Computer Motherboard Components and Architecture

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering motherboard definitions, history, top manufacturers, major internal parts, chipset architecture, and cables based on the lecture.

What is a motherboard?

The motherboard is the foundation of all components for the computer to run, connecting to all parts of the computer system.

What are four alternative names used to refer to a motherboard?

Main printed circuit board (PCB), planar board, system board, or mobo.

When was the first motherboard introduced, what was it originally called, and in what computer was it used?

The first motherboard was used in the IBM Personal Computer in $1981$ and was originally called a "planar."

According to the lecture, which companies hold ranks 1 through 5 among the Top 10 Largest Motherboard Manufacturers in the World (Sept. 2026)?

1. Asus, 2. MSI, 3. Gigabyte Technology, 4. ASRock, and 5. Biostar.

According to the lecture, which companies hold ranks 6 through 10 among the Top 10 Largest Motherboard Manufacturers in the World (Sept. 2026)?

6. Intel, 7. HP, 8. Dell, 9. Acer, and 10. IBM.

What is the mythological origin and meaning of the name "ASUS"?

ASUS comes from the last four letters of Pegasus, the winged horse in Greek mythology that represents the inspiration of art and learning.

In what year was ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated (ASUS) founded and what is its corporate classification?

It was founded in $1989$ and is a Taiwanese multinational company.

What hardware products does ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated produce?

Motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, etc.

What is the CPU and why is it considered the brain of the computer?

It is the brain of the computer where most calculations take place.

Which two corporations are identified as the world's biggest microprocessor suppliers?

Intel Corporation and Advanced Micro Devices Incorporated (AMD).

What is the primary function of the CPU Socket?

It is where the CPU (processor) is installed, and where the processing and transfer of data happens.

What degree of compatibility is required between a CPU and the motherboard socket for the system to function?

The CPU needs to be $100\%$ compatible with the motherboard socket for it to work.

What is the function of the Fan and Heatsink assembly?

It is an electronic device that incorporates a fan and an active cooling solution to keep the CPU cool.

What does the acronym BIOS stand for?

Basic Input/Output System.

What is the role of the BIOS Chip in a computer system?

It contains a program or code that helps the processor interact and control other components (such as monitor, printer, scanner) and executes the boot process before the operating system does its work.

What is a Cold Boot?

Starting up a computer that is turned off by pressing the power button on.

What is a Warm Boot?

The process of restarting a computer without shutting it down.

What are examples of how a warm boot can occur?

Resuming from sleep or hibernation, or pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del keys after a system crash or "freeze."

How is the I/O (Input/Output) System defined?

It is the communication or signals between an information processing system (computer) and the outside world (people or another information processing system).

Through which types of ports does the I/O System communicate with external entities?

Via serial ports or parallel ports.

What is the function of BUS / Expansion Slots on a motherboard?

They are PCI slots that allow you to add other functions to the computer, such as a TV tuner or video capture card.

What is the difference between the PCI Bus and the Expansion Bus?

The PCI Bus connects high-speed devices to the memory subsystem and the CPU, while the Expansion Bus connects slower devices which deliver data one character at a time.

What is the CMOS Storage Chip and how is it powered?

It is a memory chip that houses setting configurations and is powered by the onboard battery.

What basic startup and time settings can be modified in the CMOS Storage Chip?

It allows modifying the date and time, and sets the loading procedure when the computer starts.

Which hardware components can be activated or deactivated through CMOS configurations?

Hardware components such as the video card, sound card, USB, and other ports.

What additional setups can be performed within CMOS memory besides hardware toggling?

Power management setup, load fail-safe defaults, set password, and save & exit setup.

What does the acronym CMOS stand for?

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.

What is the role of the CMOS Backup Battery?

It is a small battery attached directly to the motherboard that maintains the time, date, hard disk, and other configuration settings in the CMOS Memory.

What is the primary function of the Northbridge Interface?

It links the CPU to very high-speed devices.

Which specific components and buses does the Northbridge interface link to the CPU?

RAM, video card, Ethernet, Memory bus, and front-side bus (FSB).

What is the Southbridge Interface?

An IC chip that handles all the inputs and outputs to the many devices connected to the computer.

Which lower-speed buses and peripheral devices are connected through the Southbridge Interface?

Lower-speed peripheral buses (PCI, USB, SATA, BIOS) and I/O devices like the keyboard, mouse, USB, audio, and video.

What are Memory Slots on a motherboard?

They are slots where memory modules are located, accommodating standards such as DDR1, DDR2, DDR3, and DRAM depending on the motherboard.

What is the function of Video Card Slots?

They connect your preferred video card that shows the output display of the computer to the monitor.

What type of modern expansion slots are used for video cards?

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slots / PCIe slots.

What is an IDE or ATA connection used for?

It is used to connect hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, and similar peripherals.

How is a Serial ATA (SATA) port connection defined?

It is a single cable with a minimum of four wires that creates a point-to-point connection between devices.

What is the purpose of power connectors on a motherboard?

They are attached to the power supply to deliver electrical power to the motherboard and other components.

What types of power connectors are identified in the motherboard presentation?

ATX 24-Pin, ATX 4-Pin, ATX SATA & Power Cable, Power Cable, and Molex Male & Female.

What is the overall purpose of system wires and cables in a computer?

To carry data or information to various parts of the computer system.

What are Back Panel Connectors and where are they situated?

They are plugs and ports used to connect to external elements, located at the back of the computer case.

Which integrated peripheral connectors are located on the motherboard back panel?

PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse, Serial Port, Parallel Port, USB ports, Ethernet, and Audio jacks.

What component is shown in this image?

Intel CPU Socket (LGA type with retention frame and lever).

What component is shown in this image?

AMD CPU Socket (Socket AM3 PGA socket with locking lever).

What cooling device is shown in this image?

CPU Fan and Heatsink assembly.

What motherboard component is depicted in this illustration?

BIOS Chip (Basic Input/Output System).

What component is displayed in this close-up photo?

CMOS Backup Battery (CR2032 3V coin cell).

What motherboard slots are shown in this image?

Memory Slots (DRAM / DDR memory module slots).

Which four generations of DDR RAM modules are compared in this image?

DDR, DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4.

What cable is shown in this image?

IDE / ATA ribbon cable for disk drives.