The motherboard, known as the central piece where components such as the processor, graphics card, RAM, storage unit and others are connected, includes a BIOS that verifies the status of these elements.
If any error is detected, the plate It emits a series of beeps that provide indications of the problem.
When a computer is assembled, the motherboard incorporates a piezoelectric speaker, remembered by old-timers for being the only sound device in old PCs from the 80s.
Currently, this speaker emits sound signals in case of failures, but some modern boards also have displays that show codes to identify problems.
The emission of these beeps is intended to help users and technicians diagnose failures in the absence of the operating system or access to the BIOS. There is no universal standard for these beeps, as each motherboard manufacturer has its own set of codes to indicate faulty components.
Most manufacturers, such as ASUS, GIGABYTE, ASRock, EVGA, MSI and others, have their own beep sequences that point to specific problems in components such as the CPU, RAM, graphics card and more.
These codes can vary significantly between makes and models.
For example, ASUS has a series of beeps to indicate problems with the CPU, RAM, or graphics card, while GIGABYTE has a list that includes errors in the CMOS, RAM, graphics card, and more.
ASRock is characterized by emitting short beeps that represent specific errors in the RAM, processor, graphics card, among others.
Even the most recognized manufacturers, such as Apple, have their own beep signals, although on their motherboards the melodies may be different and may indicate specific errors, although this company tends to use beeps less as a diagnostic method.
In the past, standards such as those from American Megatrends or AWARD used to be followed to interpret the beeps in older BIOSes, although with the current customization of manufacturers, these standards have become obsolete.
In summary, motherboard beeps are a valuable tool for quickly diagnosing hardware problems, but it is crucial to note that the codes can vary significantly depending on the motherboard manufacturer and model.