Specifications

ManualsBrandsBiostar ManualsMotherboardsBiostar 865G Micro 775

All About Motherboards

• About the differ-

ent types and

features of

motherboards

• How ﬁrmware

on the mother-

board controls

what happens

when you ﬁrst

turn on a PC

before the OS is

loaded

• How to install,

conﬁgure, and

maintain a

motherboard

In this chapter,

you will learn:

CHAPTER

n the last chapter, you learned about form factors and power

supplies. You also learned how to work inside a computer. In this

chapter, we build on all that knowledge to learn about motherboards,

which techies sometimes call the mobo. You’ll learn about the many

different features of a motherboard and how to match one up with

other components in a system. The ﬁrmware on the motherboard

controls the beginning of the boot, so we’ll look at the details of that

process. Then you’ll learn how to support a motherboard and that

includes installing, replacing, conﬁguring, and maintaining it.

A motherboard is considered a ﬁeld replaceable unit, so it’s important

to know how to replace one, but the good news is you don’t need

to know how to repair one that is broken. Troubleshooting a

motherboard works hand in hand with troubleshooting the

processor, so we’ll leave troubleshooting both until the end of

Chapter 4, Supporting Processors.

1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 99

Summary of content (64 pages)

PAGE 1
435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 CHAPTER 3 In this chapter, you will learn: • About the different types and features of motherboards • How firmware on the motherboard controls what happens when you first turn on a PC before the OS is loaded • How to install, configure, and maintain a motherboard 5:21 PM Page 99 All About Motherboards I n the last chapter, you learned about form factors and power supplies. You also learned how to work inside a computer.
PAGE 2
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 100 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 100 All About Motherboards MOTHERBOARD TYPES AND FEATURES A+ 220-701 1.2 A motherboard is the most complicated component in a computer. When you put together a computer from parts, generally you start with deciding on which processor and motherboard you will use. Everything else follows those decisions. Take a look at the details of Figure 3-1, which shows a motherboard designed with gamers in mind.
PAGE 3
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 101 Motherboard Types and Features 101 A+ 220-701 1.
PAGE 4
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 102 7/30/09 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 102 All About Motherboards A+ 220-701 Intel Socket Names Used by Processor Family 1.
PAGE 5
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 103 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 1.
PAGE 6
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 104 7/30/09 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 104 All About Motherboards A+ 220-701 AMD Socket Used by Processor Family 1.
PAGE 7
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 105 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 1.2 105 A+ Exam Tip The A+ 220-701 Essentials exam expects you to be familiar with the desktop processor sockets in use today. You also need to know about notebook processor sockets, which are covered in Chapter 11. 3 Recall from Chapter 1 that a chipset is a set of chips on the motherboard that collectively controls the memory, buses on the motherboard, and some peripherals.
PAGE 8
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 106 7/30/09 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 106 All About Motherboards A+ 220-701 Processor 1.
PAGE 9
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 107 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 Intel Core i7 processor 1.2 107 DDR3 memory 3 X58 North Bridge High-definition audio High-speed USB ports PCI Express x1slots A+ 220-701 PCI Express Version 2.
PAGE 10
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 108 A+ 220-701 1.2 7/30/09 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 108 All About Motherboards connecting multiple video cards in the same system is called SLI. If you’re planning a gaming computer with two video cards, check out a motherboard that supports SLI and uses the nForce chipset. In motherboard ads, look for the SLI and nForce logos, as shown in Figure 3-10.
PAGE 11
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 109 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 1.2 109 Look on the bottom of the motherboard, and you see a maze of circuits that make up a bus. These embedded wires carry four kinds of cargo: Just as a city’s road system improves to increase the speed and number of lanes of traffic, buses have evolved around similar issues, data path and speed.
PAGE 12
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 110 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 110 All About Motherboards Conventional PCI A+ 220-701 The first PCI bus had a 32-bit data path, supplied 5 V of power to an expansion card, and operated at 33 MHz. It was the first bus that allowed expansion cards to run in sync with the CPU. PCI Version 2.x introduced the 64-bit, 3.3-V PCI slot, doubling data throughput of the bus.
PAGE 13
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 111 Motherboard Types and Features 111 Rear of slot A+ 220-701 1.2 3.3 V 3 3.3 V A+ 220-701 5V 5V 32-bit PCI slots 64-bit PCI slots Universal 3.3 V or 5 V 32-bit PCI cards Universal 3.3 V or 5 V 3.3 V 3.3 V 5V 5V 64-bit PCI cards Figure 3-12 With PCI Version 2.
PAGE 14
