All About MotherBoards

Question 1

Mini-ITX

Answer 1

A smaller version of the microATX form factor. Also called ITX.

Question 2

Small form factor (SFF)

Answer 2

A motherboard used in the low-end computers and home theater systems. Often used with an Intel Atom processor and sometimes purchased as a motherboard-processor combo unit.

Question 3

Pin grid array (PGA)

Answer 3

A socket that has holes aligned in uniform rows around the socket to receive the pins on the bottom of the processor. Compare with land grid array (LGA)

Question 4

Land grid array (LGA)

Answer 4

A socket that has blunt protruding pins in uniform rows on the socket that connect with lands or pads on the bottom of the processor. Compare with pin grid array (PGA).

Question 5

Flip-Chip land grid array (FCLGA)

Answer 5

A type of socket used by processor that has blunt protruding pins on the socket that connect with lands or pads on the botttom of the processor. The chips in the processor package are flipped over so that the top of the chip makes contact with the socket.

Question 6

Flip-Chip pin grid array ( FCPGA )

Answer 6

A type of socket used by processors that has holes aligned in rows to receive pins on the bottom of the processor. The chips in the processor are flipped over so that the top of the chip makes contact with the socket.

Question 7

Staggered pin grid array ( SPGA )

Answer 7

A type of socket used by processor that has pins staggered over the socket in order to squeeze more pins into a small space.

Question 8

Ball grid array (BGA)

Answer 8

A connection via a processor that is soldered to the motherboard, and the two are always purchased as a unit.

Question 9

Zero insertion force (ZIF) sockets

Answer 9

A socket that uses a small lever to apply even force when you install the processor into the socket.

Question 10

Chipset

Answer 10

A group of chips on the motherboard that controls the timing and flow of data and instructions to and from the CPU.

Question 11

North Bridge

Answer 11

The portion of the chipset hub that connects faster I/O buses ( for example, the video bus) to the system bus, Compare with South Bridge.

Question 12

Front Side Bus ( FSB )

Answer 12

System Bus alternative name.

Question 13

System Bus

Answer 13

The bus between the CPU and memory on the motherboard. The bus frequency in documentation is called the system speed, such as 400 MHz. Also called the memory bus, Front Side Bus, local bus, or host bus.

Question 14

South Bridge

Answer 14

The portion of the chipset hub that connects slower I/O buses ( for example, a PCI bus) to the system bus. Compare with North Bridge.

Question 15

QuickPath Interconnect (QPI)

Answer 15

The technology used first by the Intel X58 chipset for communication between the chipset and the processor using 16 serial lanes similar to that used by PCI Express. Replaced the 65-bit wide Front Side Bus used by previous chipsets.

Question 16

Accelerated Processing Unit ( APU )

Answer 16

An AMD technology that is a combination of a CPU and a graphics processor unit ( GPU ) in the same processor housing.

Question 17

Traces

Answer 17

A wire on a circuit board that connects two components or devices.

Question 18

Bus

Answer 18

The paths, or lines, on the motherboard on which data, instructions, and electrical power move from component to component.

Question 19

Protocol

Answer 19

A set of rules and standards that two entities use for communication. For example, TCP/IP is a suite or group of protocols that define many types of communication on a TCP/IP network.

Question 20

Data bus

Answer 20

Lines of the bus, a system of pathway used for communication on the motherboard, used for data.

Question 21

Data path size

Answer 21

The number of lines on a bus that can hold data, for example, 8, 16, 32, and 64 bits at a time.

Question 22

System Clock

Answer 22

A line on a bus that is dedicated to timing the activities of components connected to it. The system clock provides a continuous pulse the other devices use to time themselves.

Question 23

Wait State

Answer 23

A clock tick in which nothing happens, used to ensure that the microprocessor isn’t getting ahead of slower components. A 0- wait state is preferable to a 1-wait state. Too many wait states can slow down the system.

Question 24

Hertz ( Hz )

Answer 24

Unit of measurement for frequency, calculated in terms of vibrations, or cycles per second. For example, for 16-bit stereo sound, a frequency of 44,000 Hz is used. Also see megahertz and gigahertz.

Question 25

Megahertz (MHz)

Answer 25

One million Hz, or one million cycles per second. Also see hertz and gigahertz.

Question 26

GigaHertz ( GHz )

Answer 26

One thousand MHz, or one billion cycles per second.

Question 27

PCI-X

Answer 27

The second evolution of PCI, which is backward- compatible with conventional PCI slots and cards, except 5-V PCI cards. PCI-X is focused on the server market.

Question 28

Mini PCI

Answer 28

The PCI industry standard for desktop computer expansion cards, applied to a much smaller form factor for laptop expansion cards.

Question 29

Mini PCL Express

Answer 29

A standard used for laptop internal expansion slots that follows the PCI Express standards applied to laptops.

Question 30

Riser Card

Answer 30

A card that plugs into a motherboard and allows for expansion cards to be mounted parallel to the motherboard. Expansion cards are plugged into slots on the riser card.