COMPTIA Chapter 3.3 Cases and Motherboards

You decided to upgrade your PC with a faster processor. To do this, you ordered a new motherboard over the internet that supports the processor that you want to use. When the motherboard arrives, you discover that the motherboard uses the Micro-ATX form factor. Your current case is an ATX mid-tower with a standard ATX motherboard inside. Which steps must you take for the Micro-ATX motherboard to work in the ATX case? -Drill new holes in the ATX case to match the mounting hole pattern in the Micro-ATX motherboard. -Drill new holes in the Micro-ATX motherboard to match the mounting hole pattern in the ATX case. -Return the motherboard and replace it with an ATX form factor motherboard, as the Micro-ATX motherboard does not fit without modifying the case. -No additional steps are necessary. You can install the Micro-ATX motherboard in the ATX case.

-No additional steps are necessary. You can install the Micro-ATX motherboard in the ATX case.

You are in the process of installing a motherboard in a system case. Which of the following objects should you place between the motherboard and the system case? Answer -Passive heat sink -Support manual -Standoffs -Fans -Heat spreaders

-Standoffs

You have just finished replacing the motherboard in your friend Ethan's computer with the same type of motherboard that the computer had originally. You tested the motherboard by powering it on and by verifying that the operating system started and that the applications work. Now Ethan is complaining that his computer no longer recognizes his external hard drive, which he had connected to the previous motherboard. Which of the following is MOST likely causing the external hard drive not to function? Answer -The USB front panel connector was not properly connected. -The replacement motherboard does not support external hard drives. -The computer's power supply was not connected properly. -The hard drive has failed.

-The USB front panel connector was not properly connected.

Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of the north bridge chipset? Answer -The chip that controls the system BIOS. -The chip that controls all of the USB ports. -The chip that controls the audio. -The chip that controls the PCI bus.

-The chip that controls the PCI bus.

You work as the IT administrator for a small corporate network. One of the company employees needs to add an additional PCI card to the motherboard. When you open the computer, you see that the card that you purchased does not fit due to the card's height. Which of the following is the BEST method for using the newly purchased card? -Use an expanded case to accommodate the height of the newly purchased card. -Use a parallel card to allow the new card to be installed parallel to the motherboard. -Use a riser card to allow the new card to be installed parallel to the motherboard. -Use a FireWire card to allow the new card to be installed parallel to the motherboard.

-Use a riser card to allow the new card to be installed parallel to the motherboard.

EATX Form Factor

13 inches by 12 inches typically uses extra space or additional memory slots

You are in the process of installing a new motherboard in your workstation. You have already installed the CPU, heat sink, and memory. You have inserted the I/O shield into the case, fastened the standoffs to the case, and attached the motherboard to the standoffs. You are now ready to complete the installation. -Document the setting of the new motherboard -Connect the power and accessory Cables -Connect the wires for the front/top panel ports -Connect your drives to the SATA connectors

1st: Connect the power and accessory Cables 2nd: Connect your drives to the SATA connectors 3rd: Connect the wires for the front/top panel ports 4th: Document the setting of the new motherboard

mini ITX form Factor

6.7 inches by 6.7 inches has only one expansion slot typically used for home theater PC (HTPC)

Micro ATX Form Factor Motherboard

9.6 inches by 9.6 inches only 4 expansion slots

Chipset

A collection of integrated circuits that control the flow of communication between the processor, memory, and external devices.

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

A type of standard connection on the motherboard that allows you to insert a card for peripheral connections and add to the capabilities of a computer. - often seen as expansion slots labeled, PCI, PCI-x(extended), PCIe(express), AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port).

Maintains an accurate system time and date, even when the power is off.

CMOS Battery

BTX Form Factor

CPU is positioned to allow more airflow to increase There is no heatsink fan, instead, a thermal module or shroud fits over the CPU to move heat directly out of the system

CPU

Central Processing Unit. Has a series of pins that form electrical connectivity between a processor and the motherboard without soldering. -CPUs have different socket types. Each have unique shapes, pin arrangements or mounting configurations.

Facilitates communication between the processor, memory, and peripheral devices.

Chipset.

Contains firmware that is used to configure motherboard settings and initialize devices.

Flash Memory

Include components such as USB ports, audio jacks, and an ethernet port.

I/O Connectors

I/O connectors

Inputs and output connectors ports located on the back of the motherboard. -PS/2 mouse and keyboard ports, USB Ports, Serial Ports, Parallel Ports, Audio Jacks, Ethernet Ports

Allow components such as LED lights and fans to be plugged in.

Internal Connectors

Standard ATX Form Factor Motherboard

Most Commonly used 9.6 inches by 12 inches will have 6-7 expansion slots

Often called an expansion slots, they allow you to add cards to expand computer capabilities.

PCI Slots

Firmware

Software that is permanently stored on the motherboard in integrated flash memory - BIOS -UEFI

Form Factor

Standards for overall design and functionality that helps ensure computer components can be interchanged among vendors and generations of technology.

CMOS Battery

The chipset is a group of chips that facilitates communication between the processor, memory, and peripheral devices. - The Memory Controller and Graphics Controller are on the CPU - The Remaining functionality is combined into a single controller Chip. - intel use the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) - AMD use the Fusion Controller Hub (FCH).

Motherboard

The main circuit board that is either connected to or houses all the components operating in the computer.

DC Direct

Type of current used inside a computer

Internal Connectors

connects components inside the motherboard such as case fans, LED Lights, CPU Power, ETC. -eSATA uses an expansion card to provide an external variant of the SATA known as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment solid-State Drive (SSD) - M.2 can integrate multiple functions including SSD as a faster option than SATA. - Always verify a motherboard's compatibility by referring to the documentation to make sure the M.2 module works with the socket.

itx form factor

designed for low-power, small form factor computers.

NLX form factor

uses a riser card to provide expansion slots Allows the motherboard to slide in or out of the system case easily.