PC Maintenance: Preparing for A+ Certification

PC Maintenance: PC Maintenance: Preparing for A+ Preparing for A+

CertificationCertificationChapter 4: The MotherboardChapter 4: The Motherboard

Chapter 4 ObjectivesChapter 4 Objectives Understand the processing subsystemUnderstand the processing subsystem Identify expansion buses and slotsIdentify expansion buses and slots Differentiate between motherboard form Differentiate between motherboard form

factors and feature setsfactors and feature sets Identify parts of a motherboardIdentify parts of a motherboard Change the battery in a motherboardChange the battery in a motherboard Troubleshoot motherboard problemsTroubleshoot motherboard problems

Processing SubsystemProcessing Subsystem MotherboardMotherboard CPUCPU MemoryMemory Operating systemOperating system

How a Motherboard WorksHow a Motherboard Works BusesBuses

Address busAddress bus System busSystem bus Expansion busesExpansion buses

ChipsChips ChipsetChipset CPUCPU RAMRAM

BusesBuses Address bus: between CPU and MCCAddress bus: between CPU and MCC

MCC: Memory controller chipMCC: Memory controller chip Interfaces with RAMInterfaces with RAM

System bus: between CPU and chipsetSystem bus: between CPU and chipset Chipset: controller chip(s) on motherboardChipset: controller chip(s) on motherboard

Expansion buses: between chipset and Expansion buses: between chipset and expansion slotsexpansion slots

Expansion BusesExpansion Buses AGP: Fastest, for video onlyAGP: Fastest, for video only

32-bit, 66MHz up to 533MHz32-bit, 66MHz up to 533MHz PCI: Fast, general purposePCI: Fast, general purpose

32-bit, 33MHz32-bit, 33MHz New PCIe (PCI Express) is faster, will replace New PCIe (PCI Express) is faster, will replace

AGP soonAGP soon ISA: Slow, general purposeISA: Slow, general purpose

16-bit, 8MHz16-bit, 8MHz

Expansion SlotsExpansion Slots

AGP

ISA

PCI

Motherboard ChipsetsMotherboard Chipsets North/South BridgeNorth/South Bridge

Older designOlder design Uses PCI bus to connect North (faster) and Uses PCI bus to connect North (faster) and

South (slower)South (slower) HubHub

Newer designNewer design PCI bus is separate, not used for north/south PCI bus is separate, not used for north/south

traffictraffic Newer designs do not include ISA supportNewer designs do not include ISA support

JumpersJumpers Two pinsTwo pins When cap is placed over them, they are When cap is placed over them, they are

bridged and electrical circuit is createdbridged and electrical circuit is created

SwitchesSwitches Tiny on/off switch that opens/closes Tiny on/off switch that opens/closes

electrical circuitelectrical circuit More expensive to manufacture than More expensive to manufacture than

jumperjumper

Selecting a MotherboardSelecting a Motherboard Form FactorForm Factor Expansion SlotsExpansion Slots RAM slotsRAM slots CPU Slot or SocketCPU Slot or Socket Built-in components (sound, video, Built-in components (sound, video,

network)network) I/O ports (USB, FireWire, serial, parallel, I/O ports (USB, FireWire, serial, parallel,

PS/2 mouse)PS/2 mouse)

AT MotherboardAT Motherboard

Ports connect to case via small ribbon cables

Large (AT-style) keyboard connector

AT-style power connector Expansion

slots parallel to wide edge

ATX MotherboardATX Motherboard

ATX-style power supply connector

Ports built into side of board

Expansion slots parallel to narrow edge

Small (PS/2) style keyboard connector

Motherboard Expansion SlotsMotherboard Expansion Slots ISA: 16-bit, 8MHzISA: 16-bit, 8MHz

Very old technologyVery old technology Slots are usually blackSlots are usually black Useful for compatibility with old devicesUseful for compatibility with old devices

Motherboard Expansion SlotsMotherboard Expansion Slots PCI: 32-bit, 33MHzPCI: 32-bit, 33MHz

General-purpose expansion slotsGeneral-purpose expansion slots Slots are usually whiteSlots are usually white Useful for a variety of cards including NICs, Useful for a variety of cards including NICs,

modems, sound cardsmodems, sound cards

Motherboard Expansion SlotsMotherboard Expansion Slots AGP: 32-bit, 66MHz to 533MHzAGP: 32-bit, 66MHz to 533MHz

Only one per motherboard in most casesOnly one per motherboard in most cases Slots are usually brownSlots are usually brown High speed for video cardHigh speed for video card ““X” ratings of speed, from 1X (66MHz) to 8X X” ratings of speed, from 1X (66MHz) to 8X

(533MHz)(533MHz)

CPU Slot or SocketCPU Slot or Socket Sockets for PGA CPUsSockets for PGA CPUs

Many styles of sockets with different number Many styles of sockets with different number and arrangement of pinsand arrangement of pins

CPU Slot or SocketCPU Slot or Socket Slots for cartridge-type (SECC) CPUsSlots for cartridge-type (SECC) CPUs

SECC Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot ASECC Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot A

Built-in ComponentsBuilt-in Components SoundSound NetworkNetwork VideoVideo ModemModem

BatteryBattery

Why a battery?Why a battery? CMOSCMOS Real-time clockReal-time clock

Styles of batteryStyles of battery BarrelBarrel CoinCoin

I/O Ports in MotherboardI/O Ports in Motherboard MouseMouse KeyboardKeyboard COM (Legacy COM (Legacy

Serial)Serial)

USBUSB LPT (Legacy LPT (Legacy

Parallel)Parallel) FireWire – less FireWire – less

commoncommon

Drive Connectors on Drive Connectors on MotherboardMotherboard

FloppyFloppy 34-pin34-pin Ribbon cableRibbon cable

IDEIDE 40-pin40-pin Ribbon cableRibbon cable New type just introduced: New type just introduced:

Serial IDESerial IDE

Troubleshooting MotherboardsTroubleshooting Motherboards

Dead Motherboard:Dead Motherboard: Correct CPU installed?Correct CPU installed? Correct type of RAM?Correct type of RAM? Power supply working?Power supply working? Video card installed?Video card installed? Power turned on?Power turned on?

Troubleshooting MotherboardsTroubleshooting Motherboards

BeepingBeeping RAM, CPU, video card:RAM, CPU, video card:

Installed correctly?Installed correctly? Appropriate for this motherboard?Appropriate for this motherboard? Malfunctioning?Malfunctioning?

Look up beep code in BIOS referenceLook up beep code in BIOS reference

Troubleshooting MotherboardsTroubleshooting Motherboards

Dead BatteryDead Battery Real-time clock is losing timeReal-time clock is losing time PC forgets its configuration settings when PC forgets its configuration settings when

powered offpowered off

Troubleshooting MotherboardsTroubleshooting Motherboards

Dead built-in componentsDead built-in components Malfunctioning expansion slotsMalfunctioning expansion slots Bad jumper settingsBad jumper settings Bent pinsBent pins Leaky batteryLeaky battery Broken connection (poor soldering)Broken connection (poor soldering) Short circuitingShort circuiting