35487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 112 7/30/09 5:21 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 112 All About Motherboards A+ 220-701 1.2 Figure 3-13 The two long green PCI-X slots can support PCI cards Courtesy of Super Micro Computer Inc. both these buses as well as the AGP bus, although it is expected PCI Express will coexist with conventional PCI for some time to come (see Figure 3-14).
PAGE 15
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:21 PM Page 113 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 1.2 113 Two PCIe x16 slots PCIe x4 slot Conventional PCI slot Two PCIe x1 slots Figure 3-15 Three types of PCIe slots and one conventional PCI slot Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning There has been one minor revision of PCIe (PCIe Version 1.1), and one major revision (PCIe Version 2). PCIe version 1.1 allowed for more wattage to PCIe cards.
PAGE 16
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 114 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 114 All About Motherboards A+ 220-701 1.2 8-pin connector Figure 3-16 8-pin PCIe Version 2.0 power connector Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning PCIe slot and it does not work, contact the manufacturer and ask for a fix to the problem they created by not accurately following the PCIe standards.
PAGE 17
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 115 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 115 Inserts in motherboard slot 1.2 Figure 3-17 PCI riser card provides a 3.3-V slot or 5-V slot depending on which direction the card is inserted in the PCI slot Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Standard Speeds (Cycles Per Clock Beat) Maximum Throughput Voltage Slots Supported AGP 1.0 1x 266 MB/sec 3.3 V Slot keyed to 3.3 V AGP 2.0 1x, 2x, or 4x 533 MB/sec or 1.06 GB/sec 3.3 V or 1.
PAGE 18
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 116 A+ 220-701 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 116 All About Motherboards Front of motherboard Rear of motherboard (bracket side of slots) 1.2 AGP 3.3-V slot AGP 1.5-V slot AGP Universal slot AGP Pro Universal slot AGP Pro 3.3-V slot AGP Pro 1.5-V slot Figure 3-18 Six types of AGP slots Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning AGP slot Rear of motherboard (bracket side of slots) Figure 3-19 This motherboard uses an AGP 3.3-V slot, which accommodates an AGP 1.
PAGE 19
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 117 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 1.2 117 Notes If you’re trying to buy an AGP video card to match a motherboard slot, you have to be really careful. When reading an AGP ad, it’s hard to distinguish between AGP 3.3 V and AGP 3.0, but there’s a big difference in these standards, and they are not interchangeable.
PAGE 20
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 118 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 A+ 220-701 1.2 7/30/09 Page 118 All About Motherboards Even more rare is an ACR (Advanced Communications Riser) slot. It looks like a PCI slot, but it sits a little closer to the rear of the motherboard than does a PCI slot and the notch in the slot is in a different position than the notch in a PCI slot. ACR cards might be used for wireless or wired networking, FireWire, or modems.
PAGE 21
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 119 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 1.
PAGE 22
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 120 A+ 220-701 1.2 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 120 All About Motherboards motherboard. To use the ports on a module, you connect its cable to a connector on the motherboard and install the module in a slot on the rear of the case intended for an expansion card.
PAGE 23
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 121 Motherboard Types and Features 121 A+ 220-701 1.2 2.5 5.2 3 A+ 220-701 Figure 3-27 DIP switches used to store setup data on older motherboards Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning SETUP DATA STORED BY JUMPERS Older motherboards can also retain setup or installation information in different settings of jumpers on the board.
PAGE 24
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 122 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 122 All About Motherboards a A+ 220-701 b c 1.2 2.5 5.2 Figure 3-29 A 6-pin jumper group on a circuit board (a) has no jumpers set to on, (b) has a cover parked on one pin, and (c) is configured with one jumper setting turned on Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning However, jumpers can be set to clear both passwords.
PAGE 25
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 123 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 Category 1.2 2.5 5.2 Advanced Chipset Setup Table 3-5 Setting Description Floppy disk type Sets the floppy disk type; choices are usually 31⁄2-inch and 51⁄4-inch. If you must choose a size in MB or inches, the most likely choices are 1.44 MB (the maximum data size) and 3.5 inch (the physical size of the disk). System information Reports installed processor and speed, BIOS version, installed RAM.
PAGE 26
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 124 A+ 220-701 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 124 CHAPTER 3 All About Motherboards Category Setting Description Serial port Sets beginning I/O address and IRQ; sometimes you can enable/disable the port. (IRQs are discussed later in the chapter.) Parallel port mode ECP or EPP (differences are discussed in Chapter 7). Infrared Enable/disable (sometimes enabling infrared disables the second serial port, which uses the same resources).
PAGE 27
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 125 Motherboard Types and Features A+ 220-701 Category 1.2 2.5 5.2 Setting Description Supervisor password Enable/disable and set supervisor password to enter BIOS setup and make changes. User password Enable/disable and set user password to access the system or to enter and view BIOS setup.
