Unit Installation of

3 Computer Hardware

Introduction
Computer hardware refers to the physical components
of a computer. Computer consists of various internal
components, such as, motherboard, CPU, memory, disk
drives, and SMPS. For proper functioning of a computer
system, each and every component must be installed
and configured properly. For installation, one should
have the relevant knowledge of that component as well
as the installation process. The motherboard is the main
circuit board inside a computer. The important system
components like CPU, RAM modules are connected
directly to the motherboard via slots or sockets. All
the ports to interface with both inside and outside of
the computer are fixed on the motherboard. Internal
integrated ports are directly wired to the motherboard.
External ports are grouped together and connected to
the motherboard directly (integrated) or by circuit boards
that are inserted into slots on the motherboard. CPU is the
main component of a computer system. It is necessary to
understand the working principle and architecture of the
CPU. In this Unit, we will understand the basic working
principle and installation of internal components of
computer system. The installation process of these
components is demonstrated.

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 7
Chapter Installation of Motherboard
and BIOS

Introduction
The motherboard is the main circuit board inside a
computer. The important system components like
the central processing unit (CPU) and random access
memory (RAM) modules are connected directly to the
motherboard via slots or sockets designed specifically
for those components. The motherboard will also provide
a number of expansion slots designed to accommodate
add-on cards such as video graphics adapter (VGA) cards
and network interface cards (NICs). In this Chapter, we
will understand the main features of the motherboard,
types of motherboard, motherboard form factors, and
various components of motherboard.

Introduction to Motherboard
The motherboard is also known as main board or system
board. The motherboard connects the components of a
computer and provides power to the systems that need
low power. The motherboard contains a socket in which
one or more processors are attached. In addition it has
slots that allow connecting peripheral cards such as video
cards, sound cards, and networking cards. The internal
structure of a motherboard is shown in the Figure 7.1.

Types of Motherboard
Motherboards are classified as either integrated or non-
integrated.

Integrated motherboard
This has several components integrated into the board itself.
These may include the video card, sound card, and various
controller cards. The maintenance is of a specific nature as
the repairing of the whole board is a complex task.

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 Connectors DIMM memory
for integrated slots (x4)
peripherals CD- CPU socket
ROM drive or an
internal zip drive
are in contrast to
external peripheral
devices such as a
keyboard, mouse,
or printer

24 - pin ATX power

connector
IDE connector (x2)
Integrated
graphics processor
(with heat sink) Floppy drive
connector

PCI express
slot
BIOS flash chip in
Plcc socket
PCI slot (x2)
CMOS
backup
battery

Fig. 7.1: Internal structure of motherboard

SATA connector (x4) BIOS flash chip

in PLCC socket
Southbridge
(with heatsink)
Floppy drive IDE connector (x2)
connector
CMOS backup battery
24 pin ATX power
connector Integrated graphics
processor (with
Super IO heatsink)
chip

PCI slot (x3)

DIMM memory
slots (x4)

CPU fan
connector

Integrated audio
CPU Fan and codec chip
heatsink mount
Integrated gigabit
Ethernet Chip

CPU socket
(socket 939) PCI express slot

Connectors for integrated peripherals

(PS/2 keyboard and mouse, serial port
parallel port, VGA, Fireframe/IEEE
1394a, USB (x4), Ethernet, audio (x6))
Fig. 7.2: Integrated motherboard

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 Non‑integrated motherboard
This motherboard uses installable components and
expansion cards. In non‑integrated motherboard, if any
component fails, it is possible to replace that component
instead of changing the entire motherboard. For
example, you can remove the old video card and install
a new one. Non‑integrated motherboards typically have
several PCI Expansion slots as well.

