TOPIC 2:COMPUTER HARDWARE

2.3 MOTHERBOARD

Outcome

At the end of this class, you will be able to :

Identify the right motherboard in the system

2.3 Motherboard

Motherboard or mainboard

• It is the most important element. The whole PC architecture is build on the main board

• All devices and peripherals are connected to mother board

basic structure of motherboard

• The basic structure of motherboard inclusive of:

1. Microprocessor Socket

2. Microprocessor

3. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) and Battery

4. RAM memory slots (DIMM, DDR, ...)

5. Card Slots (PCI, ISA, AGP, ...)

6. Chipset (2separate chips - north bridge & south bridge)

7. Connectors [e.g.: PS/2 (Keyboard, Mouse), USB, IDE Bus, Serial and parallel ports (COM &

LPT1) and Power supply (CN1)]

basic structure of motherboard

Microprocessor Socket

BIOS

RAM slots

BatteryCard slots

North bridge Chipset

South bridge Chipset

basic structure of

motherboard

basic structure of

motherboard

components, ports and connectors on a motherboard

• Microprocessor Socket / CPU Socket– is a mechanical component that provides connections between a

microprocessor and a printed circuit board (PCB). • Microprocessor

– Also known as CPU (Central Processing Unit) where located in the CPU socket

– Proces the data arriving from storage units and peripherials.

– Electronic bits are transfer internally using bus (a channel like a highway)– Busses transfer bits from input devices to memory, from memory to

processor, from processor to memory, and from memory to output or storage devices.

– The size of the bus, called the bus width, determine the number of bits of the computer can transmit at one time. The larger the better. E.g. 32 bits, 64 bits per second.

• BIOS – Basic Input/Output System– It is a memory (ROM) keeping a group of routines

needed to control system devices.– It allows booting process (switch on or off)

• Battery– In the computer, it’s called as Real Time Clock (RTC)

chip.– RTC is more likely as a quartz watch that runs all the

time, whether the computer turns on or off.

Microprocessor and the socket

Microprocessor SocketPlaced on mother board allows

microprocessor connection

BIOS

Battery

components, ports and connectors on a motherboard

• RAM memory slots– Stores data temporarily– Volatile (loses data when turned off)– Unit measurement in bytes (Mbytes)

• Expansion slots / card slots– More expansion cards can be added to the computer

system by connected them to the card slots.– E.g.: PCI (peripheral component interconnect) cards,

graphics cards, etc.– cards will appear perpendicular / vertical to the

motherboard

RAM memory slots & Expansion slots

RAM memory slots on mother board

RAM card assembly

Expansion slots

Expansion card assembly

components, ports and connectors on a motherboard

• Cooling system– In order to have optimum performance, overheating problems

must be avoided– cooling methods as a fan are helpful

• Chipset– controls the features and abilities of the motherboard– Modern motherboard chipsets consist of two separate chips

which are the north bridge and the south bridge. – Together, they handle all of the communication between the

processor, RAM, video options, PCI slots, BIOS, ATA controller, USB ports, integrated modem, integrated LAN port and integrated sound.

– The chipset also determines the type of RAM that can be used.

Cooling system& Chipset

Cooling fan

Intel 845PE chipset, the north bridge chip (top) and the 82801DB south bridge chip

A typical chipset layout

components, ports and connectors on a motherboard

• Connectors– A port that serves as an interface between the

computer to other peripheral devices.– Example of connector: PS/2 (Keyboard, Mouse),

USB, IDE Bus, Serial and parallel ports (COM & LPT1) and Power supply (CN1)

• Other small components in the motherboard:– Capacitors: store energy, – Resistors: allows a current through, – Transistors: a valve which allows currents to be

turned on or off

Connectors & Other small

components

Capacitors, Resistors & Transistors

Graphic card connected to the AGP Port

Graphic card output

Power supply connector on MotherBoard

Rear connector in a AT power supply±12 and ±5 Volts are used to feed devices

Connectors

IDE Hard disk assembling IDE (integrated drive electronics) BUS and connectors – connect hard disc to the motherboard

Connectors

Rear connectors - Peripherials as mouse,keyboard, printer or speakers can beconnected

PS/2 and USB Ports

Serial (COM 1 & 2) and Parallel (LPT 1) Ports

types of motherboardThere are 4 types of motherboard

1. XT Motherboards– XT means eXtended Tech.– It is an old model of motherboard– E.g.: pentium I & II

2. AT Motherboards– AT means advance technology– E.g.: Pentium III

3. Baby AT Motherboards– It is a combination of XT and AT– E.g.: Pentium IV

4. ATX Motherboards– ATX stands for Advanced Tech. eXtended– It is the latest technology– E.g.: Dual core, Core 2 duo, Quad Core, i3, i5 and i7 processor

types of motherboard

XT Motherboards

AT Motherboards

Baby AT Motherboards

ATX Motherboards

factors to purchase appropriate motherboard

1. Processor speed and upgrading processor in the future– Ensure the motherboard is compatible with the

processor and the motherboard support whenever the need to upgrade the processor

2. Slots cards on board– Compatible with the memory and adapters cards– Ensure the motherboard supports the interface or

has connector for that interface (port)

3. Sockets types require– Ensure it is compatible with the CPU (the

motherboard comes with the CPU socket)

THE END….Any question??

Activity

• Form a group of 2 or 3 people• Each group discuss the different topics as below:

1) Explain the computer Power Supply 2 persons

2) What is motherboard? 3 persons

3) Structure of a motherboard 3 persons

4) Type of motherboard and its technology 3 persons

5) The difference of technology of each motherboard 3 persons

6) Factors to purchase appropriate motherboard 3 persons

7) Factors to purchase a personal computer 3 persons

8) What is system bus in computer? 3 persons

9) Various of memory technologies 3 persons

10) Explain Memory and storage sizes. 3 persons• Present your idea using MS Powerpoint in point form.