I'm considering buying a PC combo for $100 that includes everything except the GPU and CPU, which I currently don't have. While I understand the computer won't fully boot without these components, I'm mainly interested in seeing if the case fans will spin or light up when I power it on. Essentially, I just want to check if the power supply works. Is it possible to turn the PC on without a CPU or GPU, and will it cause any damage if I do?
3 Answers
Turning it on won't damage anything, but you're right, you won’t get a 'full' test without the CPU. You really can't check if the memory channels are working or anything like that. If you're just looking to see if power's getting through, go for it! Just don't expect it to boot up or run diagnostics.
You'll definitely need a CPU; you could maybe power it on without a GPU, but without the CPU, it won't do anything. It’s like trying to start a car without an engine. If you turn it on without the CPU, it may light up the fans briefly, but it won't really boot. So, testing might be limited, and you won't learn much about the motherboard's condition.
You could see the fans spin and some lights blink, but without the CPU, you're not getting any useful info about your setup. It's just a visual show without a core part that evaluates the motherboard's health.
Got it! So it sounds like it's more for show than function, then.
Exactly! You might see some lights flash, but that doesn’t mean everything's good. It needs a CPU to start doing anything meaningful.