Basic Components of Motherboard

The modern motherboard has the following components —
• sockets (or slots) to install one or more
microprocessors.
• slots to install main memory RAM.
• a chipset which forms an interface between the
CPU’s frontside bus, main memory, and peripheral
buses.
• non‑volatile memory chips usually flash ROM in
modern motherboards, containing the system’s
firmware or BIOS.
Northbridge
(with heatsink) Southbridge
AGP PCI slot (x5)
slot
IDE connector (x2)
Dram memory
slot (x2)

20 pin
ATX power
connector

CMOS
backup
CPU fan and battery
heatsink
mounting
points
Connectors for integrated
peripherals
(PS/2 keyboard and mouse,
CPU serial port parallel port, USB (x4),
socket ethernet, audio (x3)

Fig. 7.3: Motherboard components

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 • a clock generator which produces the system clock
signal to synchronise the various components.
• slots for expansion cards. These interface to the
system via the buses supported by the chipset.
• power connectors, which receive electrical power
from the computer power supply and distribute it
to the CPU, chipset, main memory, and expansion
cards.

Motherboard Form Factors

Motherboards are classified by form factors. The form
factor of motherboard refers to its overall dimensions
and layout. Form factors essentially define the layout of
the actual motherboard including the dimensions,
component positioning, mounting holes, number of
expansion slots, and so on. There are several different
types of form factors as explained below.

AT
AT (Advanced Technology)
form factor first introduced
by IBM in 1984, and used
till 1997, in processors
like P2 to P5 generation.
Its size was 350 mm x 305
mm (13.8" x 12"). It works
on the six pin plugs and
sockets which are used to
work as power connectors.
The processor, memory,
and expansion slots were
all arranged in a straight
line as shown in Figure 7.4.

Baby AT
Fig. 7.4: AT original IBM form factor design The smaller version of the
AT form factor is known
as Baby AT, introduced in 1989 and still found in
computers today. The Baby AT has dimensions of 330
mm x 216 mm (13" x 8.5"). It is also cheaper.

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 ATX Motherboard
The (ATX) Advanced Technology eXtended
form factor, introduced by Intel in 1995, was
designed to overcome issues with the Baby AT.
In ATX, the processor and memory are arranged
at a right angle to the expansion slots, allowing
room for the use of full length expansion cards.
In the newer computers, the combined height of
the processor, heat sink, and cooling fan make
it possible to insert full length cards in any other
form factor, and most new computers, including
servers, are built around the ATX form factor.
ATX motherboards also offer advanced power
management features that make them ever Fig. 7.5: MicroATX
more attractive to computer manufacturers.
For example, ATX motherboards offer a soft
shutdown option, allowing the operating system
to completely power down the computer without
the user having to press the power switch.
A full size ATX board is 12" wide and 9.6"
deep. There is also a smaller version referred to
as the Mini-ATX board that is 11.2" wide and
8.2" deep.

MicroATX
This was introduced by Intel in 1997 and is a
compatible variation to the ATX board outlined
above. As the name would imply, the microATX
is smaller than the standard ATX board because
of the reduced number of I/O slots on the board.
Due to the fact that it is smaller than the standard Fig. 7.6: FlexATX
ATX board, the microATX form factor reduces the
cost of computers and is used in lower cost systems.

FlexATX
A further variant of the ATX form factor called FlexATX
was released by Intel in 1999, reducing the size of
the motherboard to 229mm x 191mm (9" x 7.5") and
limiting the number of expansion slots to two. This
further reduces the overall cost of the system and

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 allows an even more compact system design, while
maintaining backward compatibility with other ATX
formats. The FlexATX uses the same mounting holes
as its predecessors, avoiding the need to retool an
existing chassis.

LPX
In an attempt to reduce the space requirements of
computer systems, Western Digital introduced their
proprietary Low Profile eXtension (LPX) form factor in
the early 1990s. The LPX form factor is a non-standard
proprietary one sometimes found in desktop computer
models. This form factor is characterised by an expansion
board that runs parallel
to the motherboard. A
riser card arrangement
is used for expansion
cards thereby allowing
for smaller cases. The
disadvantage is that
this limits the number
of expansion cards
available.
LPX motherboards
Fig. 7.7: LPX form factor are typically integrated
and most have the video and sound components built-
in. However, due in part to the fact that the form factor is
non-standardised, the ATX form factor is more popular.

