Installing Motherboards and Connectors

Flashcards covering motherboard components, internal and external connectors, form factors, and installation procedures based on ITCNA Chapter 1.

Peripheral devices

Components of a personal computer designed to be handled by the user, performing functions such as input (keyboard, mouse), output (monitor, speakers), or external storage.

System case/chassis

The housing for internal components, including the motherboard, CPU, system memory modules, adapter cards, fixed disks, and the power supply unit.

Blanking plate

A metal strip used to cover uncovered adapter card slots to ensure proper air flow and prevent dust buildup.

I/O port

An input/output connection point that allows a peripheral device to be connected to the PC via a cable.

Hardware port

The external connection point for a particular type of bus interface.

Bus

A communication system that allows the transfer of data to and from devices.

Keying

An asymmetric design of connectors and ports used to prevent them from being inserted the wrong way around.

Bit (b)

A single binary digit representing a value of either $1$ or $0$.

Byte (B)

A unit of binary data storage equivalent to $8$ bits.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

The standard interface for connecting most types of peripheral devices to a computer, managed by a host controller.

USB Type A

A flat, rectangular connector and port used for connection to the host and some peripheral devices.

USB Type B

A square connector with a beveled top, typically used for large devices such as printers.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)

A widely used video interface supporting video, audio, remote control, and digital content protection (HDCP).

DisplayPort

A royalty-free video standard developed by VESA that supports features such as $4K$ resolution, audio, and content protection.

Thunderbolt

An interface that can be used as both a display interface and a general peripheral interface, distinguished by a lightning bolt icon.

Lightning

A proprietary, reversible port and connector found only on Apple mobile devices like the iPhone and iPad.

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)

The standard interface for connecting internal storage drives, using a $7 ext{-pin}$ data connector and a separate $15 ext{-pin}$ power connector.

Molex connector

A legacy $4 ext{-pin}$ white or clear plastic connector used to provide power to internal components from the PSU.

eSATA

An external SATA standard for peripheral drives requiring a specific eSATA cable with a maximum length of $2000 ext{ mm}$, or $200 ext{ cm}$, specifically $2 ext{ m}$, also described as $78 ext{ in.}$.

System memory (RAM)

A nonpersistent, volatile random-access memory technology used to store running programs and open data files.

System clock

A generator on the motherboard that synchronizes all PC operations and provides the timing signal for the CPU, measured in $ext{MHz}$ or $ext{GHz}$.

ESD (Electrostatic Discharge)

The sudden release of static charge into a circuit, which can damage components like the CPU and motherboard.

Chipset

Soldered motherboard controllers that manage data transfer between the CPU and various devices, determining processor and RAM support.

DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)

The standard packaging for system RAM that fits into numbered, color-coded motherboard slots.

M.2

A horizontal interface for SSD adapter cards that is secured with a screw and supplied with power over the bus.

PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)

The mainstream expansion bus interface using point-to-point serial links and lanes for modern adapter cards.

ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended)

The standard motherboard form factor, measuring $12 imes 9.6 ext{ inches}$ ($305 imes 244 ext{ mm}$).

Micro-ATX (mATX)

A motherboard form factor measuring $9.6 imes 9.6 ext{ inches}$ ($244 imes 244 ext{ mm}$) with a maximum of $4$ expansion slots.

Mini-ITX

A small form factor motherboard measuring $6.7 imes 6.7 ext{ inches}$ ($170 imes 170 ext{ mm}$) with one expansion slot.

Standoffs

Threaded components or pegs used to attach the motherboard to the case to prevent it from touching the chassis directly.

Headers

Motherboard connectors for case components such as the power button, HDD activity lights, audio ports, and USB ports.

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)

A signal carried by the blue wire in $4 ext{-pin}$ fan connectors to provide precise control over fan speed.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)

A microprocessor optimized for processing instructions to render $2 ext{-D}$ and $3 ext{-D}$ images and effects.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

A legacy video interface designed to support both analog and digital outputs, no longer in active development.

VGA (Video Graphics Array)

A legacy $15 ext{-pin}$ D-shell analog video interface used as a PC standard for a long period.

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

A legacy parallel bus interface used for internal and external devices, often using ribbon cables.

IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics)

A legacy $16 ext{-bit}$ parallel mass storage interface, also known as PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment).

Active adapter

A cable that uses internal circuitry to convert signals between two different cable types, such as HDMI to VGA.