Motherboards, CPUs, Espansion Slots, and Add-On Cards

What is the motherboard’s primary role?

It is the main circuit board that connects and allows communication among computer components.

Which storage type loses data when power is removed?

Volatile storage.

What does motherboard form factor describe?

Size, shape, layout, mounting holes, case compatibility, and power-supply compatibility.

Which common form factor is 9.6 inches square?

Micro-ATX.

In an LGA socket, where are the pins?

In the motherboard socket.

What does ZIF stand for?

Zero Insertion Force.

Which CPU architecture is 32-bit and generally limited to about 4 GB of RAM?

x86.

Which feature allows one physical computer to run virtual machines efficiently?

Hardware-assisted virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V).

What connector provides the motherboard’s main power?

24-pin ATX connector

What connector provides dedicated CPU power?

4-pin or 8-pin CPU power connector.

How many pins are on SATA data and SATA power connectors?

SATA data = 7 pins; SATA power = 15 pins.

Which slot is normally used for a graphics card?

PCIe x16.

Which slot is commonly used for a network or capture card?

PCIe x1.

What does the CMOS battery preserve?

The system clock and BIOS/UEFI firmware settings.

Why should extra motherboard standoffs not be installed?

A metal standoff with no matching hole can short the motherboard.

Name two common expansion cards besides a graphics card.

Examples: Sound card, NIC (network card), Wi-Fi card, capture card, storage controller, or riser card.

Why might a high-end graphics card need a separate PSU cable?

The PCIe slot alone may not provide enough power for the GPU.

Can a PCIe x1 card usually work in a PCIe x16 slot?

Yes. It usually works and operates at x1 capability.

What does ATX stand for?

Advanced Technology eXtended.

What does ITX stand for?

Information Technology eXtended.

What are the three common motherboard form factors?

ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX.

Which motherboard form factor is the largest?

ATX.

Which motherboard form factor is the smallest?

Mini-ITX.

What does BIOS stand for?

Basic Input/Output System.

What does UEFI stand for?

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface.

What does CMOS stand for?

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor.

What is the purpose of the CMOS battery?

It keeps the clock running and preserves BIOS/UEFI settings when the PC is off.

Which CPU socket type has pins on the motherboard?

LGA (Land Grid Array).

Which CPU socket type has pins on the CPU?

PGA (Pin Grid Array).

What does PCIe stand for?

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express.

Which PCIe slot is used for graphics cards?

PCIe x16.

Which PCIe slot is commonly used for Wi-Fi and network cards?

PCIe x1.