NLX
The number of expansion slots was limited in LPX,
the system was difficult to upgrade or repair due to its
proprietary format and the low availability of compatible
parts and poor airflow inside the chassis could lead
to cooling problems. The format was revised by Intel
and standardised in the shape of the New Low-Profile
eXtended (NLX) form factor in 1997. NLX motherboards
are easily distinguished by the riser card to which the
expansion cards connects. The riser cards allow two to
four expansion cards to be plugged in. These expansion
cards sit parallel to the motherboard.

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 Servers with this form factor offer power that is
similar to the larger traditional servers but in the size
of a VCR. The obvious benefit of the NLX form factor
is that the bulk of a traditional server is reduced to
a space saving smaller server. Additionally, servers
assembled in a rack mount case can be secured to a
rack which can itself be secured to the floor, providing
better equipment safety.

BTX
The Balanced Technology eXtended
(BTX) form factor was released by
Intel in 2004 as the successor to the
popular ATX format. It has a number
of new features including changes
to the layout of the board designed
to improve component placement,
enhancing airflow inside the case, and
reducing the number of cooling fans
needed.
The BTX form factor allows for
more integrated onboard components
because it is larger than ATX. The
airflow path is optimised by moving Fig. 7.8: BTX form factor
the memory slots and expansion slots.
This allows the main system board components to
use the same airflow thereby requiring fewer fans and
reducing noise.
The three motherboards included in the BTX form
factor are outlined below:
1. PicoBTX: This is the smallest BTX motherboard
form factor. It uses four mounting holes and
one expansion slot.
2. MicroBTX: This form factor is slightly smaller
than the regular BTX but larger than the
PicoBTX. It uses seven mounting holes and
four expansion slots.
3. BTX: Also referred to as regular BTX, it is
the largest BTX form factor. It uses up to ten
mounting holes and supports a maximum of
seven expansion slots.

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 Table 7.1: Form factors of motherboard
Form Factor Description

ATX This form factor is commonly used in tower and desktop systems. It supports a
maximum of seven expansion slots.
MicroATX This form factor is a smaller version of ATX. It supports a maximum of four
expansion slots.
FlexATX This form factor is the smallest version of ATX. It supports a maximum of three
expansion slots.
NLX This form factor can be found in smaller desktop and mini towers. The number of
expansion slots supported, varies.
BTX This form factor is commonly found in newer tower and desktop systems. It
supports a maximum of seven expansion slots.
PicoBTX This form factor is the smallest version of BTX. It is commonly used in smaller
low‑end systems and supports a maximum of one expansion slot.
MicroBTX This form factor is slightly smaller than the regular BTX. It is commonly found in
newer mid range systems and supports a maximum of four expansion slots.

NLX This form factor can be found in smaller desktop and mini towers. The number of
expansion slots supported varies.

Practical Activity
Installation of Motherboard
Step 1: Open the case
• First step in assembling the computer is to open the computer
case. There are different methods for opening cases.

Fig. 1: Unscrew case Fig. 2: Remove the side panel

• The computer comes with various types of cabinets. The

methods of opening the case are different based on the
manufacturer.
• To open the case, first remove the screws of the left side
cover and slide the side cover.
• Pull the latch to release the side panel. Then lift the side
cover out from the chassis.

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 Install Motherboard
After preparing the motherboard,
you can install the computer case,
as shown in Figure 7.9. Plastic and
metal standoffs are used to mount
the motherboard and to prevent it
from touching the metal portions of
the case. To install the motherboard,
follow these steps:
• lay the motherboard over the
standoffs to mount it on the
holes.
• align the screw holes of the
motherboard with the standoffs.
• then screw the board using a
standard screwdriver.
Fig. 7.9: Motherboard over the standoffs holes
• tighten all the motherboard
screws.
• connect the 4pin ATX power connector from the
power supply to the motherboard.

Processor support
Every motherboard supports either an AMD or an
Intel processor. They are not interchangeable. If a
motherboard requires an AMD processor, it cannot use
an Intel and vice-versa. You don’t have to figure out
which CPU matches a particular board, you are always
told the type of CPU that a motherboard uses.

