Application Brief 1 (V2.

00)

Testing and Diagnosing PC Boards

The MicroMaster (µMaster) processor board test solutions from International Test Technologies can be
used to test all types of CPU-based boards. This application brief shows how the solution can be configured
to test PC motherboards (desktops, notebooks, and servers).
The tester is driven by an external PC, and consists of a CPU emulator, which takes control of the UUT’s
processor. Once in control, test programs and diagnostics can be directed and sequenced under the control
of the host PC. Additionally an I/O emulator is available, which provides the facilities to stimulate and/or
measure activity on the boards I/O connector. Using this top-down and bottom-up approach full testing can
take place in seconds, rather than minutes
Figure 1 shows the components of the solution, and figure 2 shows an optional fixture, which can be used to
automate the connection of UUT to the test instruments – ideal for high volume production test.

Functional Test Controller

Processor Control POD Card (PCI or PXI)
I/O Feedback

Connection to UUT
I/O Emulation Unit Processor Debug Port
(Optional)

Control PC
Connections to UUT I/O sockets UUT (PCI or PXI chassis)

Fig. 1 – Test Solution Components

Fig. 2 – Fixture for Automated

Connection

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 Figure 3 shows how the tester’s hardware components are configured for a notebook application, and the
table overleaf shows the test sequence and program, which is run by the tester. Results returned are
pass/fail, or pass/fail with full diagnostics to bus and component level.

To Host Processor Control

PC Pod (see Fig. 1)

CPU

SO-DIMMS
MCH

Codec ICH

CardBus 1394 LAN

SysMgt
Super I/O

BIOS

LCD Audio Serial Parr ExtKB IDE 1 Slot 0/1 1394 RJ45 USB
IrDA
RGB Modem ExtMse IDE 2

T’Pad

IntKB
KeyB/Mse
Serial/IR

FW/Lan
Modem

Parallel

SyCard

Battery
Analog
Audio
Video
LCD

USB
IDE

I/O Emulator (see Fig. 1)

Fig. 3 – Notebook Test

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Test Sequence and Coverage

Test Name Test Sequence What it Tests

Power 1. Power on UUT 1. Soft on/off circuitry OK?

2. Check key voltages using analogue 2. Key voltages within range?
test card.
CPU 1. CPU ID Check 1. JTAG OK?
2. CPU BIST Check 2. CPU OK?
3. Take control of CPU 3. CPU infrastructure OK?
General Bus Boot ROM Bus Test Verifies all buses from CPU
to boot ROM (i.e. host, hub,
PCI, LPC)
MCH 1. Register Test 1. Verifies communications
2. Configure for normal operation from CPU to MCH.
2. Verifies MCH registers.
SDRAM 1. Configure memory Verifies all buses and DIMM
2. Memory test for opens, stucks and connectors from MCH to
shorts to all buses DIMMs.

ICH 1. Register Test 1. Verifies communications

2. Configure for normal operation and buses from MCH to
3. Legacy functions (timer, DMAC, ICH.
IntC, CMOS RAM/RTC) 2. Verifies ICH registers.
3. Verifies PC legacy
functions.
Audio/Modem 1. Register Test 1. Verifies ICH audio
2. Configure for normal operation registers.
3. Audio generation and measurement 2. Verifies communications to
test using ITT audio card. Codec.
4. Modem test using ITT modem card 3. Verifies all audio channels
for generation or
measurements.
4. Verifies modem port
operation
USB 1. Register Test 1. Verifies ICH USB
2. Configure for normal operation registers.
3. Data transfers to ITT’s USB card. 2. Verifies USB device
presence.
3. Verifies USB channel(s)
communication.
IDE 1. Register Test 1. Verifies ICH IDE registers
2. Configure for normal operation 2. Verifies IDE bus(es)
3. PIO test to ITT’s IDE Emulator 3. Verifies IDE read/write
4. DMA reads and writes to ITT’s IDE DMA transfers.
emulator.

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Test Sequence and Coverage (continued)
Test Name Test Sequence What it Tests

CardBus 1. Register Test 1. Verifies cardbus

2. Configure for normal operation controller PCI bus and
3. Read/write tests to SyCard tester. registers.
2. Verifies operation of
CardBus Slot 0 & 1.
1394 1. Register Test 1. Verifies 1394 controller
2. Configure for normal operation PCI bus and registers.
3. Data test using ITT FW card. 2. PHY operation
4. Optionally program GUID 3. Verifies connections from
PHY to 1394 connector.
LAN 1. Register Test 1. Verifies LAN controller
2. Configure for normal operation PCI bus and registers.
3. Transmit and receive packets at 2. PHY operation
10M and/or 100M using ITT LAN 3. Verifies connections from
card. PHY to LAN connector.
4. Optionally program MACID 4. Verifies packet transfers
to/from LAN.
Super I/O 1. ID Check 1. Verifies communications
2. Register Test from CPU to SIO.
3. Configure for normal operation 2. Verifies SIO registers.

System 1. EEPROM ID 1. Access to configuration

Management 2. Smart battery interface test eeprom.
Controller 3. Battery Charge/Discharge using 2. Operation of battery
(SysMgt)?Battery ITT battery simulator interface, and battery
4. Temperature Sensor Check charge/discharge
3. Operation of temperature
sensor.
Serial 1. Register Test 1. Verifies serial controller
2. Loopback test of tx/rx and control registers.
lines. 2. Verifies tx/rx and control
lines from controller to
serial port connector(s).
IrDA 1. Register test 1. Verifies IrDA controller
2. Transmit and receive bytes to/from registers.
ITT’s IrDA card. 2. Verifies transceiver.
3. Verifies tx/rx from
controller to/from IrDA
card.

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Test Sequence and Coverage (continued)

Test Name Test Sequence What it Tests

Parallel 1. Register Test 1. Verifies parallel controller

2. Loopback test for all data and registers.
control lines. 2. Verifies tx/rx and control
lines from controller to
parallel port connector(s).
Ext Keyboard 1. Register and self test to keyboard 1. Verifies keyboard
controller. controller access from
2. Generate keypress(es) using ITT CPU.
keyboard/mouse card and verify 2. Verifies keyboard port.
keycode at keyboard controller.
Ext Mouse 1. Register test. 1. Verifies mouse controller
2. Generate mouse click(s) using ITT access from CPU.
keyboard/mouse card and verify 2. Verifies mouse port.
returned codes at controller.
TouchPad 1. Register test. 1. Verifies touchpad
2. Generate mouse click(s) using ITT controller access from
keyboard/mouse card and verify CPU.
returned codes at controller. 2. Verifies touchpad port.
Internal Keyboard 1. Register and self test to keyboard 1. Verifies internal keyboard
controller. controller access from
2. Generate keypress(es) using ITT CPU.
keyboard/mouse card and verify 2. Verifies internal keyboard
keycode at keyboard controller. scan to internal keyboard
port.
BIOS ROM 1. ID Check 1. Verifies access to boot
2. CRC Check ROM from CPU.
2. Verifies boot ROM
contents.
Video/LCD 1. Run BIOS 1. Verifies BIOS boot.
2. Initialise selected video mode(s) 2. Verifies access from CPU
and verify using ITT RGB & LCD to video controller.
check cards or operator. 3. Verifies RGB and/or LCD
ports.

For more information contact:

International Test Technologies
Tel – +353-74-9188100
Email – sales@intertesttech.com
Web – www.intertesttech.com

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