2. Chapter Objectives In this chapter, you will learn:
About form factors and types of motherboards
About components on the motherboard
A basic procedure for building a computer
How to install a motherboard
How to troubleshoot a motherboard and the electrical system
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

3. Form Factors and the Computer Case
The term form factor describes the size, shape, and general makeup of a hardware component
When you put together a new computer system, or replace components in an existing system, the form factors of the motherboard, power supple, and case must all match to ensure everything fits properly
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

4. ATX Form Factor
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

5. NLX Form Factor
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

6. Computer Cases and Form Factors
The form factor defines the type of computer case, called a chassis
Desktop cases
Tower cases
Midsize tower (miditower)
Minitower (microtower)
Notebook cases
Custom cases
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

7. Removing a Computer Case Cover
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

8. The Central Processing Unit (CPU): How the CPU Works
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

9. Characteristics of CPUs
Processor Speed
The speed at which the CPU operates internally
Bus Speed
The frequency or speed at which data moves on a bus
Word Size and Data Path Size
Word size is the largest number of bits that can be carried on the internal data bus and that the CPU can process in one operation
The data path is the largest number of bits that can be transported to and from the CPU on the system bus
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

10. Characteristics of CPUs
Instruction Sets
Basic sets of commands permanently built into the CPU chip to perform fundamental operations
Memory Cache
A small amount of RAM which is much faster than the remaining portion of RAM
Multiprocessing
Microchips designed to work in cooperation with other CPUs installed on the same motherboard
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

11. Memory Cache
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

12. Pentium Processors
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

13. AMD and Via Processors
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

14. 64-bit Processors
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

15. CPU Heat Sinks and Cooling Fans
Since CPUs generate so much heat, computer systems use a cooling fan to keep temperatures between 90 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit
Older CPUs used a heat sink, which is a clip-on device that mounts on top of the CPU and pulls heat away from it
Today, most cooling fans designed to mount on the CPU housing also have a heat sink
The combination of heat sink and cooling fan is sometimes called a cooler
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

16. CPU Heat Sinks and Cooling Fans
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

17. CPU Packaging, Slots, and Sockets
CPUs and other chips typically are packaged in some type of protective material that prevents damage and helps dissipate heat
The design of a processor’s packaging is defined by the socket or slot that the processor uses to connect to the motherboard
Current CPU sockets, called zero insertion force (ZIF) sockets, have a small lever on the side that lifts the CPU up and out of the socket
Most processors today are available in one or more package types
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

18. CPU Packaging, Slots, and Sockets
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

19. CPU Voltage Regulation
Different CPUs require different levels of voltage on the motherboard
With a single-voltage design, the same voltage is used for external and internal operations
With a dual-voltage (split rail) design, one voltage is used for external operations, and another for internal operations
Older motherboards require that you set jumpers to set the voltage to the CPU
Newer motherboards use a voltage regulator module (VRM) to control the amount of voltage to the CPU automatically
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

20. The Chip Set
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

21. The Chip Set
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

22. Buses and Expansion Slots
Embedded wires on a bus carry electrical power, control signals, memory addresses, and data
A bus that works in sync with the CPU and the system clock is called a local bus
A bus that works asynchronously with the CPU (at a much slower rate) as called an expansion bus
Throughput is the amount of data each bus can transfer per second
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

23. Bus Evolution
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

24. Expansion Buses
The first expansion slots on early PCs were Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) slots
A relatively new expansion bus is the universal serial bus (USB) and is used to connect slow input and output devices
Local Buses
Data bus
Address bus
Control Bus
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

25. Expansion Buses
The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus currently is the most widely used local I/O bus included in personal computers
PCI-X bus
The AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus was designed to create a faster, dedicated bus between the chip set on the video card and the CPU
A newer local I/O bus, called the FireWire bus or IEEE 1394 bus, has throughput of up to 3.2 gigabytes per second
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

26. ROM BIOS: Hardware Configuration
On newer computers, the data stored in CMOS is usually changed by accessing the setup program stored in ROM BIOS
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

27. ROM BIOS: Hardware Configuration
A trickle of electricity from a small battery enables the CMOS memory to hold configuration data even while the main power to the computer is off
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

28. Building a Computer: An Introduction
Verify that you have all parts you plan to install
Take necessary safety precautions
Prepare the computer case
Install drives
Determine proper configuration settings for the motherboard
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

29. Building a Computer: An Introduction
Set any jumpers or DIP switches on the motherboard
Install the CPU and CPU fan or cooler
Install RAM (memory modules)
Install the motherboard and attach cabling
Install the video card
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

30. Building a Computer: An Introduction
Plug the computer into a power source, and attach the monitor and keyboard
Boot the system and enter CMOS setup
Make sure settings are set to the default
Observe the POST process
Install the operating system
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

31. Building a Computer: An Introduction
Change the boot order in CMOS
Check for conflicts with system resources
Install any other expansion cards and drives
Verify that everything is operating properly, and make any final OS and CMOS adjustments
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

32. Installing the Motherboard
Be sure the motherboard you plan to install has a form factor that fits in your computer case
Set the jumpers
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

33. Adding the CPU, Fan, and Heat Sink
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

34. Adding the CPU, Fan, and Heat Sink
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

35. Installing the Motherboard in the Case
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

36. Installing the Motherboard in the Case
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

37. Installing the Motherboard in the Case
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

38. Introduction to Troubleshooting
What is the exact nature of the problem?
What error messages, unusual displays, or failures did you see?
When did the problem start?
What were you doing on the computer when the problem occurred?
What programs or software were you using?
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

39. Introduction to Troubleshooting
Did you move your computer system recently?
Has there been a recent thunderstorm or electrical problem?
Have you made any hardware, software, or configuration changes?
Has someone else used your computer recently?
Can you reproduce the problem?
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

40. Troubleshooting the Motherboard and CPU
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

41. Configuring and Updating the BIOS
When a motherboard becomes unstable or some functions are lost, a possible way to resolve the issue is to refresh or update the BIOS–a process called flashing BIOS
You must accurately identify your motherboard and BIOS
Upgrading your BIOS with the wrong file could make your system BIOS useless
Makers of BIOS code change BIOS frequently to fix problems and add features
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

42. Protecting Documentation and Configuration Settings
Keep your personal computer documentation and configuration records organized in a safe place
Motherboard manuals should have a comprehensive list of CMOS settings
Document all customized CMOS settings
Document any work you have done to maintain the computer
Consider keeping a cardboard folder on the inside top of the computer case and safely tuck the hardware documentation there
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

43. Chapter Summary In this chapter, you learned:
About form factors and types of motherboards
About components on the motherboard
A basic procedure for building a computer
How to install a motherboard
How to troubleshoot a motherboard and the electrical system
Chapter 3: Understanding the Motherboard, the CPU, and Troubleshooting Basics

44. Chapter 3 Complete