The chipset
It is a collection of microcontroller chips integrated into
the motherboard. It provides a high speed communication
interface between the main system components. The
chipset is designed for a particular processor or range of
processors to maximise performance. The latest chipset
includes integrated graphics, sound cards, Ethernet,
and wireless network adapters. A new chipset has to
be developed for a new processor to accommodate its
technology. The two main manufacturers are NVIDIA
and Intel.

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 The two most important chips on
CPU the motherboard are known as the
northbridge and the southbridge.
Clock
Graphics generator Front‑side These two chips have most of the
card slot bus
Chipset
important communications and
Memory slots control functions provided by the
High‑speed
graphic bus motherboard.
(AGP or PCI Memory
express) Northbridge bus The northbridge also known
(Memory as the memory controller hub is
controller hub)
connected directly to the processor
via the front‑side bus to system
Internal
bus memory via the memory bus, and to
the southbridge via an internal bus.
Southbridge
PCI (I/O controller hub) It is also connected to a high
bus IDE
SATA speed graphics card slot via either
USB
Ethernet Cables an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP)
and ports
Audio codec
CMOS memory leading bus or a PCI Express (PCI-E) bus,
off‑board
PCI slots
depending on the type of slot
provided. The communication
LPC bus Super I/O
Serial Port
handled via the northbridge that is
Parallel Port
Floppy Disk
between the CPU, memory, and video
Flash ROM
(BIOS)
Keyboard
Mouse
card requires the use of highspeed
buses. The CPU gains fast access
to memory via a memory controller
built-in to the northbridge. The
northbridge basically controls the
processor, RAM slots, PCI Express
and southbridge.
The southbridge also known as
the I/O controller hub connects
to the processor indirectly via the
northbridge and controls slower
devices such as the hard drive,
USB, audio, video, LAN, PCI, I/O
controller, and integrated device
hardware, such as, sound card,
Fig. 7.10: Chipset north and southbridge
video card, USB, PCI, Ethernet,
IDE, ISA, Bios. If there is one chip, then everything
is controlled by that chip. The PCI bus connects the
southbridge to the northbridge.

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 Bus and bus speed Notes
In computers, there has to be a communication
between the CPU and other parts. On current Intel
computers not using the Core i7 processor, the front-
side bus is still used as the data path that connects the
processor to the northbridge and other components.
The motherboard mentiones the speed as 1333 Mhz
it is the front side bus speed. It is the speed of data
travel between the CPU and memory and is measured
in megahertz (MHz). This speed is obtained by using a
quartz crystal on the motherboard. When an electrical
current passes through it, it vibrates. These vibrations
or pulses occur millions of times per second. This is
known as the clock speed. So if the bus speed is 1500
MHz (1.5 GHz), it means there are 1500 million rising
and falling edges every second. Bus speed is one of the
primary factors that has an impact on a computer’s
performance.

BIOS chip
Every motherboard has a BIOS (basic input output
system). BIOS memory is a small memory on
motherboards that is used to store BIOS settings. This
chip contains a small amount of code that is responsible
for booting the computer system. It reads the CMOS
settings, performs the POST (power‑on self‑test), checks
for devices, and then reads the master boot record on
the hard drive so that the operating system can load. In
modern motherboard, the BIOS chip is integrated as a
part of the southbridge chipset.

CMOS battery
All personal computers require a small battery
on the system board that provides power to the
complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
chip even while the computer is turned off. This chip
contains information about the system configuration
for example hard disk type, floppy drive types, date
and time, and the order in which the computer will
look for bootable disks. The CMOS battery allows the

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 CMOS to preserve these settings. The battery
is small, round, flat, and fits into a socket as
shown in Figure 7.11.

Expansion slots
Modern motherboards come with on-
Fig. 7.11: Lithium battery and its socket
board sound, wired networking, and video
card. Expansion slots are specific slots on a PC
motherboard that are used to plug the expansion
cards. Plugging in a dedicated expansion card, instead
of the motherboard’s built-in hardware increases the
functionality of computer. Expansion cards can also
provide new functionality, such as allowing your
computer to capture TV signals or access to a wireless
network. They are located at the back of the computer,
and allow more ports to be added to the computer for
example, USB 2.0/USB 3.0.

