Chapter 6 Motherboards

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Chapter 6Motherboards

• IS 148 A Certification
• Hardware

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Motherboard Form Factor

• The form factor determines the general layout,
  size, and feature placement on a motherboard.
• Different form factors usually require different
  style cases.
• Differences between form factors can include
  physical size and shape, mounting hole location,
  feature placement, power supply connectors, and
  others.

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More Form Factor

• Form factor is a description of the size,
  configuration, or physical arrangement of a
  computer hardware object.
• The term is commonly used in describing the size
  and/or arrangement of a computer case or chassis.
  
  

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Motherboard

• A motherboard provides the frame work on which
  all the computer components and ports are
  mounted.
• Every device in a computer system connects either
  directly or indirectly to the motherboard.
• A motherboard may be referred to as the system
  board.
  

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Early Motherboard Form Factor

• AT Full sized motherboard used primarily for
  larger internal space cases like a tower.
  Introduced in 1984
• Baby AT Reduced physical size board, the
  component parts were rearranged to fit
  smaller size cases.
• AT stands for Advanced Technology

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AT Form Factor
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Current Form Factor

• ATX Introduced in 1996 and by 1998 the ATX
  overtook the AT to became the most popular
  mother board form factor.
• The ATX is the same size as the baby AT.
• Components are rotated 90 degrees on the board
  and it lacks the large AT keyboard port.
• Uses one power connector.
• ATX is the most popular currently manufactured
  motherboard.
• ATX is advanced Technology Extension

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Early ATX Form Factor board
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ATX Motherboard Form FactorPage 213 Figure 6.6
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ATX Ports Figure 6.7 Page 214
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Distinguishing Features

• AT board
• Only port is for a keyboard
• Uses two connectors for the power supply.
• 9 x 13 inches
• ATX board
• Has multiple on board ports
• Uses one connector for the power supply.
• 12 x 9.6 inches
• Mini ATX board is 11.2 x 8.2 inches

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ATX Power Connector
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Pentium 4 Motherboard

• CNR Slot

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Chaintech 7NIF2 Motherboard

• 3 PCI slots
• 3 GB RAM
• AGP 8.x
• Firewire
• nForce2 chipset
• Super I/O chip
• Specifications

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Motherboard Chip Set Page 217

• If the CPU is the brain of your PC, the chipset
  is its heart. It controls the flow of bits that
  travel between the CPU, system memory, and the
  motherboard bus.
• Efficient data transfers, fast expansion bus
  support, and advanced power management features
  are just a few of the responsibilities of the
  system chipset .
  

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Chipset Varieties Page 217

• The chipset defines the capabilities of a
  motherboard in regard to
• Processor type
• Memory type and capacity (RAM)
• Types of internal and external supported
• Expansion bus types supported

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Chipset Example Text page 219
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VIA Chips
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Chip Set Pieces

• Today most chipsets consist of two primary chips
• Northbridge
• Southbridge
• A third chip referred to as a Super I/O chip
  provides support for legacy devices.
  

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Bridge Review

• Northbridge
• Provides support so the CPU can work with RAM.
• Usually hidden under a heatsink
• Southbridge
• Provides support for some expansion devices
• Provides support for mass storage devices
  

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The Super I/O chip

• Handles the slower I/O operations no longer
  processed by the Southbridge.
• Examples are
• Floppy Drive Controller
• Serial Ports
• Parallel Ports
• I/R Ports
• Keyboard
• Modems
  

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Chipset Drivers

• The system ROM provides of the BIOS for the
  chipset.
• To use all the features of a motherboard it is
  necessary to load the correct drivers for the OS
  being used by the system.
• All motherboards ship with a CD ROM containing
  drivers, support programs and other optional
  software.

