1.2 Motherboards

Question 1

What is the most popular mobo form factor?

Answer 1

ATX. Uses 20 or 24 pin connector.

Question 2

Form factor with limited expansion slots, built for custom purposes.

Answer 2

MicroATX (uATX)

Question 3

A series of low power motherboards.

Answer 3

ITX Form Factor. Fits almost any enclosure (streaming media or in a smart TV).

Question 4

Even smaller mobo form factors.

Answer 4

Nano-ITX (120mm x 120mm)
Pico-ITX (100mm x 100mm)
Mobile-ITX (45mm x 45mm)

Question 5

The expansion bus

Answer 5

“Width” in bits. Width is becoming bandwidth.

Width = amount of traffic that can be pushed through a connection. Expansion bus gets it’s own clock.

Question 6

What’s connected to the Northbridge? (Memory controller hub)

Answer 6

Connects the CPU to memory and GPU.

CPU (front side bus), Memory Banks (mem. Bus), and GPU (graphics bus). The Northbridge is also connected to the Southbridge (via internal bus).

Question 7

What’s connected to the Southbridge (Input/Output Controller)

Answer 7

Connects PCI interface slots and peripherals.

Onboard GPU, Flash BIOS & ROM, PCI Adapter slots, Super I/O (keyboard/mouse, etc), USB, Ethernet, SATA, etc.

Question 8

What is DIMM?

Answer 8

DIMM (Dual In-Line Memory Module) is a common type of Desktop Memory. Electrical contacts are diff. on each side. 64-bit data width.

Question 9

What is SO DIMM?

Answer 9

SO DIMM (Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module). Common memory in Mobile Devices.

Question 10

What is Micro DIMM?

Answer 10

Even smaller memory form factor for Mobile Devices. Higher memory density.

Question 11

What is a ZIF Socket?

Answer 11

ZIF (Zero Input Force) socket. Most common CPU socket.

Question 12

What is a LGA socket?

Answer 12

LGA (Land Grid Array) socket. Pins are within the mobo instead of on the CPU. Reverse of PGA (Point Grid Array)

Question 13

Expansion Slots

Answer 13

Slots in mobo to add additional hardware/adapters. (audio, USB additoins, Networking Card, etc)