PCI
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) motherboard
expansion slots is an older standard of 1993, which
provides less bandwidth for expansion cards.

AGP slots
The AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) expansion slot
standard was introduced when video cards needed
more bandwidth for performance than was provided by
PCI. These slots have been popular for many years now
but they have slowly been phased out in favor of PCI
Fig. 7.12: AGP slots express slots, which offer faster bandwidth and greater
compatibility with other kinds of cards as well.

PCI Express
PCI Express
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Express (or
PCI PCIe) is the newest standard for expansion cards on
PCI Express personal computers. PCI Express is replaced by the
16 previous standards like PCI and AGP. PCIe provides
Fig. 7.13: PCI Express more bandwidth for higher performance of video cards
and network cards. PCI Express slots have different
versions and a numbers of lanes.

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 ISA slots
ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) concept was
introduced by IBM in 1984. These are obsolete now
because of their large size and slow bandwidth slots.

VESA slots
VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) are
also obsolete now because of their limited compatibility Fig. 7.14: (PCI) bus slots
with a large number of expansion cards. The bandwidth
speeds were much higher than the ISA slots.

PCMCIA slots
These slots are present in laptops because of their
unique feature that they can be used even when the Fig. 7.15: Different types of
(PCI) bus slots
laptop is switched on and is running. Commonly, PC
cards and express cards are used in such slots. It
allows the laptop to get the flexibility and the features
of a desktop.

Expansion cards Fig. 7.16: ISA (Industry

Standard Architecture)
The purpose of an expansion card is to provide or
expand the features not offered by the in-built features
of the motherboard. An expansion card is an electronic
board or card added into the expansion slot of a desktop
computer for better functionality. Types of expansion Fig. 7.17: PCMCIA slots
cards in a computer:
• Interface card (ATA, Bluetooth, EIDE, FireWire,
IDE, Parallel, RAID, SCSI, Serial, and USB)
• Modem
• MPEG decoder
• Network card
• Sound card Fig. 7.18: Network card
• Video card

Memory slots
These allow the insertion of memory (RAM) modules into
the computer. There are usually two to four memory
Fig. 7.19: Memory slots
slots depending on the motherboard.

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 Jumpers
Motherboards have a variety of different pins that can be
Fig. 7.20: Jumpers in connected with jumpers for different purposes. Jumper
motherboard is a small connector made from conductive metal with
plastic coating, which makes it easy to handle and
also will not affect the live circuit when touched. There
are certain common motherboard jumper settings. In
modern motherboard, there are two jumper switches
that are the flash BIOS jumper and the clear CMOS
jumper. It is possible to change the setting of the flash
BIOS jumper with new BIOS software. The clear CMOS
jumper can be used to reset the BIOS. If you forget
the BIOS password, you can clear it with jumper. The
following figure shows the connections to clear the
password. By default the jumper is connected to pins
2 and 3. To clear the password, connect the jumper to
pins 1 and 2. The removed jumper is lying to the left of
the pins.

Front panel connectors

A computer case has buttons on the front panel.
Motherboards have a front panel connector as shown
in Figure 7.21. Wires are plugged into these connectors
while the other ends go to the connections on the front
panel. Some of the common connections are briefly
explained below.
Fig. 7.21: Front panel
connectors
Power light
This indicates when the system is turned on from the
front panel power button. In the Figure 7.21, it is labelled
as PWR LED for power light emitting diode (LED).
Power button
This turns the power on for the computer and is labelled
as PWR BTN in the Figure 7.21. This is different from a
power switch on the back of the computer. If there is a
power switch on the back of the computer, it turns on
the power supply but not the computer.
Drive lights
When the disk drive is actively reading or writing data,
the LED will blink.

