Motherboards

Common motherboard form factors

1. ATX

2. Micro-ATX

3. Mini-ITX

What is the most common form factor for desktops

ATX

What form factor is optimal for compact or budget friendly builds

microATX

What form factor is good for low power consumption and a small form factor used in industrial and embedded PC applications

ITX

What is the smallest form factor

ITX

What does PCIe replace as a high-speed, serial expansion bus

PCI

What are single, full-duplex, point-to-point serial communication path composed of two pairs of differential signaling wires in PCIe architecture

Lanes

What are the number of lanes available that signal 1 MB/s transfer rates

x1, x4, x8, x16, and x32

How many pins are in the main power connector used in modern ATX power supplies

24

What connectors provides additional power to the CPU

1. 4-pin 12V connector

2. 4+4 pin 12V connector

3. 8-pin 12V connector

What are the auxiliary connector types most commonly used for supplying additional power to graphics cards

1. 6-pin PCIe connector

2. 8-pin PCIe connector

What motherboard connector features an L-shape design

SATA

Where do connector cables from a power switch, reset switch, or LEDs on the top panel of the case connect

Specific pins on the motherboard

What is required to add USB ports on the front panel of a computer case

Plugging in internal USB cable connectors into compatible groupings of metal pins (a.k.a. headers) on the motherboards

What slots/ports on the PC motherboard enable the connection of an M.2 device

1. B key slot

2. M key slot

3. B+M key slot

ToF - Motherboards used in laptops and mobile devices can be characterized by proprietary designs

True

What are the main CPU manufacturers for PCs

AMD and Intel

What do High-end PC motherboards typically feature

Microprocessor sockets that are compatible with CPUs from different manufacturers

What are the characteristics of dedicated server motherboards

1. Supports ECC RAM

2. Supports multiple CPUs (multi-socket motherboard)

3. Designed for limited space (rack-mount / blade)

What are the characteristics of a desktop motherboard

1. Supports non-ECC RAM

2. Typically features a single CPU socket

3. Designed for tower case installation

What are the characteristics of TPM

1. Typically embedded directly into consumer devices

2. Provides security that is specifically tied to a single device

3. Offers basic cryptographic functions, such as key storage and platform integrity