Motherboards

1
Motherboards

• You will need
• One text per person
• Paper and pen(cil)

2
Read A Cert. Core Hardware Exam Expectations
Goals on p. 257

• For each of the following, write down which you
  are most interested in, know the least about, or
  is likely to be most useful
• Exam expectations (1 pt)
• Goals (1 pt)

3
The A Certification Core Hardware exam wants you
to

• A1
• Identify the names, purpose, and characteristics
  of motherboards
• Identify basic procedures for adding and removing
  field replaceable motherboards for desktop
  systems, and given a motherboard replacement
  scenario, choose the appropriate sequences
• Determine the issues that must be considered when
  upgrading a PCs motherboard.
• In a given scenario, determine when and how to
  upgrade system components in conjunction with a
  motherboard
• Recognize common problems associated with
  motherboards and their symptoms, and identify
  steps to isolate and troubleshoot the problems.
  Given a problem situation, interpret the symptoms
  and infer the most likely cause
• Identify the most popular types of motherboards,
  their components, and their architecture (bus
  structures)

4
Chapter Goals

• A2
• Explain how motherboards work
• Identify the types of motherboards
• Explain chipset varieties
• Upgrade and install motherboards
• Troubleshoot motherboard problems

5
B. Terms for How Motherboards Work, pp. 257 -
258

1. Trace
2. PCB
3. Form Factor
4. Chipset
5. Expansion Slots

6
B. Term Definitions

• Trace
• Copper circuit paths called traces that resemble
  a complicated roadmap carry signals and voltages
  across the motherboard. (3 pts)
• PCB
• Printed Circuit Board (1 pt)

7
Printed Circuit Board Atari Video Computer
System
http//entertainment.howstuffworks.com/video-game2
.htm
8
B. Term Definitions cont.

• Form Factor
• The form factor of the motherboard describes its
  general shape, what sorts of cases and power
  supplies it can use, and its physical
  organization. (3 pts)
• For example, a company can make two motherboards
  that have basically the same functionality but
  that use a different form factor, and the only
  real differences will be the physical layout of
  the board, the position of the components, etc.
  In fact, many companies do exactly this, they
  have for example a baby AT version and an ATX
  version.

9
ATX Form Factor for AMD
http//www.corcomsolutions.net/computers/component
s/images/motherboards/AD111.jpg
10
B. Term Definitions cont.

• Chipset
• Chipsets provide the support for the processor
  chip on the motherboard. The Intel 440BX is the
  dominant chipset in the non-Apple personal
  computers. The chipset is the heart of the
  computer since it controls and determines how
  fast and which type of processor, memory, and
  slots are used. (3 pts)

11
B. Term Definitions cont.

• Expansion Slots
• Physical part of the expansion bus which enables
  you to add optional components (1 pt)

12
ATX Form Factor for AMD
http//www.corcomsolutions.net/computers/component
s/images/motherboards/AD111.jpg
13
C. Read How Motherboards Work, pp. 257 - 258

• What two things do manufacturers accomplish by
  layering motherboards? (2 pts)
• Rather than have electronic signals travel all
  over a giant motherboard, layering allows a small
  board with shorter traces which allow signals to
  travel faster than if longer traces were used.

14
C. Answers cont.

• Why is it essential that you know motherboards?
• Because the motherboard determines function,
  expansion, and stability for the whole PC (3 pts)

15
D. Terms for Types of Motherboards, pp. 259 -
266

1. Proprietary
2. Inflexibility
3. Obsolescence
4. System Resources
5. Variant
6. Channels

16
D. Term Definitions

• Proprietary (3 pts)
• Exclusively owned private microchannel was a
  proprietary expansion bus of IBM.
• Owned by a private individual or corporation
  under a trademark or patent a proprietary drug
• Inflexibility (3 pts)
• Not easily bent stiff or rigid. Incapable of
  being changed unalterable. Unyielding in
  purpose, principle, or temper immovable.

