Lesson 2 – Installing & Configuring Motherboards, CPUs, Power Supplies, Cooling, & RAM

20+4 pin connector

A power supply connector that provides power to the motherboard, accommodating both older 20-pin and newer 24-pin headers

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

A standard that provides an open interface for device configuration and power management by the operating system.

Advanced Power Management (APM)

A legacy BIOS-based interface that allows the operating system to work with the BIOS to achieve power management

Advanced RISC Machine (ARM)

A low-power CPU architecture commonly used in mobile devices and embedded systems

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX)

A standard motherboard form factor measuring approximately 12 × 9.6 inches, offering flexibility and upgrade options

Air cooling

A cooling method that uses a heat sink and fan to dissipate heat from the CPU

Ball Grid Array (BGA)

A CPU package where the processor is soldered directly to the motherboard, making it non-upgradable

Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

Firmware used to perform hardware initialization during the boot process on older systems

Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)

A stop error screen displayed on a Windows computer system after a fatal system error

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The “brain” of the computer, responsible for processing data and executing instructions

Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)

A technology used for constructing integrated circuits and commonly refers to the chip that stores BIOS configuration settings, including the realtime clock

CPU cores

Independent processing units within a CPU that allow for multitasking and parallel processing.

CPU socket

The connector on the motherboard that houses and connects to the CPU

Double Data Rate (DDR)

A family of RAM standards including DDR, DDR2, DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5, with each generation offering higher performance

Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM)

A full-sized RAM form factor used in desktops and servers

Dual-channel memory

A configuration where two matched RAM modules are installed in paired slots to increase memory bandwidth.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

The sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects caused by contact or an electrical short

Error-Correcting Code RAM (ECC)

A type of memory that can detect and correct memory errors, typically used in servers.

Expansion slot

A slot on the motherboard used to install expansion cards like graphics or network cards.

Form factor

The physical size and shape standard of a motherboard, such as ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX, or other internal hardware.

Hardware Security Module (HSM)

A device used for secure management of encryption keys, primarily in enterprise environments

Heat sink

A metal component used in air cooling to draw heat away from the CPU.

Input voltage

The voltage level accepted by a power supply, typically 110–120 VAC in the U.S. and 220–240 VAC in many other countries.

Kernel Panic

A safety measure taken by an operating system's kernel upon detecting an internal fatal error.

Land Grid Array (LGA)

A CPU socket type where the pins are on the motherboard and flat pads are on the processor.

Memory channel

The number of paths data can travel to and from the RAM, such as single-, dual-, or quad-channel memory architecture

microATX

A smaller motherboard form factor measuring 9.6 × 9.6 inches with reduced expansion and memory slots

Mini-ITX

A compact motherboard form factor measuring 6.7 × 6.7 inches with limited expandability.

Modular Power Supply Unit - PSU (modular)

A power supply where cables can be detached, reducing clutter inside the case.

Motherboard

The main circuit board that connects all components of a computer system

Multimeter

A tool used to measure voltage, current, and resistance.

Multisocket motherboard

A motherboard designed to support more than one physical CPU, often used in servers and high-performance systems.

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

A CPU socket type with pins on the processor that insert into holes in the socket, mostly used by AMD

Power-On Self-Test (POST)

A diagnostic testing sequence run by a computer's BIOS or UEFI to determine if the hardware is working properly before the operating system loads

Power Supply Tester

A device used to verify that a computer power supply is functioning correctly

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

A component that converts AC power to the required DC voltages for computer components

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Temporary memory that stores data currently in use by the CPU.

Redundant Power Supply Unit - PSU (redundant)

A power supply setup where a backup unit takes over if the primary one fails, used in critical systems like servers

Secure Boot

A UEFI feature that ensures only trusted operating systems can boot, protecting against rootkits and other boot-time malware

Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module (SODIMM)

A compact form factor of RAM used in laptops and small form factor PCs

Thermal paste

A compound applied between the CPU and heat sink to improve thermal conductivity

Trusted Platform Module (TPM)

A security chip that securely stores encryption keys and supports features like BitLocker

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

Modern firmware that replaces BIOS, providing a graphical interface and advanced features

Voltage rails

Output lines from the PSU that supply specific voltages (3.3V, 5V, 12V) to different components.

Virtualization support

BIOS/UEFI setting that enables hardware-assisted virtualization for running virtual machines

Wattage

The total power output capacity of a PSU, which must match or exceed the system's power requirements.

x64

A 64-bit processor architecture that supports more RAM and simultaneous operations than x86

x86

A 32-bit processor architecture with a 4GB RAM limit, now mostly obsolete in modern desktop systems

Zero Insertion Force (ZIF)

A socket design that allows for CPU installation without applying force, using a lever to secure the chip