Lesson 1: Installing Motherboards and Connectors Vocab

Motherboard

Motherboard

Main circuit board in a computer that connects all components like CPU, RAM, and storage. It provides communication between hardware components.

Peripheral Devices

External hardware connected to a computer, providing input/output functionality.

Examples include printers, keyboards, and external hard drives.

Peripheral Cable

A type of cable that connects peripheral devices, such as printers or scanners, to a computer for data transfer.

Keying

Asymmetric design on connectors to prevent them from being

inserted the wrong way

Bit

smallest unit of data in computing, representing a binary digit of 0 or 1.

Byte

A unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits. It is commonly used to measure file sizes and storage capacity in computing.

KBps

Kilobytes per second, a unit of measurement used to express data transfer speeds in computer systems.

MBps

Megabytes (1 mil bytes) per second, a unit of data transfer speed measuring how many megabytes of data can be transferred in one second.

GBps

Gigabytes per second; a unit of data transfer speed equal to one billion bytes per second. Commonly used to measure internet speed.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Standard for connecting devices to a computer. Supports data transfer and power supply for peripherals like keyboards and printers.

USB Type A

A common rectangular USB connector used for connecting devices like keyboards, mice, and flash drives to computers and chargers.

USB Type B

A rectangular connector commonly used for printers, scanners, and other peripheral devices. It is more square-shaped than Type A.

USB Type B mini

A small, rectangular connector commonly used for connecting devices like digital cameras and older smartphones to computers for data transfer.

USB Type B micro

A small, rectangular connector used in devices like smartphones and tablets for charging and data transfer.

USB 3.0

Offers faster data transfer speeds than USB 2.0, with a maximum transmission rate of 5 Gbps. It is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices.

USB 2.0

Universal Serial Bus standard introduced in 2000, offering data transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps. Compatible with USB Type-A and Type-B connectors.

USB Type C

Reversible, versatile connector for data transfer and power delivery in devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

USB 3.1

Latest USB standard with faster data transfer rates and improved power delivery. Offers up to 10 Gbps speed, backward compatible with older USB versions.

HDMI

A digital video/audio interface used for connecting devices like TVs, monitors, and projectors for high-quality media transmission.

DisplayPort

A digital display interface used to connect a video source to a display device, supporting high resolutions and refresh rates.

Thunderbolt Cable

A high-speed hardware interface used to connect external peripherals to a computer, offering fast data transfer speeds and the ability to daisy-chain multiple devices.

Lightning Cable

Type of cable used to charge and sync Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. Has a reversible connector with eight pins on each side.

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

Interface for connecting storage devices like HDDs and SSDs to a computer motherboard.

Molex Connector

A legacy type of electrical connector commonly used in computers to connect power supply units to devices like hard drives and optical drives.

Daisy Chaining

Connecting multiple devices in a series using a single cable, where each device is linked to the next without branching off.

Wire Color Coding

Orange - 3.3 VDC

Red - 5 VDC

Yellow - 12 VDC

Black - ground

EPS 12V

Power supply standard for server and workstation motherboards. It provides more power and stability compared to ATX power supplies.

P1 Connector

A type of power connector commonly found in computer power supplies, with multiple pins for supplying power to the motherboard and other components.

Has either 24 or 20 pins

Advanced Technology eXtended (ATX)

A motherboard form factor standard used in PCs, known for its larger size and more expandability options compared to other form factors.

Measures 12′′ × 9.6′′ (305 mm × 244 mm).

Information Technology eXtended (ITX)

A family of form factor for computer motherboards that is smaller than ATX and designed for compact systems.

Mini ITX

Small form factor motherboard measuring 6.7 × 6.7 inches, commonly used in compact desktop computers and home theater PCs.

Nano-ITX

A small form factor motherboard measuring 4.7”×4.7”. It is smaller than Mini-ITX and designed for compact computing applications.

Pico-ITX

Ultra-compact form factor motherboard, measuring 3.9 x 2.8 inches. Ideal for small embedded systems and IoT devices due to its size and power efficiency.