PAGE 28
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 126 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 126 All About Motherboards Figure 3-30 The coin-cell battery powers CMOS RAM when the system is turned off Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning upgrade, you will likely switch to new technology and a new motherboard. The third approach is to select a motherboard that meets your present needs with moderate room for expansion. Ask the following questions when selecting a motherboard: 1. What form factor does the motherboard use? 2.
PAGE 29
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 127 How Startup BIOS Controls the Boot Process 127 Tip If you have an embedded component, make sure you can disable it so you can use another external component if needed. Components are disabled in BIOS setup. Table 3-6 lists some manufacturers of motherboards and their Web addresses. Manufacturer Web Address Abit www.abit.com.tw ASUS www.asus.com BIOSTAR Group www.biostar.com.tw Evga www.evga.com Foxconn www.foxconn.
PAGE 30
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 128 A+ 220-701 1.2 3.4 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 128 All About Motherboards BOOTING A COMPUTER The term booting comes from the phrase “lifting yourself up by your bootstraps” and refers to the computer bringing itself up to a working state without the user having to do anything but press the on button. This boot can be a “hard boot” or a “soft boot.” A hard boot, or cold boot, involves turning on the power with the on/off switch.
PAGE 31
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 129 How Startup BIOS Controls the Boot Process A+ 220-701 1.2 3.4 129 The switch on the rear of the case simply turns off the power abruptly and is a “hard” power button. If you use this switch, wait 30 seconds before you press the power button on the front of the case to boot the system. This method gives you the greatest assurance that memory will clear. However, if Windows is abruptly stopped, it might give an error message when you reboot.
PAGE 32
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 130 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 130 All About Motherboards System Resources A+ 220-701 1.2 3.4 USB PCI slots IRQ DMA channel I/O addresses Memory addresses 0 1 2 . . . 15 0 1 2 3 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 . . . 3FF A0000 A0010 . . . FFFFF I/O addresses 60–6F and IRQ1, please! Serial port Startup BIOS Printer port Keyboard Hard drive Floppy drive I have these resources.
PAGE 33
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 131 How Startup BIOS Controls the Boot Process 131 System Resource Definition 1.2 3.4 IRQ numbers A line of a motherboard bus that a hardware device or expansion slot can use to signal the CPU that the device needs attention. Some lines have a higher priority for attention than others. Each IRQ line is assigned a number (0 to 15) to identify it. I/O addresses Numbers assigned to hardware devices that software uses to send a command to a device.
PAGE 34
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 132 A+ 220-701 1.2 3.4 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 132 All About Motherboards hard drives—ports, and other hardware devices are tested and configured. The hardware devices that POST finds are checked against the data stored in the CMOS chip, jumpers, and/or DIP switches to determine if they agree. IRQ, I/O addresses, and DMA assignments are made; the OS completes this process later.
PAGE 35
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 133 How Startup BIOS Controls the Boot Process A+ 220-701 1.2 3.4 133 Step 1 1 Where do I find an OS? 2 First look on drive C and then drive E. BIOS RAM on CMOS chip Step 2 3 MBR, can you start the OS boot? M progBR ram Hard drive BIOS Master Boot Record Drive C starts here OS boot record BootMgr Step 3 4 Only if I can find the OS boot record. MBR 5 OS boot record Only if I can find BootMgr. 6 I’m the beginning of the OS.
PAGE 36
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 134 A+ 220-701 1.2 3.4 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 134 All About Motherboards The first OS program (BootMgr or Ntldr) begins the process of loading the OS into memory. For Windows XP, Ntldr is responsible for loading the OS, and is, therefore, called the boot loader program. In Vista, BootMgr turns the job over to Winload.exe, which loads the OS. Therefore, for Vista, Winload.exe is the boot loader program.
PAGE 37
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 135 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard A+ 220-702 1.1 135 The motherboard CD might also contain useful utilities, including one that you can install in Windows, to monitor the CPU temperature and alert you if overheating occurs. Figure 3-37 shows the main menu for one motherboard driver CD.
PAGE 38
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 136 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 136 All About Motherboards A+ 220-702 1.
PAGE 39
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 137 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard A+ 220-702 1.1 137 The methods of installing the BIOS updates are listed here: Your motherboard might use one or more of these methods. To know how to update the BIOS, read the motherboard documentation, as different motherboards use different methods. If you can’t find the documentation, check the motherboard manufacturer’s Web site.
PAGE 40