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 Reset button
Many systems include a reset button that will force the
computer to restart. Whenever possible, it is better to
logically shut down and restart a computer, but if the
computer is not responsive to either the keyboard or
mouse commands, you can force a restart by pressing
the reset button.
USB
On the rear panel, motherboards commonly include
USB connections that are connected directly to the
motherboard. However, USB devices are very popular
with users and users often want access to the USB ports
on the front panel. Wires run from the USB ports on the
front panel to connectors on the motherboard.
Audio
Many systems include one or more audio outputs on the
front panel that are connected with the motherboard.
A headphone or speaker jack is usually lime green
coloured and has a headphone icon. Some systems also
have a microphone jack usually pink in color, with a
microphone icon.

Input Output Ports and System Resources

Desktop computers require a grounded (three prong)
power outlet for proper operation.
Table 7.2 Older computer ports

Parallel Port The parallel port, also known as a DB-25 port, is primarily for printers
and scanners and is often referred to as the ‘printer port’. The parallel
port is currently being phased out with most printers interface using
an USB port.
Serial Port The serial port, also known as a DB-9 port is an older port, that was
used in the 1980s for a variety of peripheral device. In the 1990s, it was
used primarily to connect mouse, joysticks, and modems. The serial
port has almost completely phased out. Some desktop computers have
serial ports since they share motherboard components in common
with the parallel port.
PS/2 Port
The PS/2 port was developed by IBM to connect keyboards and mouse.
Computers will usually have two of these ports, one purple (for the
keyboard) and one green (for the mouse). PS/2 was the standard for
about 15 years, but is now being replaced by the USB port.

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 Table 7.3

USB
The universal serial bus (USB) port is the most versatile interface
used on modern computers. USB port scan be used to connect
mouse, keyboards, printers, scanners, cameras, external hard
drives, network switches, and more. There are three speed
specifications for USB ports — USB 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. USB ports
come in six different forms — USBA, USBB, Mini-A, Mini-B,
Micro-A, and Micro-B.

USB Type-C
USB Type-C is a new port designed to use a reversible connector.
Its usage is not common yet and only a handful of devices have
been built to use this port. One such device is the 2015 Apple
MacBook.

Network/Ethernet (RJ-45)
The port used for networking on most modern computers is typically
referred to as an Ethernet port but may also be called a RJ-45 jack,
network port, or cats port. The variety of names comes from the
fact that most modern computers connect to Ethernet networks
using category-5 twisted pair cables, which plug into RJ-45 jacks.

Sound
Sound ports in computers can be used for headphones, speakers,
or microphones. These ports are often colour coded and marked
with icons that represent its use.

VGA
The videographics array (VGA) port is used exclusively for video
and has been the main PC-video interface for over 15 years. This
port is being replaced by Digital Video Interface (DVI) ports and
DVl-VGA adapters are available.

DVI
The DVI port is used for video on newer monitors. There are multiple
versions of DVI that have a slightly different form or pin layout.

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 HDMI
The HDMI is a higher end video port. Alienware and the MAC mini
were some of the first computers to come standard with these
ports. This port can also handle audio input.

Display Port
This is an alternative to the HOMI port and appears on select
laptops and other devices. In addition to being able to carry video,
it can also carry audio and USB data. It is backward compatible
with VGA and DVI through the use of adapters. An adapter can be
used to allow HDMI cables to be used as well.

Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 2

The Mini DisplayPort and the Thunderbolt port have the exact
same shape and size but it is important to keep in mind that a Mini
DisplayPort will not work with a Thunderbolt connected device.
These ports are used by Apple computers to accomplish a wide
range of data transmissions including video signals, audio signals,
and high speed data transfer. Apple has built a number of adapters
that can be connected to this port, including Gigabit Ethernet,
VGA, DVI, and USB.

Firewire (IEEE 1394)

Firewire, also known as IEEE 1394, was developed by Apple
computers in 1995. Firewire is a trademarked term and other
companies use the same technology under different names. It is
used for many devices and was much faster than its contemporary,
USB 1.0, but had similar speeds to USB 2.0. Firewire never reached
the popularity level of USB, and has since been dropped by Apple
on iPods (but not on their computers yet).

Modem (RJ-11)
The modem was the primary way to access (dial‑up) networks in the
80s and 90s. With broadband (cable and DSL) networks replacing
dial‑up, many modern computers no longer come with modems.