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Chipset Manufacturers

• Six companies produce most of the chipsets used
  on Intel and AMD motherboards
• Intel
• VIA
• AMD
• SiS
• Ali
• NVIDIA
  

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Other Terms for the Bridges Page 219

• Northbridge
• Intel Memory Controller Hub
• AMD System Controller
• Southbridge
• Intel I/O Controller Hub
• AMD Peripheral Bus Controller

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• Begin Part 2 chapter 6

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Building A Typical New Computer

• Typically when building a new computer decisions
  will be made in the order of
• CPU
• Motherboard
• Case
• RAM
  

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Motherboard Options To Consider

• Can a suitable motherboard and CPU be purchased
  as a set from one supplier?
• What I/O bus systems are required?
• USB and Firewire
• Serial Hard drive
• Comm and Parallel ports
• What type and how much motherboard RAM is needed?
• Video Card - 8x AGP
• Sound Card surround sound

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Selecting A Case For The Computer

• Choose a case that specifically lists the form
  factor of the chosen motherboard.
• Pay close attention to the wattage rating of any
  power supplies packaged with a case.
• Ease of assembly and service should be
  considered.
• Front panel and side panel removal
• Tray or pan for mounting the motherboard
• Cases are available in a wide range of prices.
• Adamant.com
  

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Cases

• Cases follow the AT, ATX standards too.
• Cases come in five basic sizes
• slim-line
• desktop
• mini-tower
• mid-tower
• tower
• If possible you should physically check to
  confirm that the motherboard will fits in the
  case you select.

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Flex ATX Motherboard

• The motherboard form factor standard FlexATX was
  adopted in 1999 and is suitable for very small
  housings (as opposed to the standard office PC
  form factor ATX).
• At 9.0 x 7.5, FlexATX is around 43 smaller
  than ATX and 30 smaller than microATX
  motherboards, enabling correspondingly more
  compact housings or embedded systems to be used.
  

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The Motherboard Book

• All individually packaged motherboards come with
  a manual known as the motherboard book.
• This is you best source of information about
  capabilities and jumper settings for the MB.
• If the motherboard is manufactured by a reliable
  company the motherboard information will also be
  available on line.
• Drivers should also be available for download
  from their web site.
  

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Upgrade An Existing Computer

• Questions to be answered
• New CPU?
• Changing Motherboard Form Factors?
• New RAM type?
• Changing cases?
• Adding new technology?
• Follow similar decision making process a with
  building a new computer.
  

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Removable Face or Bezel
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Motherboard Tray
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Removing the Motherboard

• Remove all of the I/O cards, use ESD caution
• Remove obstructing drives
• Remove the power supply (only if necessary)
• Document the purpose of clip on wires running to
  the MB from the case.
• Unscrew the old motherboard and remove from the
  case. ESD Caution.
• The motherboard mounts to the case with small
  connectors called standouts. (standoffs)

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Installing the New Motherboard

• Install the CPU and RAM on the new motherboard
  before putting it in the case
• Mount the new motherboard in the case
• Reinstall the hard drive(s), power supply, and so
  forth that had to be removed to get the old
  motherboard out
• Insert the power connections and other wires
• Test!

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LED and Switch Connections

• Typical connections required
• Soft power
• Reset button
• Speaker
• HD activity LED
• Power on LED
• These connections have a polarity.
• Incorrectly connecting will prevent the indicator
  LED from lighting

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Soft Power

• The on/off function of the power supply is a
  software function rather than a mechanical
  switch.
• This connection must be made from the case switch
  to the motherboard before the computer can be
  started.
• Soft power is the only case connection required
  to start the computer.
• The lead may be labeled Power, Power On, or PS
  On.
  

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Problems With Motherboards

• Problems generally fall into three categories
• Catastrophic Failures
• Component or Card failure
• Unknown Cause - Intermittent Ethereal

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Troubleshooting Technique

• Troubleshooting requires
• An understanding of the technology
• A logical approach to identifying a problem
• Time
• Patience
• Organization

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End Chapter 6 - Questions?