A+ Certification Guide
Chapter 2
Motherboards and Processors
Chapter 2
Objectives

Students should be able to explain:
– Motherboards and Their Components:
• Form factors, integrated ports and interfaces, memory slots, and
expansion slots, and demonstrate how to install and troubleshoot
motherboards.
– How to Install a Motherboard
– How to Troubleshoot a Motherboard
– Processors and CPUs:
• CPU technologies
• Installing and troubleshooting processors
– CPU Cooling
What Is a Motherboard?

Main Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to which all other components
are connected.
–
Has etched-out areas defining the copper data trails to/from:
• CPU/clock generator
• Northbridge
– RAM
– Video graphics card
• Southbridge (depending on age of board)
– PCI slots/USB connections
– Com ports
– On-board graphics controller
– Flash ROM/BIOS
Motherboard


Similar to a transportation system in a large city:
– Wide freeways for faster traffic
– Mid-sized boulevards for slower traffic
Businesses and neighborhoods send and receive
traffic.
Choosing a Motherboard

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What kind of slot does the CPU need?
What kind of memory does the motherboard support?
–
How much memory does it require or can it use?
–
This question is also OS-dependent because Windows XP has
a maximum of 3.2GB of RAM.
How many PCI slots do I need?
What kind of graphics processor will be needed?
–
Will the motherboard need a PCI x16 slot?
–
Is the onboard network adapter sufficient for the job?
Am I planning to use this motherboard to support an HDMI
output?
How does the bus speed match up to the processor capabilities
and to the memory that I might be using?
Form Factor
Motherboard Maximum
Type
Width
Maximum
Depth
Maximum
Number of
Expansion
Slots
ATX
12 inches
9.6 inches
Seven
Full tower
Mini-ATX
11.2 inches 8.2 inches
Seven
Full tower
microATX
9.6 inches
Four
Mini tower
Four
Mini tower,
small form
factor
FlexATX
9.0 inches
9.6 inches
7.5 inches
Typical Uses
RAM

Random Access Memory Slots:
–
–
–
–
Typically numbered from 0–3 (if four slots are included).
Is connected directly to Northbridge for fast access to CPU.
Data stored here is lost if power is interrupted (volatile).
Current types include DDR, DDR2, and DDR3:
• 240-pin slotted connector
Memory Installation

When installing RAM, the memory module should snap into
position as it is seated firmly into the slot.
–
It is a tight fit to ensure connectivity.
–
Check to see if the “notch” is located properly.
• If not, simply reverse the direction.
Adapter Cards




Different types of slots for different cards
PCI (Peripheral Card Interconnect):
– Sound cards
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port):
– Older: On motherboards made before 2004
PCIe (PCI express):
– Newer: Current standard:
• PCIe x16
• Can perform 8Gbps
Expansion for RAM and Cards
Safe Installation of Adapter Cards




Remember to avoid electrostatic discharge (ESD).
Cards should “fit” the slot.
Use gentle rocking rather than brute force:
– Brute force can break the electrical traces
underneath the motherboard.
Attach any devices that the card was made to use:
– Network connections/antennas
– Printers
– USB devices
– Speakers
Card Slot Configurations
PCIe Card Sample
Slot Type
Performance
Suggested Uses
PCIe x1 v1
500MBps
Network, I/O
PCIe x2 v1
1,000MBps
Network
PCIe x8 v1
4,000MBps
SLI video secondary card on older
systems
Video
PCIe x16 v1
8,000MBps
PCIe x1 v2
1,000MBps
Network, I/O
PCIe x2 v2
2,000MBps
Network
PCIe x8 v2
8,000MBps
SLI video secondary card
PCIe x16 v2
16,000MBps
including SLI, CrossFire, and CrossFire X
primary and secondary cards
Video
Including SLI, CrossFire, and CrossFire X
primary and secondary cards
Troubleshooting of Adapter Cards



