CompTIA A+220-1100 (1.1

Module 1: Installing Motherboards and Connectors

Cable Types and Connectors

Personal Computers
- System cases: All in one vs. Tower
- All in one: takes up less space, is more expensive, typical PC. Motherboard, RAM, ect. are within the laptop
- Tower: also a computer, has no screen or buttons beside power or restart. A lot cheaper and easier to update.
- Tower Front Panel Ports and Features
  - optical drive, USB, audio, and mic jack
  - U ports and sound ports
  - side panel of computer tower: machine motherboard, RAM modules
  - Rear Panel ports and features
  - System unit case (side panel)
    - Motherboard panels
    - to replace the motherboard, replace the panel
    - PSU: Power Supply Unit, usually at the bottom
- Universal Serial Bus Cables
  - USB Connector Types
    - USB 2.0
      - Type A: allows the user to connect one host (pc) to another device.
      - Type B: Used for large devices (Printers) commonly in small offices and homes
      - Type B Mini: Used for digital cameras, rarely used
      - Type B Micro: Updated connector for smaller devices
    - USB 3.0 & 3.1
      - Blue = USB 3
      - USB 2 type A works with USB 3 type A
- HDMI and Display Port Video Cables
  - Mini-HDMI: White exterior
  - High definition video cable that has the ability to sync audio signals over the same cables at the same time
- Display Port Cable
  - Newer version. Royalty-free standard
  - Commonly on graphics cards and PCs
- Thunderbolt and Lightening Cables
  - Thunderbolt
    - can be used for display and as a general peripheral interface like a USB
    - can connect a computer monitor to a thunderbolt port to a computer with an adapter
    - Daisy chaining: Connecting multiple monitors to a single port using a thunderbolt or display port
  - Lightening Connector
    - Apples Iphone and ipad propietary connector, only found on apple devices
- SATA and Hard Drive Cables
  - Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)
    - Data Connector
      - Most common cable
      - Connects to motherboards and hard drives
    - Power Connector
      - black connectors for SATA hard drive and connector
      - Data and power connectors can only plug in one way
    - Molex Connector
      - old legacy connector, not used often
      - used for case fans
Install and Configure Motherboards
- Electrical Safety
  - Disconnect power
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
  - it can make your graphics card blow up
  - do not touch internal computer components because electricity in the human body has electricity
  - use anti-static tools
  - anti-static wrist strap
  - touch the inside of the frame first before touching the inside components
- Motherboard and Connector Types
  - Basic set of connectors for CPU, memory, disk drives, peripherals, ect.
    - CPU socket: center of model usually
    - Memory slots: usually 2 minimum, long rectangular
    - Disk Drive Connectors: SATA Connectors. They tend to plug-in from the top, but when ports are swapped, they can be plugged in from the side
    - Adapter card slots: Used for graphic cards PCIE
    - I/O (input/output) Ports (USB, video, audio, etc..): Screen ports internal or external
  - CPU Socket and Motherboard Heatsinks
    - Socket type depends on CPU manufacturer
      - CPU is usually more expensive than the motherboard
    - Usually a square socket near the memory banks
    - often covered by a heatsink and fan
    - Building a CPU:
      - I7, Clockspeed, catch
      - Find the socket size of the CPU (ex> 1155 pins/contact points)
      - Find the motherboard that is a socket 1155 to make sure it matches
        check what kind of RAM it takes
    - Motherboard heatsinks
      - A piece of metal made with aluminum because it stays cool longer and absorbs heat better
    - Memory Slots
      - RAM: random access memory. the principal storage space for computer data and program instructions. Volatile memory that loses data when there is no power.
      - Normally packaged as DIMMs.
      - RAM should be closer to CPU
      - Volatile memory; if power is lost, memory is lost within the RAM chip
      - CMOS & RTC Batteries
        CMOS Battery: powers the chipset that keeps track of date and time for the system to remember time
        Coin cell battery: allows the computer to keep track and remember things like the date and time even without power
        lasts 5-10 years
        Powers RTC keeps track of system date and time
  - Motherboard Simulation ( on exam )
  - Expansion Slots: Connection slots on the motherboard in which adapter cards can be installed to extend the range of functions the computer can perform
    - The mutli-bus design allows different expansion slots on motherboard
      - PCIE slot, PCE slot, CPU slots, RAM
      - Legacy PATA/IDE Port: only on very old motherboards
      - SATA Ports: avg. 2-4. can only be plugged in one way
      - Front panel headers: usually at the bottom right, or by SATA
      - 9-pin USB headers: at the bottom left or right; always labeled
      - every 2 pins is usually color coded:
        2 pins: red (pwr power) power button. It has a small wire that must be connected to two pins that say “pwr”
        2: blue (pwr-rst power reset)
        2:yellow/orange (hdd-led hard drive led light)light starts flickering when hard drive is active
        2;green (pwr-led power light/”power led”) lights are for indication, optional
        SATA Hard drives:
        SATA data and power connection
    - Network Connector Types
      - RJ-45 Port and Connector
        8 copper pins
        used for most devices
      - RJ-11 Port and Connector
        4 pins
        used for old telephones
        POTS (plain old telephone system
  - Expansion Cards
    - def: printed circuit board installed in a slot on a system board to provide special functions for customizing or extending a computer’s capabilities. Adapter card, I/O card, add-on, or board.