Parts of Computer Motherboard and their Function

LESSON 2

Enumerate the major parts of the computer motherboard

• CPU socket

• Memory slot

• BIOS chip & CMOS battery

• Expansion Buses

• IDE or SATA slot

• Computer Chip-sets

• Input/Output Ports

Which is the important component of a computer system?

Technically each and every component is important, where the processor plays an important role in the computer but it can’t operate without memory or power supply this is why each and all the components of a computer are very important they are there for a reason.

CPU Socket

It is considered an integral part of your Computer.

CPU socket is where your ——- ——- is installed.

CPU processor

It is the brain of the computer that is responsible for ——-, ——-, and ——- —- ——- as well as ——- —— and ——- ——-

Fetching, decoding, executing program instructions, performing mathematical, and logical calculations

What is the difference between LGA and PGA?

Understood as opposites

LGA stands for?

Land grid array

PGA stands for?

Pin grid array

2. What is the difference between LGA and PGA?

Land grid array (LGA) consists of a socket with pins. While, PGA ("pin grid array") places the pins on the processor, which you then insert into a socket with appropriately placed holes.

RAM slot is also called?

RAM socket and memory slot

what is a RAM slot?

A gap on your computer’s motherboard where you can insert your RAM.

Depending on the motherboard type, there might be up to how many memory sockets?

Four

If you have a high-tier motherboard, you can have how many memory sosckets?

4 or more

What made the modules faster?

The physical modifications

These changes also impacted what?

The looks of the RAM sockets

What are some of the changes included in the RAM slots?

• A different number of pins

• The different gap between pins

• Keyway slots are in different locations in the connector space

• Different height and length

• Indents and shapes

1. A different number of pins

Newer RAM modules have higher number of pins.

Can not insert newer RAM modules into old sockets

4. Different height and length

The length is more problematic since it either fits in the RAM socket or it doesn’t. The height may vary even among the same module types because it doesn’t have to fit anywhere.

5. Indents and shapes

Newer modules have an indent on their edges so you can take them out easily, and their shape also varies depending on the version

SDRAM

64-bit bus

3.3V

168 pins DIMM

DDR1

First double data rate memory

184 pins

popular in the late 20th century - 2005

Max capacity 1GB

AMD socket A and 939

Intel socket 478 and LGA 775

Socket 756

DDR2

240 pins per DIMM

capacity 4GB

Replaced DDR 1 in 2005

Supports Intel LGA 775 & AMD Socket AM2

DDR3

Similar shape to its predecessor

240 pins

Higher frequency range

Capacity 8GB

The RAM sockets that can support it include the LGA 775, 1150, 1151, 1155, 1156, and 2011, as well as the AMD AM1, 3, 3+, FM1, FM2, and FM2+.

DDR4

288 pins

16GB

high-end

compatible with the Intel LGA 2011-E3, 1151, and AMD AM4 sockets.

BIOS CHIP stand for?

Basic input/output system

CMOS BATTERY stands for?

Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor

BIOS chip

Is where all the information and settings for the motherboard are stored.

BIOS chip can be ——-, ——-, and ——- VIA the ——- ——-

accessed, updated, and modified VIA the BIOS mode

BIOS is essentially the link between the?

computer hardware and software in a system.

Where is the BIOS stored?

in a ROM chip

Why is the BIOS stored on a ROM chip?

because ROM retains information even when no power is being supplied to the computer and used during startup routine (boot process) to check out the system and prepare to run the hardware.

CMOS battery is responsible for?

Keeping all the information intact when the entire system is shut down.

Is the CMOS battery removable?

Yes

CMOS battery -

All motherboards include a small separate block for CMOS which are kept alive by a battery (known as a CMOS battery) even when the PC’s power is off. This prevents reconfiguration when the PC is powered on. Again the CMOS battery is removable that can be removed to reset the BIOS after a failed update or if you overlock your RAM beyond its capabilities.