System does not recognize the card.
– Is it plug ‘n’ play?
– Is it properly seated?
– Have you read the instructions?
• Some need the driver to be installed before
physical installation.
Card causes problems with other devices.
– Check for “resource conflicts.”
Card does not perform beyond a basic level.
– Check website for driver updates.
Chipset

Northbridge
–

Connects to the CPU and other high-speed components such as memory,
PCIe, or AGP graphics
Southbridge
–
Connects to lower-speed components: storage interfaces, PCI slots, USB
ports, and CMOS
Motherboard Installation


Step 1. Determine which mounting holes should be used for brass spacers.
Step 2. Install or remove brass spacers as needed to accommodate the mounting
holes in the motherboard.
Motherboard Installation (cont.)


Step 3. Place the I/O shield into the opening at the back of the case.
Step 4. Determine which holes in the motherboard have brass stand-off spacers
beneath them, and secure the motherboard to the spacer.
Motherboard Installation (cont.)
Step 5. Connect front panel wires to the speaker, reset switch, drive
activity light, and power light connectors on the motherboard.
Motherboard Installation (cont.)
Step 6.
Connect the ribbon cables
from the drives to the
motherboard’s PATA and
floppy disk drive interfaces
(if present). Match the
ribbon cable’s colored side
to pin 1 on the interfaces.
Step 7.
Connect cables from the
SATA drives to the SATA
ports on the motherboard.
Use SATA port 1 for the first
SATA drive, and so on.
Motherboard Installation (cont.)
Figure 4-8
04fig08
Motherboard Installation (cont.)

Step 9.Install the add-on cards
The Role of the CPU

Order of Operations (abbreviated):
–
–
–
–
First, there must be a request to the CPU to
“compute” something.
Next, data must be delivered to the CPU to be
computed (data input).
The computation takes place.
Finally, the result (data output) is delivered to
some device, such as a monitor.
Processors and CPUs

Intel
–
–
Land Grid Array
(LGA)
•
LGA 775
•
LGA 1155
•
LGA 1156
•
LGA 1366
Note protective cover
Processors and CPUs

AMD
–
–
PGA
•
Pin Grid Array
Sockets
•
940
•
AM2
•
AM2+
•
AM3
•
AM3+
•
F
•
FM1
CPU Technologies

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Hyperthreading
Multicore
Cache – for recently used process threads:
–
L1 – Processor Core
–
L2 – Processor Die
–
L3 – Processor Die
–
System checks L1 first, then L2, and then L3
Bus Speeds
Overclocking
32 bit versus 64 bit
Virtualization Support
Integrated GPU
CPU Cooling


Passive and Active Heat Sinks
Liquid Cooling Systems
Choosing a CPU

Scenarios in which a different CPU might be specified:
–
A graphics design company using Photoshop and
3D software.
–
A doctor’s office using office applications.
–
Local government servicing billing for water usage.
–
Server environment supporting 5,000 users with
database access.
Purchasing Planning Exercise

Assume you work for a real estate management company. It
asked you to investigate a new PC to replace its aging ones. It
wants to run the latest Office applications and include the capacity
for playing DVDs to show off itslistings. TItey needs 6 desktop
machines for the office and 12 notebook computers for the
salespeople.
–
What CPU speed will accomplish the job?
–
How much RAM will be needed?
–
What size hard drive should be adequate?
–
Based on the CPU you choose, what motherboard will work
with it?
Take a few minutes tosee what you come up with for this
replacement project.
Chapter 2
Summary




Motherboards and Their Components:
• Form factors, integrated ports and interfaces, memory slots,
and expansion slots, and demonstrate how to install and
troubleshoot motherboards.
Installing a Motherboard
Installing Adapter Cards:
• Install video and sound cards, and how to troubleshoot
common adapter card issues.
Processors and CPUs:
• Types of processors available, their architecture and
technologies, and installing and troubleshooting processors.
Next Lesson: Chapter 3