17
D. Term Definitions cont.

• Obsolescence (3 pts)
• Being in the process of passing out of use or
  usefulness becoming obsolete
• System Resources (3 pts)
• A group of interdependent items that interact
  regularly to perform a task I/O addresses, IRQs,
  DMA, and memory addresses
• Variant (3 pts)
• Deviating from a standard, usually by only a
  slight difference

18
D. Term Definitions cont.

1. Channels (3 pts) these are virtual and real
   wires connecting devices to the CPU (DMA), I/O
   addresses (RAM), and interrupts (IRQ)

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E. Read Types of Motherboards to Chipset
Varieties, pp. 259 266 and answer questions 1
- 11

• What are the two standard form factors?
• AT and ATX
• What are three things which identify an AT
  motherboard? (3 pts)
• A large keyboard plug (DIN) and it is the only
  I/O
• Split P8/P9 style power socket
• They were big
• No Soft Power
• What are the two types of AT motherboards?
• AT and Baby AT

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E. Questions 1 11 cont.

• The book states, The single greatest problem
  with AT and Baby AT motherboards was the lack of
  external ports. What was the only dedicated
  connector on the early AT boards?
• The keyboard plug
• LPX and NLX form factors were inflexible because
  they had built in components like video and
  sound. Well, our current motherboards have even
  more built in stuff. Why arent they inflexible?
  (hint three words)
• Limited System Resources
• What revolutionized how we thought about the PC
  and what to expect from a motherboard?
• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

21
E. Questions 1 11 cont.

• List two basic distinctions between and AT and
  ATX motherboards. (2 pts)
• AT vs PS/2 style keyboard plug
• Rear panel with all necessary ports built in
• List three improvements the ATX made over the AT
  motherboard. (3 pts)
• Position of PS allows better air movement
• Easier access to CPU and RAM
• Placement of RAM closer to Northbridge
• What are the two smaller versions of the ATX
  called?
• MicroATX and FlexATX

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E. Questions 1 11 cont.

• Can you exchange one form factor motherboard with
  another? Why/why not? (2 pts)
• Only if you purchase a new case.
• Are proprietary motherboards significantly
  different from standard motherboards? Why/why
  not? (2 pts)
• Yes. They often use riser boards and require
  service and upgrade to be done through their
  authorized dealers

23
F. Terms Define the following terms before doing
part G

1. LED
2. Catastrophic
3. Ethereal

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F. Term Definitions

• LED
• Light Emitting Diode
• Catastrophic
• Involving or resulting in substantial, often
  ruinous damage
• Ethereal
• Characterized by lightness and insubstantiality
  intangible or Not of this world spiritual

25
G. Read Upgrading Installing Motherboards,
pp. 273 278 and answer questions 1 - 11

• List four things you need to consider when
  selecting a Motherboard. (4 pts)
• Type of motherboard
• Form factor
• Features required
• How hard is it to configure

26
F. Question Answers cont.

• List three important considerations when removing
  a motherboard
• Start by removing the cards
• Keep track of the screws place them in the
  standouts temp.
• Document where the wires go

27
F. Question Answers cont.

• List four things you should do before installing
  a new motherboard in the case
• Install CPU
• Install CPU fan
• Install RAM
• Set jumpers if necessary

28
F. Question Answers cont.

• List two important considerations when installing
  a motherboard
• Dont assume you will put screws in same
  standouts
• Some times you have to be a little forceful

29
F. Question Answers cont.

• The last part of installing a motherboard
  includes five items which sometimes are the
  trickiest. List them.
• Soft power
• Reset button
• Speaker
• Hard drive activity LED
• Power LED

30
F. Question Answers cont.

• Is it ok to keep the computer attached to power
  as long as you keep it turned off? Why/why not?
• Capacitors in the power supply can still
  discharge causing damage to system components

31
F. Question Answers cont.

• If an LED doesnt light up when power is applied,
  whats a possible but easy solution?
• Flip the connection around
• List three places where you might determine where
  wires should be connected
• Motherboard manual
• On the motherboard
• On the wires

32
F. Question Answers cont.

• List the three types of motherboard failures and
  give an example of each
• Catastrophic PC will not boot
• Component Various components do not work or work
  intermittently work
• Ethereal The blue screen of death

33
F. Question Answers cont.

• What are your options for motherboard failure
  when the failure is
• Catastrophic Replace the motherboard
• Component Replace the component, flash the BIOS
• Ethereal Flash the BIOS (desperate last step)
  before replacing the motherboard