AF_IC04_ The motherboard. Components and configuration.
AF Unit 1 The motherboard and its components.
In this Unit you will learn about the computer motherboard and its main components. The
motherboard or mainboard contains the principal components that make up a computer. In
order to get to know better this fundamental hardware, we will start reviewing the concept of
hardware, as it is known within the IT world.
1.1 Summary of the components in a computer.
Computer devices or systems more common are personal computers. Therefore, we can say
that a computer is made of a set of hardware and software, as you have seen previously in
this module. The hardware includes a case and all the components within, in addition to all
the external or peripheral elements: screen, keyboard, mouse, etc. The software allows the
computers to be used more comfortably and to take the maximum benefit from them.
Visualize the next video that shows the components that are found inside an average
computer. Make sure to take note of the different parts shown and try and memorize their
names and rough functions.
Components inside a computer.
Now visit this link where you will find a game on Computer parts. Do you think that you can
answer the questions and get a better score than your class mates? Go and show them!
Computer parts (Blubber quiz)
Nowadays, computer hardware consists of a series of electronic components that continue
evolving at a fast rate, as technology does. Fundamental hardware parts in computers are
the motherboard, -that controls and interconnects the rests of system devices-, the
processor, -that many times has been defined as the system brain because it implements the
central processing unit and executes the programs- and the main memory- that is where data
and programs in execution are stored.
HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
The term hardware refers to every part in a computer that we can see and touch (the
display, the keyboard, the CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The term software deals
with non-physical concepts, like programs, applications and stored data.
1.2 Components of a motherboard
The motherboard, also known as mainboard, is the fundamental component in modern-day
computers when it comes to their hardware parts. It is constituted by several hardware
elements, each one with a different function.
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MOTHERBOARD
It is the computer's main integrated circuits board, where, thanks to its slots, the
processor, memory, graphics card, sound card, storage controllers, peripherals and so
on can be connected.
A standard motherboard without additional components attached.
Next you will find a non-exhaustive list of the main components in a standard motherboard.
You will find more information about these concepts in the next Unit.
Component
Chipset
Buses
BIOS
Processor slot
Memory slots
Utility
Plasticity
Fatigue
Hardness
Connecting the processor
Connecting the RAM
Connecting expansion
Expansion slots
peripherals
Keeping the time of the
ROM battery
system
Power
Supplying energy to the
connector
computer
IDE connectors
Connecting IDE drives
SATA
Connecting SATA
connectors
USB
Fragility
connectors
Read the following article on the topic where you will be able to find much more information
on the components of the motherboard, their possibilities of connection and other related
subjects. The webpage “How stuff works” is a very valuable asset on articles and videos
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relating to technology. Explore it and you will be surprised about how many of the articles are
interesting or even fun for you to read.
Try to answer these questions after reading the article:
 Which components did user plug users to the slots of the first IBM PC?
 What does the socket for the microprocessor determines in relation with the
motherboard?
 Which sockets for AMD processors can you find in the article?
 Enumerate the buses that can be found on a motherboard.
TO KNOW MORE
In this article on the motherboard, the topic is developed thoroughly
How stuff works. The motherboard.
There are endless possibilities of programs to get information of a working computer. You will
use the cpu-z software to learn more about motherboards. The program cpu-z includes
detailed information on the CPU, mainboard or memory in the system.
Download the cpu-z software and find out the information on components and configurations
about your own motherboard. Among other information you can know your processor slot
and model or how much RAM your motherboard includes and the type of it.
SOFTWARE TO REVIEW A MOTHERBOARD
In this webpage you will find the cpu-z software, that will give you detailed information
about your computer, if running a Windows operating system.
Cpu-z download page.
Fill out this inspection sheet with the values from your own computer:
Parameter
Value
Processor name
(Intel XEON DP)
Processor socket
Core Speed
Bus Speed
Motherboard name
Installed RAM
RAM type
It is possible to find out these values using other programs or even opening up your case to
see it by yourself. Feel free to explore the possibilities and learn as much as possible about
your own computer.
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Main screen of the program cpu-z.
Now that you have viewed the components in a standard motherboard you should be able to
name them on the next picture. Try and do it first without checking your notes and after that
check if you have been right with the most of the components.
To finish the unit make your own Bubbler quiz (https://www.blubbr.tv/) about the components
of the motherboard and check how it works with your class mates.
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