BleepingComputer.com: How can I tell if my processor is failing or my motherboard?

My desktop was recently diagnosed with a bad psu and apparently it fried either my motherboard or my processor, is there a way I can tell which? If so this would save me some trouble with Intel and the whole retuning and exchanging policy.

Easiest way to find out is to swap out the motherboard with a known working one, though in my experience-CPUs rarely fry, and if they do, the motherboard normally fries with it. Chances are your looking at only a fried motherboard, or both. Its possible the boards good and the CPUs bad, but not likely.

A good sign on the motherboard are the capacitors. Normally they are flat with X or + shape on the top. If they are flexing out, much like a overly shaken can of soda it's a bad sign. If they are oozing or look as though they oozed, it's an even worse sign.

I would expect a motherboard to go before the processor, but I don't have evidence for that.

I have seen motherboards where the capacitors have literally exploded because of a PSU failure and the CPU was completely okay. But as Patriot said there is no way to know for sure unless you put it in another motherboard

well, to make a short revision, sometimes, actually oftentimes if the failure is due to electrical overvoltage there are often burn marks especially around the power hookups. You can remove the board and do a visual inspection-look for burn marks, bulging/leaking capacitors, broken wires, etc on the motherboard. Just keep in mind lack of physical damage does not mean the board is not bad.