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 138 A+ 220-702 1.1 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 138 All About Motherboards Makers of BIOS code are likely to change BIOS frequently, because providing the upgrade on the Internet is so easy for them. Generally, however, follow the principle that “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it;” update your BIOS only if you’re having a problem with your motherboard or there’s a new BIOS feature you want to use.
PAGE 41
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 139 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard 139 A+ 220-702 1.1 4.2 3 Figure 3-40 This group of three jumpers controls the BIOS configuration Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Jumper Position 1 Mode Description Normal (default) The current BIOS configuration is used for booting. Configure After POST, the BIOS displays a menu in CMOS setup that can be used to clear the user and supervisor power-on passwords.
PAGE 42
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 140 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 140 All About Motherboards A+ 220-702 Fan and mounting bracket for North Bridge cooling 1.1 Documentation and drivers Decorative cover for North Bridge SATA cables I/O shield Figure 3-42 A new motherboard package Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning The general process for replacing a motherboard is as follows: A+ Exam Tip The A+ 220-702 Practical Application exam expects you to know how to install and configure a motherboard.
PAGE 43
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 141 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard A+ 220-702 1.1 141 6. Install the processor and processor cooler. The processor comes already installed on some motherboards, in which case you just need to install the cooler. How to install a processor and cooler is covered in Chapter 4. 8. Attach cabling that goes from the case switches to the motherboard, and from the power supply and drives to the motherboard.
PAGE 44
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 142 A+ 220-702 1.1 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 142 All About Motherboards Notes Whenever you install or uninstall software or hardware, keep a notebook with details about the components you are working on, configuration settings, manufacturer specifications, and other relevant information. This helps if you need to backtrack later, and can also help you document and troubleshoot your computer system.
PAGE 45
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:22 PM Page 143 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard 143 A+ 220-702 1.
PAGE 46
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 144 7/30/09 5:22 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 144 All About Motherboards A+ 220-702 1.1 Figure 3-46 Place the motherboard in the case Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 3-47 Align screw holes in the case with those on the motherboard Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning auxiliary connector for the processor. Other power connectors might be needed depending on the devices you later install in the system.
PAGE 47
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 145 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard 145 A+ 220-702 1.1 3 A+ 220-702 Figure 3-48 Use one screw in each screw hole on the motherboard Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 3-49 The 24-pin connector supplies power to the motherboard Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Connect the 4-pin auxiliary power cord coming from the power supply to the motherboard, as shown in Figure 3-50.
PAGE 48
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 146 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 146 All About Motherboards A+ 220-702 1.1 Figure 3-50 The auxiliary 4-pin power cord provides power to the processor Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning If your power supply doesn’t have this connector, recall from Chapter 2 that you can purchase an adapter to convert two Molex connectors to a PCIe connector.
PAGE 49
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 147 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard A+ 220-702 1.1 147 Figure 3-52 Seven connectors from the front panel connect to the motherboard Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 3-53 Front panel header uses color-coded pins Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning The five wires on the right side of Figure 3-52 from right to left are labeled as follows: Power SW.
PAGE 50
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 148 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 148 All About Motherboards HDD LED. Controls a light on the front panel that lights up when any IDE device is in use. (HDD stands for hard disk drive; LED stands for light-emitting diode; and an LED is a light on the front panel.) Power LED+. Positive LED used to indicate that power is on Power LED-. Negative LED used to indicate that power is on Reset SW. SwiFtch used to reboot the computer A+ 220-702 1.
PAGE 51
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 149 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard 149 A+ 220-702 1.1 Speaker connected to front panel header 3 A+ 220-702 Figure 3-56 Front panel header with all connectors in place Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning the case to connectors on the motherboard. Audio and USB connectors are shown as the two left connectors in Figure 3-52. You can see these ports for audio and USB on the front of the case in Figure 3-57.
PAGE 52
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 150 A+ 220-702 1.1 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 150 All About Motherboards CONFIGURING THE MOTHERBOARD USING BIOS SETUP The motherboard configuration stored in BIOS setup does not normally need to be changed except, for example, when there is a problem with hardware, a new floppy drive is installed, or a power-saving feature needs to be disabled or enabled. The BIOS setup can also hold one or two power-on passwords to help secure a system.