Mobile ITX

A small form factor motherboard designed for mobile and embedded applications, offering low power consumption and compact size for space-constrained environments.

Bus Architecture

System that allows communication between computer components. It determines how data is transferred within a computer system.

Parallel Bus

It is a type of data transmission where multiple bits are sent simultaneously over separate lines within the computer system.

Serial Bus

A communication system where data is transmitted one bit at a time over a single wire, allowing devices to communicate sequentially.

Chipset

A group of integrated circuits in a computer that manages data flow between the processor, memory, and peripherals.

Northbridge Chipset

A subset of chipsets that manages high-speed communication between CPU, RAM, and PCIe devices. Usually integrated into the CPU or motherboard.

Southbridge Chipset

A subset of chipsets responsible for providing support to slower onboard peripherals (USB, Serial and Parallel ATA, parallel ports, serial ports, etc), managing their communications with the rest of the computer and the resources given to them.

PCIe Expansion Slot

High-speed serial-based expansion slot commonly found on motherboards for adding additional components like graphics cards or network adapters.

Supports x1, x2, x4, x8, x12, x16, and x32,

Random Access Memory (RAM)

A type of computer memory that allows data to be accessed in any order quickly. It is volatile, meaning it loses data when the power is turned off.

Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM)

Type of computer memory that is used for storing data and instructions while the computer is running. Form factors differ in the number of pins used

Cache Memory

Type of high-speed memory that stores frequently accessed data for quick retrieval by the CPU, reducing the need to access slower main memory.

Level 1 Cache

Type of cache integrated into the processor, providing rapid access to frequently used data for quick processing.

Level 2 Cache

Type of Cache that acts as intermediate memory between CPU & RAM.

• Faster than RAM, slower than Level 1 Cache

Level 3 Cache

A type of cache memory located on the CPU die, shared among all cores, larger and slower than L2 cache, but faster than RAM.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The "brain" of a computer that executes instructions, processes data, and controls other components. Usually has a fan or heat sink (sometimes both) attached to it.

Processing Socket

Slot on a motherboard where the CPU is inserted, allowing it to communicate with other components and perform calculations efficiently.

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

A type of integrated circuit packaging where the pins are arranged in a grid pattern on the underside of the package for connection to a circuit board.

Land Grid Array (LGA)

A type of CPU socket where the pins are on the socket, not the processor. It provides better contact and heat dissipation for improved performance.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

A storage device that uses flash memory to store data, providing faster access times and increased reliability compared to traditional hard disk drives.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Storage device that uses spinning magnetic disks to store and retrieve data in a computer system. Slower but cheaper than SSDs.

M.2 Interface

A small form factor expansion card slot commonly used for connecting solid-state drives (SSDs) and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth modules in laptops and desktop computers.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer for output to a display.

Graphics Memory

Dedicated memory in a computer system used by the graphics processing unit (GPU) to store image data for faster access and processing.

Video Port

A hardware port on a computer or device that allows for the input or output of video signals, typically used for connecting monitors or projectors.

Capture Card

A device used to record or stream video and audio from external sources such as a gaming console, computer, or camera to a computer for editing or broadcasting purposes.

Sound Card

Hardware component that processes audio data from a computer to produce sound through speakers or headphones.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

Hardware component that enables a device to connect to a network and communicate with other devices.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

A video display interface used to transmit digital video signals from a computer to a display device, such as a monitor or projector.

Supports both analog and digital outputs

Video Graphics Array Interface (VGA)

A standard for displaying video signals on monitors, commonly used for connecting computers to displays.

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

High-speed interface used to connect peripheral devices to a computer, allowing for faster data transfer rates than standard interfaces like USB.

Integrated Drive Electronics Interface (IDE)

An older standard for connecting storage devices to a computer motherboard, commonly used for hard drives and optical drives.

Also referred to as parallel advanced technology attachment (PATA)

Adapter Cable

A cable that allows devices with different connectors to be connected together, enabling data or power transfer between them.

Active Adapter

Converts signals between different interfaces by actively processing and boosting the signal, ensuring compatibility between devices.

Passive Adapter

A simple connector that allows different types of devices or cables to be connected without altering the signal.