3.5 Motherboards / CPU / BIOS / Cooling / Expansion Cards Flashcards
Given a scenario, install and configure motherboards, CPUs, and add-on cards.
What are the standard motherboard form factors?
ATX, mATX (Micro ATX), ITX, and mITX (Mini ITX).
What is the size of a standard ATX board?
12” by 9.6”.
What size is a micro ATX board?
9.6” by 9.6”.
Can you fit a micro ATX board into a standard PC case?
YES. It also fits into the much smaller micro ATX cases.
What is the size of a mini ITX board?
6.7” by 6.7”. It competes head to head with the micro ATX board.
What is a chip set on a motherboard?
A chip set facilitates communication between the CPU and other devices in the system.
What does PCI and PCIe usually connect?
PCI and PCIe are usually used to connect expansion cards, and high end graphics cards.
What is a riser card?
It is a special adapter card, usually inserted into a special slot on a motherboard, that changes the orientation of expansion cards relative to the motherboard. Riser cards are used extensively in slimline computers to keep total depth and height of the system to a minimum. Sometimes called a daughterboard.
What are the different socket types on a mother board?
Intel uses LGA (Land Grid Array) where the underside of the CPU is flat with hundreds of contact points that line up with the socket pins. AMD uses PGA (Pin Grid Array) where the underside of the CPU has hundreds of pins that line up with the holes on the socket.
How much force is required to install a CPU?
No force at all is required. CPU sockets use ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) which means you never have to use any force at all.
How can you identify SATA ports on the motherboard?
SATA ports feature a connector that looks like a little “L”.
What do SATA ports connect?
SATA ports connect hard drives.
What is IDE?
IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics. The term IDE refers to any hard drive with a built-in controller. All hard drives are technically IDE drives, but we only use the term IDE when discussing older PATA drives.
What are IDE cables?
IDE cables are usually 40-pin ribbon cables that plug into old PATA drives.
What are front panel connectors?
There are several types of front panel connectors on a computer. These include headphone plug ins, USB ports, mic plug in.
What are internal USB connectors?
Internal USB connectors are sockets to plug in dongles for additional external ports.
What are to basic common settings found within a BIOS or UEFI?
Boot options, firmware updates, security settings, interface configurations, security.
What are the basic settings you can change in the “security” section of a BIOS?
Passwords, drive encryption.
What is required to be able to encrypt a HDD with bitlocker?
Bit locker requires a special trusted platform module (TPM) chip on the motherboard to function. The TPM chip validates on boot that the computer hasn’t changed.
What is Lojack?
Lojack is a security feature included in some BIOS/UEFI that enables a user to track the location of a stolen PC, install a key logger, or remotely shut down the stolen computer.
What is secure boot?
This is a UEFI feature that secures the boot process by requiring properly signed software. This includes boot software and software that support specific essential components.
What are boot options?
Settings in the system setup program that define which devices the system will attempt to boot from (and in what order).
What are firmware updates?
It’s the process by which the BIOS of a motherboard can be updated to reflect patched bugs and added features. Performed usually through CMOS, though some motherboard manufacturers provide a windows program for performing a firmware update.
Explain what a CMOS battery is used for.
CMOS RAM needs a continuous trickle charge of power to keep the internal clock running and remember its settings. Motherboards use some type of battery usually a 3 volt lithium coin battery to give the CMOS RAM the charge it needs when the PC is turned off. This is called the CMOS battery. TYPICAL SYSTEMS USE CR2032 BATTERY.
