Course Code :

BISF 1104

Course Description:
Installation and Customization
Lesson 2c : Motherboards Technical Analysis

Lecturer Name: Eric G Kariuki

Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0721487915
 Objectives

Topic 2 • Learn about the different types and features of

motherboards
• Learn how firmware on the motherboard controls
Technical Analysis of PCs what happens when you first turn on a PC before
the OS is loaded
All About Motherboards • Learn how to install, configure, and maintain a
motherboard

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PCs

Motherboard Types and Features Motherboard Form Factors

• Motherboard • Determines motherboard size, features

– Most complicated computer component – Compatible with power supplies, cases, processors,
– First item to consider when building a computer expansion cards
– Contains many detailed components • Most popular
– ATX, MicroATX, FlexATX, BTX, NLX
• ITX form factor
– Smaller than MicroATX
– Sometimes used in home theatre systems

Intel DX58SO motherboard is designed with the gamer in mind

Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
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Processor Sockets

• Determine if processors board can support socket

and chipset
– Socket holds Intel or AMD processor
• Server processors
– Intel Itanium and Xeon processors
– Use one socket type

This MicroATX motherboard by Biostar has an AM2 socket that supports an

AMD processor
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

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 Processor Sockets (cont’d.)

• Pin grid array (PGA) socket

– Pins aligned in uniform rows around socket
• Staggered pin grid array (SPGA)
– Pins staggered over socket
– Squeezes more pins into a small space
– Easily bent
• Land grid array (LGA)
– Uses lands rather than pins
– First LGA socket
Sockets for Intel processors used for desktop computers • LGA775 socket
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Processor Sockets (cont’d.)

• Latest Intel socket

– LGA1366 socket
• Lands in socket like pins connecting with lands on
bottom of processor

Socket LGA775 is the first Intel socket to use lands rather than pins
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Socket LGA1366 is the latest Intel socket used by desktop, workstation, and
low-end server systems
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 9
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 10

Processor Sockets (cont’d.)

• PGA, SPGA, LGA sockets

– Square or nearly square
– Even force is applied when inserting processor in the
socket
• Zero insertion force (ZIF) sockets
– All current processor sockets
– Side lever lifts processor up and out of the socket
• AMD uses the PGA socket architecture (desktops)

Sockets for AMD processors used for desktop computers

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 Processor Sockets (cont’d.) The Chipset

• Intel or AMD • Set of chips on motherboard

– Important: match processor to motherboard • Collectively control:
• Refer to motherboard, processor compatibility – Memory, motherboard buses, some peripherals
documentation • Manufacturers
– Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, SiS
• Popular chipsets
– High-performance chipsets: X58
– Mainstream desktop chipsets: P45, P43, P35, G45,
G31
– Value desktops: 910GL, 845E, 845G, 865G
AMD Athlon 64 processor to be inserted into an AM2+ socket
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
– Older value desktops: 845, 845GL
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The Chipset (cont’d.)

• Accelerated Hub Architecture

– Uses hub interface
– All I/O buses (input/output buses) connect to hub
• Hub connects to system bus
• North Bridge
– Fast end of hub
– Contains graphics and memory controller
– Connects to the system bus
• South Bridge
– Slower end of hub The chipset’s North Bridge and South Bridge control access to
– Contains I/O controller hub the processor for all components
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

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The Chipset (cont’d.) The Chipset (cont’d.)

• Latest Intel chipset for desktop PCs: X58 chipset • Newer Core i7 and X58 chipset
– Keep chipset cool using fan clipped to top of North – Contain memory controller within processor housing
Bridge – Memory connects directly to processor
• X58 chipset
– Good for gaming machines
• Supports multiple video cards
• Installing multiple video cards in the same system
– Scalable Link Interface (SLI) by NVIDIA
– CrossFire by ATI Technologies
The X58 chipset uses heat sinks to stay cool
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 17 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 18
 The Chipset (cont’d.)