PAGE 53
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 151 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard A+ 220-702 1.1 151 For the exact method you need to use to enter setup, see the documentation for your motherboard. A message such as the following usually appears on the screen near the beginning of the boot: 3 Press DEL to change Setup Press F2 for Setup When you press the appropriate key or keys, a setup screen appears with menus and Help features that are often very user-friendly.
PAGE 54
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 152 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 152 All About Motherboards A+ 220-702 1.1 Figure 3-60 BIOS Setup Power menu Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning Figure 3-61 American Megatrends BIOS Setup Boot menu Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning A+ 220-702 1.1 4.2 PASSWORD PROTECTION TO BIOS SETUP AND TO THE SYSTEM Access to a computer can be controlled using a startup password, sometimes called a user password or power-on password.
PAGE 55
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 153 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard 153 A+ 220-702 1.1 4.2 3 A+ 220-702 Figure 3-62 Award BIOS Setup Boot menu Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning how to use these jumpers earlier in the chapter. By using these jumpers, you can disable a forgotten password. A+ 220-702 1.
PAGE 56
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 154 A+ 220-702 1.1 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 154 All About Motherboards Reboot your PC and look for the message on the first or second display screen that tells you how to enter BIOS setup. Press that key. What version of BIOS are you using? Explore the BIOS setup menus until you find the boot sequence. What is the order of storage media that startup BIOS uses to find an OS? What keystrokes do you use to change that order? Exit setup without making any changes.
PAGE 57
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 155 Chapter Summary 155 A+ 220-702 1.1 3 Figure 3-65 BIOS setup main menu for a Gateway computer Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning and time, but you can easily recover from the problem. However, if you have customized some BIOS settings, you need to restore them. The most reliable way to restore settings is to keep a written record of all the changes you make to CMOS RAM.
PAGE 58
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 156 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 156 All About Motherboards The most popular motherboard form factors are ATX, MicroATX, FlexATX, BTX, and NLX, in that order. A motherboard will have one or more Intel sockets for an Intel processor or one or more AMD sockets for an AMD processor. Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, and SiS are the most popular chipset manufacturers. The chipset embedded on the motherboard determines what kind of processor and memory the board can support.
PAGE 59
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 157 Reviewing the Basics 157 >> KEY TERMS For explanations of key terms, see the Glossary near the end of the book.
PAGE 60
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 158 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 158 All About Motherboards 19. What can you do if the power-on password and the supervisor password to a system have been forgotten? 20. Where is the boot priority order for devices kept? 21. What is the difference between a hard boot and a soft boot? 22. How is CMOS RAM powered when the system is unplugged? 23. Describe how you can access the BIOS setup program. 24.
PAGE 61
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 159 Hands-On Projects 159 2. Remove the cover of the case, which you learned to do in Chapter 2. List the different expansion cards in the expansion slots. Was your guess correct about which ports come from the motherboard? 3. To expose the motherboard so you can identify its parts, remove all the expansion cards, as discussed in Chapter 2. 4.
PAGE 62
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 160 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 PROJECT 3-3: Page 160 All About Motherboards Inserting and Removing Motherboards Using old or defective expansion cards and motherboards, practice inserting and removing expansion cards and motherboards. In a lab or classroom setting, the instructor can provide extra cards and motherboards for exchange. PROJECT 3-4: Understanding Hardware Documentation Obtain the manual for the motherboard for your PC.
PAGE 63
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 7/30/09 5:23 PM Page 161 Real Problems, Real Solutions PROJECT 3-7: 161 Labeling the Motherboard Figure 3-66 shows a blank diagram of an ATX motherboard. Using what you learned in this chapter and in previous chapters, label as many components as you can. If you would like to print the diagram, look for “Figure 3-66” on the CD that accompanies this book.
PAGE 64
1435487389_ch03_CTP.qxd 162 7/30/09 5:23 PM CHAPTER 3 Page 162 All About Motherboards 5. What drivers are stored on the CD? 6. Which of these drivers did you install on your system? 7. Which updates to drivers were you able to find on the Internet and use? Assume you can’t find the CD that came bundled with the board. Go to the Web site of the motherboard manufacturer and locate the support pages for this board. List all the utilities, documentation, and drivers for this board found on the Web site.