Expansion Buses

Are the slots that allow inserting expansion cards such as graphics card, sound card, LAN card, or several other functional computer parts.

Are the slots that allow inserting expansion cards such as ——- —-, ——- —-, or ——- —- ——- ——- —-

graphics card, LAN card or several other functional computer parts.

What is the most common expansion bus in PC and other hardware platforms?

PCI

Buses cary signals such as?

data, memory addresses, power, and control signals from component to component.

Other types of buses include?

ISA and EISA

PCI slot

It is an interface on the motherboard that allows you to put in a device that requires power

PCI slot

Famous for coming with the first Intel Pentiums in 1993

The PCI stands for?

Peripheral components interconnect

Peripheral devices

A standard computer bus to connect ——- ——- directly to your motherboard.

PCI slot

Its name comes from its physical location between two other elements and from the electrical signals it sends and recieves.

The acronym AGP stands for?

Advanced/Accelerated Graphics Port

AGP slots

Mainly designed to support video/graphic cards with high bandwidth requirements.

AGP slots

The advantage of these slots type is that they support a simple direct connection between CPU and the motherboard without any connectors ar cables needed.

AGP was the mainstream until the successor standard _________.

PCI Express was put into practical use.

AGP was first released when? and up to what version was released?

1997 and up to version AGP 3.0

Why was the AGP slots almost replaced?

Because of the PCI Express standard around 2005.

PCI-Express provides more excellent performance in terms of —— and ——-.

frequency and bandwidth

What are the leading manufacturers of graphics cards that have presented fewer and fewer products for AGP slots?

ATI aand Nvidia

What are the oldest types of slots on the motherboard?

ISA slots

ISA stands for?

Industry Standard Architecture

Why was it named Industry Standard Architecture?

Because it was the only slots invented at that time.

ISA

The components designed to install on —— slot were huge in size and among the first slots to be used in personal computers

What are the different slots in expansion buses?

• PCI

• AGP

• PCI EXPRESS

• ISA

IDE stands for?

Integrated Drive Electronics

These are the standard interface for connecting a motherboard to storage devices such as hard drives and CD-ROM/DVD drives. It is also on older computer motherboards.

IDE connectors

latest motherboards make use of ——- technology.

SATA

SATA stands for?

Serial advanced technology attachment

It is a computer bus interface used to connect host bus adapters (disk drive controllers) with mass storage devices like optical drives and hard drives.

SATA connectors

Northbridge is also called?

memory controller

Southbridge is also called?

input/output controller or expansion controller

Northbridge

It is in charge of controlling transfers between the processor and the RAM, which is why it is located physically near the processor.

Northbridge

It is sometimes called the GMCH, for Graphic and Memory Controller Hub.

Southbridge

It handles communications between slower peripheral devices such as USB, audio, serial, the system BIOS, the ISA bus, the interrupt controller and the IDE channels.

Southbridge

It is also called the ICH (I/O Controller Hub). The term “bridge” is generally used to designate a component that connects two buses.

Input/Output Ports

•Microphone- Pink 3.5mm jack port

•Speakers and Headphones / Headsets / Earbuds- Bold green 3.5mm jack port

•Monitor- Older motherboards are equipped with a solid blue VGA port at the back, but newer motherboards use the HDMI and black or white DVI port as standard

•Ethernet network cable port- Colorless port

•Keyboard and Mouse- PS/2 port (Keyboard- purple; Mouse- green)

•USB devices- USB 2.0 colorless port; USB 3.0/3.1 solid blue port (Yes, VGA ports are a similar color, but this only goes to show how outdated VGA is)

CPU socket

Memory socket

DDR2

DDR1

DDR4

DDR3

DDR3

DDR2

DDR

SDRAM

BIOS CHIP & CMOS BATTERY

Expansion Buses

PCI slots

PCIE slost

AGP slots

AGP

AGP

PCI-E

ISA slots

SATA slots

IDE slots

Northbrige

Southbridge

Input/Output Ports