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 Performance factor of motherboard
• The bus architecture and type of components
integrated in the motherboard.
• Clocking ability, amount, and type of memory
it can use, power supply, CPU type and speed,
voltage limits.

A motherboard is described in the table below. Find out the cost.

Brand and Features Cost

Model Number
Intel Motherboard: Form Factor:
Z390 Aorus Pro Wifi ATX Socket: LGA-1151 (8th
and 9th-gen only)
Chipset:
Intel Z390 Memory support: 4
x DIMM sockets (up to 64GB)
Multi-GPU support:
Nvidia 2- and 4-way GPU
SLI, AMD 2-, 3- and 4-way
CrossFire Features: 2 x PCIe
M.2 (Key M), reinforced PCIe

Accessing BIOS/CMOS setting

Introduction to BIOS and CMOS

BIOS (basic input output system) and CMOS
(complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) both are
essential parts of every computer’s motherboard. Let us
have a look at BIOS and CMOS for their different tasks.
BIOS
This is an important piece of software which is stored
in a ROM (read‑only memory) chip inside the computer
motherboard. It is the first program that runs every time
when we turn on our computer. It stores all instructions
related to controlling the keyboard, serial/parallel ports,
hard disk drive, and other various storage drives. The
BIOS is also responsible for storing all the specifications
Fig. 7.22: BIOS memory

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 of the system in the battery backed RAM (which is also
known as CMOS RAM) and provides a special setup
program to change this information.
The BIOS performs the POST (power‑on self-test),
which initialises and tests the computer’s hardware.
After that, it searches the boot loader and executes
it. After that, the operating system gets loaded on
the computer memory. BIOS creates an environment
for configuring our computer hardware. You can see
a message like ‘Press F2 for setup’ as you start your
computer. It enables to see the BIOS interface or change
its setting accordingly.
CMOS
As you modify the setting in BIOS configuration, the
changes you have made are not stored in the chip of
the BIOS. Basically these changes are stored in another
special chip memory known as CMOS.
Almost all chips like RAM and others (whichever store
the BIOS setting) are manufactured in the same way as
CMOS chips are manufactured. They can store data of
a small size like 256 bytes. They store the information
like disk drives installed, date and time of system, and
booting sequence of our system. They may be present in
a few motherboards. There is a separate chip for CMOS.
The BIOS chip memory is non-volatile. It is capable
of storing data even if powered off from computer. This
is due to a separate power source of CMOS known as
CMOS battery.
CMOS Battery: This is a dedicated power source via
a Lithium-ion whose size is equal to a coin. The life
of a CMOS battery is approximately 10 years before
it requires replacement. As soon as the battery gets
expired, your CMOS setting will reset. If your CMOS
battery dies, your computer BIOS settings will also reset
to their default as soon as you shut down your PC.
BIOS/CMOS setting Fig. 7.23: CMOS battery
You can open BIOS Setup in many ways. Every
motherboard make and model has a different way to
open it.

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 1. Press [Enter any key] to enter setup.
(See Figure 7.24)
2. Setup: [Delete]
3. Enter BIOS by pressing [F2 or Delete].
4. Press [F10] to enter BIOS setup.
5. Press [F10 and holding F10 key] to access BIOS.
6. Press [Window] to access system configuration.

Fig. 7.24: Entering setup

Depending on the motherboard manufacturers,

BIOS setup utility may have different types of options
to set in different ways.
1. This BIOS screen will be different as per new
settings and technology which get updated
regularly (see Fig. 7.25). Exit save configuration

Fig. 7.25: BIOS setup utility for Fig. 7.26: BIOS setup utility for
advance configuration chipset configuration

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 Fig. 7.27: BIOS setup for boot order setting Fig. 7.28: Save configuration changes

changes and exit confirmation as shown in

Figure 7.28.
2. To set the boot sequence of any bootable media
on first priority like CD or DVD or HDD or USB
over any drive, move it to the first position.
3. There could be different keys in different
motherboards for changing the values of boot
sequence. You can see these keys on the screen
on the downside or right hand side.
4. After making necessary changes, save the
setting by pressing F10 Key (or any other key as
shown in your BIOS setup) and exit the BIOS
setup utility.
5. Your computer will then restart with the new
settings.
BIOS utility
BIOS hardware configuration has a lot of setting
options. You can change these settings as per your
need and requirement. After modification and saving,
the computer will restart with the respected changes.
These changes instruct the hardware to function as per
the new settings.
There are a few common things which you can do in
almost all BIOS systems:
• change the boot sequence/order (To install
operating system).
• default BIOS setup loading.

