I've built a new PC and had problems (like with my newest one a while back), it's always been software related, never bad hardware.

So.......I'd be more impressed to see a device that could properly identify which device needed the SW upgrade as it's not always obvious. With more experience, one will know better the next time however.

Posted: **Sat Mar 12, 2005 9:24 am**

As mentioned, it's a waste.

PCA Forums

Anyone try a Debug Diagnostic Card?

Anyone try a Debug Diagnostic Card?