• Significant chipsets by AMD:

– AMD 7-series (AMD 790FX, 790X, 790GX, 780, and
770)
• Designed for gamer, hobbyist, multimedia enthusiast
• Focus on good graphics capabilities
• Support overclocking
– AMD 580X Crossfire chipset
• Supports ATI CrossFire
– AMD 780V chipset
• Designed for business needs
– AMD 740G and 690 chipsets
X58 chipset architecture • Designed for low-end, inexpensive systems
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 19 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 20

The Chipset (cont’d.) The Chipset (cont’d.)

• NVIDIA nForce chipset series • Intel dominates chipset market
– Supports high-end graphics
• Popular with gamers
– Knows more about its own Intel processors
– AMD Phenom processor, Intel Core • Produces chipsets most compatible with Intel processors
2 processor
– SLI: connects multiple video cards in – Intel’s research and development led to:
same system • Creation of PCI bus, universal serial bus (USB), AGP
bus for video cards, Accelerated Hub Architecture
• Chipsets
– Generate heat
SLI and nForce logos both by NVIDIA
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage – Some have a heat sink installed on top
Learning
– Considered part of motherboard

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Buses and Expansion Slots

• Buses
– Analogous to highway transportation systems
• Types of cargo carried by bus:
– Power, control signals, memory addresses, data
• Bus evolution
– Evolved around data path and speed
– Synchronous components work with clock cycle
– Asynchronous components: out of step with CPU
– Wait state: command to CPU to wait for slower device
– Bus types: expansion, local, local I/O, local video
• Expansion buses: asynchronous components Buses listed by throughput

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (cont’d.)

• Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

– Improved several times
– Categories
• Conventional PCI, PCI-X, PCI Express

Buses listed by throughput

Three PCI Express slots and three PCI slots on a motherboard
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 25 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 26

On-Board Ports and Connectors

• On-board ports (integrated components)

– Ports coming directly off the motherboard
• Keyboard, mouse port, parallel printer, USB
• I/O shield Intel DX58SO motherboard on-board ports
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
– Plate installed in computer case providing holes for
on-board ports
• Internal connectors
– EIDE, floppy drive, serial ATA, SCSI, FireWire (IEEE
1394)
The I/O shield fits the motherboard ports to the computer case
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 27 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 28

Hardware Configuration Hardware Configuration (cont’d.)

• Motherboard settings • Dual inline package (DIP) switch

– Enable or disable connector or port – ON (binary 1) and OFF (binary 0) positions
– Set CPU frequency, system bus, other buses – Reset DIP switch when adding or removing device
– Control security features – Use pointed instrument (not graphite pencil)
– Control what happens when PC first boots • Jumpers
• Three ways to configure motherboard: – Retain setup or installation information
– DIP switches – Opened and closed using jumper covers
– Jumpers – Typical setting
– CMOS RAM • Enabling/disabling keyboard power-up

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 Hardware Configuration (cont’d.)

• CMOS RAM
– Also called clock/nonvolatile RAM (RTC/NVRAM)
– Retains data even when computer turned off
– BIOS settings are in motherboard manual
– CMOS battery enables CMOS RAM to hold
DIP switches used to store setup
data on older motherboards Setup information about the motherboard
configuration data
Courtesy: Course can be stored by setting a jumper on
Technology/Cengage Learning (closed) or off (open). A jumper is closed if
the cover is in place, connecting the two
pins that make up the jumper; a jumper is
open if the cover is not in place
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage
Learning

Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 31 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 32

How Startup BIOS Controls the Boot

How to Select a Motherboard
Process
• Types of motherboards: • Startup BIOS on motherboard in control until
– Board providing most expansion room operating system loaded and takes over
– Board suiting computer’s current configuration • PC technician must understand how startup BIOS
– Board meeting present needs with moderate room for controls the boot
expansion – Knowledge helps in troubleshooting a failed boot
• On-board components before operating system loaded
– Located on the board
– More commonly offered as a separate device
– Avoid board with too many embedded components
• Do not easily accept add-on devices

Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 33 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 34

Choosing Between a Hard Boot and a

Booting a Computer Soft Boot
• Booting • Hard boot takes more time than a soft boot
– Computer brings itself up to a working state – Initializes processor and clears memory
– Soft boot saves time in most circumstances
• Without user just pressing on button
• If operating system boot not possible
• Hard boot (cold boot)
– Use power or reset buttons on front or rear of case
– Turn on power with on/off switch
• Power switches
• Soft boot (warm boot) – Power button, reset button on case front
– Use operating system to reboot – Power switch on case back side

Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 35 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 36

 The Startup BIOS Controls the
Beginning of the Boot
• Contained on motherboard firmware chip
• Successful boot
– Hardware, BIOS, operating system all perform without
errors (beeps, text or voice messages)
• Boot functions
– Startup BIOS runs POST and assigns system
resources
– Startup BIOS program searches for and loads an OS
– OS configures system and completes its own loading System resources used by software and hardware

– Application software is loaded and executed

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Step 1: Post and Assignment of Step 2: Startup Bios Finds and Loads
System Resources the OS
• Turn on PC power • Startup BIOS looks to CMOS RAM to find boot
– Processor begins the boot by initializing itself device
– Turns to startup BIOS for instructions
• Startup BIOS first performs POST
• 17 key steps involved

For a successful boot, a hard drive must contain a healthy Master

Boot Record (MBR) and a healthy OS boot record
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 39 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 40

Step 2: Startup Bios Finds and Loads

the OS (cont’d.)
• Tracks: concentric circles on drive
• Sectors (segments): portion of a track
– Holds up to 512 bytes of data
• Master Boot Record (MBR)
– Contains master boot program and partition table
• OS boot record
– 512-byte sector
– Second sector on drive behind MBR
– Contains small program pointing to a larger OS
Numbered steps show how BIOS searches for and begins to load an
program file (BootMgr or Ntldr) operating system (in this example, Windows Vista is the OS)
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 41 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 42
 Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring Configuring the Motherboard Using
a Motherboard BIOS Setup
• Motherboard is considered a field replaceable unit • Access BIOS setup program
– Need to know: – Setup screen appears with menus and Help features
• How to replace one when motherboard goes bad – Change system features
• After new board installed, how to configure using BIOS
setup

How to access BIOS setup

Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 43 Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 44

Configuring the Motherboard Using

BIOS Setup (cont’d.)
• Change boot menu in BIOS setup
– Set boot sequence
• Startup password allows access to computer
– Enabled and set in BIOS setup
– Password stored in CMOS RAM
– Changed by accessing setup screen
• Exit screen options
– Save or discard changes and exit program
BIOS Setup Main menu
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning – Restore default settings
– Save changes and remain in program
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Configuring the Motherboard Using

BIOS Setup (cont’d.) Summary

• Brand-name computer manufacturers • Motherboard form factor drives motherboard

– Use their own custom-designed setup screens selection
• CMOS RAM setting is lost if battery goes bad or • Configurable components: bus, expansion slots,
disconnected other connectors
– Restore default settings • Cargo carried by a computer bus: electrical power,
– Restore customized settings from written record of all control signals, memory address, data
changes • Bus types: local, local video, local I/O, expansion
• Important to keep records up to date, stored with the
• PCI buses: improved several times
hardware documentation in a safe place, well labeled

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 Summary (cont’d.)

• Tools for configuring a motherboard

– DIP switches, jumpers, CMOS setup program
• CMOS setup program
– Stored on floppy disk or ROM BIOS chip
• Document configuration settings for recovery needs
• Flashing is a technique to upgrade ROM BIOS

Topic 2 - Technical Analysis of PCs 49