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 Notes • set a new BIOS password or remove it.
• adjust the date and time.
• change HDD, FDD, CD/DVD settings.
• display or hide the computer logo.
• activate or deactivate the quick power-on
self-test (POST).
• enable or disable the CPU internal cache.
• change CPU settings.
• change memory settings.
• enable or disable onboard USB, IEEE1394, audio.
• change power-on settings.

1. Start your computer and note down the key by which you
can enter the setup.
2. Change the date and time of your computer using BIOS
setup utility.
3. Change the boot order sequence to DVD and USB flash
drive for Windows installation.

Check Your Progress

A. Multiple choice questions
1. ___________ is one way to connect your computer with
other computers.
(a) Motherboard (b) NIC card
(c) CD card (d) ROM card
2. The power supply provides power for ____________.
(a) only components in the computer
(b) only the PC peripherals
(c) both the components in the computer and many
peripherals
(d) many of the PC peripherals
3. The main circuit board in the computer is called_______.
(a) RAM (b) the motherboard
(c) the bus (d) the CPU
4. The part of the computer used for calculations is ________.
(a) RAM (b) the CPU
(c) the bus (d) the motherboard
5. The contents of ________________ are erased when the
computer is turned off.
(a) the motherboard (b) the hard drive
(c) floppy disks (d) RAM

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 6. Instructions needed when starting the computer are Notes
stored in ____________.
(a) the motherboard (b) cache
(c) ROM (d) RAM
7. Which of the following are in the ATX family of
motherboards?
(a) ATX (b) Mini-ATX
(c) FlexATX (d) None of these
8. Incorrect settings in the CMOS setup may prevent you
from doing what?
(a) Loading OS
(b) Running an application
(c) Using a specific hardware component
(d) None of these
9. Which chip contains the system BIOS and can hold data
permanently, even without electricity?
(a) Flash ROM (b) NVRAM
(c) RAM (d) ROM

B. Fill in the blanks

1. ____________ form factor is commonly used in tower and
desktop systems.
2. ____________ form factor can be found in smaller desktop
and mini towers.
3. Processor technologies are classified into ___________
categories.
4. A ____________ is a collection of transistors.
5. CMOS is power driven by a ____________ battery.
6. BIOS chip memory is ____________.
7. In modern PCs, CMOS settings are stored in
_______________.

C. State whether the statements given below are True or False

1. Regular BTX is the biggest BTX motherboard form factor.
2. The Mini DisplayPort and the Thunderbolt port have the
exact same shape and size.
3. The modem was the primary way to access (dial‑up)
networks.
4. The smaller version of the AT form factor is called the
Baby AT.
5. The serial port are also known as a DB-19.
6. The parallel port are also known as a DB-25 port.
7. The PS/2 port was developed by Microsoft to connect
keyboards and mouse.
8. The data stored in BIOS remains the same even if power
is off.

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 Notes 9. BIOS settings will reset to their defaults when the computer
is restarted.
10. For loading operating system, BIOS is necessary.

D. Short answer questions

1. What is a computer motherboard?
2. What does a common modern motherboard contain?
3. Explain what are motherboard components.
4. Explain primary functions of the motherboard.
5. Which process is controlled by the motherboard?
6. List out the different types of motherboards.
7. Explain the difference between CMOS and BIOS.
8. What is booting?
9. List the various types of operating systems.
11. Define real time operating systems with an example?
12. What is the difference between BIOS and CMOS?
13. What is the sequence of things done by the BIOS when you
turn on your computer?

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