1. Motherboard (MOBO) CHAPTER 2 PCM Chapter 3: MOBO1

2. Motherboard (MOBO) A modern motherboard has several components built into it. Most modern motherboards have at least the following major components.: ◦ Processor socket/slot ◦ Chipset ◦ ROM BIOS ◦ Memory sockets/slots ◦ ISA, PCI/AGP slots ◦ CPU voltage regulator ◦ Battery ◦ Some motherborards also include integrated video, audio, networking, SCSI Audio Modem Riser (AMR) and etc. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO2

3. Motherboard (MOBO) PCM Chapter 3: MOBO3

4. 4

5. 5

6. MOBO:Structure and purpose  The motherboard, more or less, is your computer. It defines your computer type, upgradeability, and expansion capability  2 types of MOBO:  Non-Integrated Motherboards  Integrated Motherboards Embedded Motherboards PCM Chapter 3: MOBO6

7. The most common methods of configuring component on a MOBO is CMOS setup Some MOBO used jumpers or DIP switches to adjust configuration settings PCM Chapter 3: MOBO7

8. Chipset  Chipset is a CPU support chips  Determines motherboard main characteristics  what processors its supports  what RAM types  what bus types  Bus speeds its supports  whether it supports standards such as AGP, PCI Express or USB 2.0 PCM Chapter 3: MOBO8

9. Chipsets The chipset contains the processor bus interface (called front-side bus, or FSB), memory controllers, bus con­trollers, I/O controllers, and more. In the PC, the chipset represents the connection between the processor and everything else. processor cannot talk to the memory, adapter boards, devices, and so on without going through the chipset. The chipset is the main hub and central nervous system of the PC. If you think of the processors as the brain, the chipset is the spine and central nervous system. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO9

10. Chipsets Chipsets North bridge (memory controller) and south bridge (I/O controller) connecting different component together PCM Chapter 3: MOBO10

11. Identifying chipset  Why?  To make upgrade decisions based on chipset, or troubleshooting PC fault,  How?  Manual  Windows Identification – System Device Category in Device Manager  Only if chipset driver installed properly  3 rd party software – Smith Micro CheckIt, Linux LiveCD – Knoppix, SiSoft Sandra  Motherboard Type – usually branded motherboard PCM Chapter 3: MOBO11

12. Mobo manual PCM Chapter 3: MOBO12

13. BUS Definition: BUS - a set of electronic signal pathways that allows information and signals to travel between components inside or outside of a computer. A computer's bus can be divided into two different types, Internal and External ◦ The Internal Bus connects the different components inside the case: The CPU, system memory, and all other components on the motherboard. It's also referred to as the System Bus. ◦ The External Bus connects the different external devices, peripherals, expansion slots, I/O ports and drive connections to the rest of the computer. In other words, the External Bus allows various devices to be added to the computer. It allows for the expansion of the computer's capabilities. It is generally slower than the system bus. Another name for the External Bus, is the Expansion Bus. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO13

14. BUS  There are dedicated pathways for system bus which are as folows:  Data bus  Address bus/Memory bus  Control bus  Topic on System Bus, we will discuss further in chapter 5.  There are also other Bus architectures developed overtime which we will discuss on the next slide. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO14

15. Early bus architecture : ISA Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) was the original PC bus There are several attempts to improve or replace ISA which is as follows: ◦ MicroChannel Architecture (MCA) bus - incompatible with ISA and failed to catch on ◦ Extended ISA (EISA) - not widely supported ◦ Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus extension - extended the ISA slot to create a 32-bit, higher-speed bus PCM Chapter 3: MOBO15

16. PCI bus : How it operates?  The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus design creates a main data highway between the processor and other devices.  PCI expansion cards are configured by the motherboard's PnP (plug 'n' play) system, allocating resources (IRQ, I/O address) automatically. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO16

17. The PCI bus operates its own DMA controller, allowing large quantities of data to be transferred quickly between devices without the CPU's involvement. The important thing about the PCI bus is that it is independent of the CPU's system bus; it can expand to accommodate new processor designs and new peripherals. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO17

18. AGP Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) modified the PCI bus design to handle the high data traffic associated with three-dimensional graphics. ◦ provides a 32-bit video channel that runs at 66MHz in basic 1X video mode. ◦ supports three high-speed modes that include 2X (5.33 MBps), 4X (1.07 GBps), and 8X (2.1 GBps). AGP provides a direct channel between the AGP graphic controller and the system's main memory, instead of using the expansion buses for video data. This removes the video data traffic from the PCI buses. The speed provided by this direct link permits video data to be stored in system RAM instead of in special video memory. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO18

19. AMR & CNR Audio Modem Risers (AMR) & Mobile Daughter Card (MDC)  used to connect sounds cards and modems. Replaced by a new design called the Communication and Networking Riser (CNR) card  support for V.90 modems, multi-channel audio, telephone-based dial-up networking, USB devices, and 10/100 Ethernet-based LAN adapters. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO19

20. PCI Express PCI Express (PCIe) is a major redesign that uses high-speed serial signaling arranged in lanes. This allows different sized cards to be used that may or may not require high-speed transfers. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO20

21. PCI Express All PCI Express slots must support x1 (single-lane) connections — so you can plug a x1 card into a x16 slot if necessary. Smaller cards can be placed in larger slots (but larger cards cannot physically fit into smaller slots). PCM Chapter 3: MOBO21

22. FORM FACTOR / EVOLUTION  Form factors refers to the physical dimensions and size of the boards and dictates what type of the case the board will fit into.  Its define the size, shape, and screw placement on a motherboard. PCM Chapter 3: MOBO22

23. FORM FACTOR Obsolete Form Factors Modern Form Form Factors All Others  Baby AT  Full-size AT  LPX(semi proprieatary)  ATX  Micro-ATX  Flex-ATX  NLX  WTX (no longer in production)  Proprieatary design (Compaq, Packard Bell, HP etc) PCM Chapter 3: MOBO23

24. Industry-Standard Motherboard Form Factors Form FactorUse ATXStandard desktop, mini-tower, and full-tower systems; most common form factor today; most flexiible design for power users, enthusiasts, low-end servers/workstations, higher-end home systems; ATX boards support up to seven expansion slots. Mini-ATXA slightly smaller version of ATX that fits into the same case as ATX. Many so-called ATX motherboards are actually Mini-ATX motherboards; Mini-ATX boards support up to six expansion slots Micro-ATXMidrange desktop or mini-tower systems Flex-ATXLeast expensive or low-end small desktop or mini-tower systems, entertainment or appliance systems NLXCorporate desktop or mini-tower systems; fast and easy serviceability WTXMid- to high-end workstations, servers (withdrawn) PCM Chapter 3: MOBO24

25. AT Power connector PCM Chapter 3: MOBO25 P8P9

26. ATX Power connector (20 pin) PCM Chapter 3: MOBO26

27. P4 Power connector (additional) PCM Chapter 3: MOBO27 4 pin power connector