Lesson 6 Chapter 1 - Motherboard Basics

Question 1

Modern motherboards are layered PCBs. What are PCBs?

ink

Answer 1

Printed circuit boards

Question 2

The motherboard contains the wires that make up the buses of the system. What are those wires called?

paper

Answer 2

Traces

Question 3

What are traces?

Answer 3

Traces are copper (wires) that are etched onto non-conductive material that are coated with epoxy that transfer data around the CPU, RAM, peripherals

Question 4

How many layers are motherboards?

Answer 4

4 or more

Question 5

What are the three variable characteristics that define modern motherboards?

physical, potato

Answer 5

1. Form Factor
2. Chipset
3. Components

Question 6

What does the chipset define on a motherboard? (2)

Answer 6

The chipset defines what CPU and RAM the motherboard will require, and what built-in devices the motherboard supports (like expansion slots)

Question 7

How big is the full-sized ATX form factor in inches? What about the micro ATX? (2)

Answer 7

ATX: 12 x 9.6 inches

Micro ATX: 9.6 x 9.6

Question 8

Can you install a microATX motherboard in a standard ATX case? What about the opposite? (2)

Answer 8

1. You can install a microATX motherboard in a standard ATX case
2. You cannot install a standard ATX motherboard in a microATX case

Question 9

Which ITX form factor is the most popular in the SFF market? How big is it? (2)

Answer 9

1. Mini-ITX is the most popular SFF
2. 6.7 x 6.7

Question 10

Which tiny motherboard form factors are commonly used for embedded systems and specialized devices like routers? (2)

Answer 10

1. Nano-ITX 4.7 x 4.7 in
2. Pico-ITX 3.8 x 2.8 in

Question 11

What are some benefits of using a SFF motherboard? (3)

fight the

Answer 11

1. SFF motherboard uses less power
2. Less chance of it overheating
3. Able to use passive cooling

Question 12

What 3 things all need to be the same form factor?

bullet, body, fight the

Answer 12

1. Case
2. Motherboard
3. Power Supply

Question 13

What are 2 places you’d find proprietary motherboards?

Answer 13

1. Desktop PCs made by major manufacturers
2. Laptops

Question 14

Define a motherboard chipset

Answer 14

A motherboard chipset is one or more integrated circuit chips that support the CPU’s interfacing to some of the other devices on the motherboard.

Question 15

Since the OS controls and manages many of the motherboard’s advanced functions, what does the OS need?

car

Answer 15

The OS needs the required motherboard drivers

Question 16

How many wires is the CPU fan power connector on the motherboard? Does it support 3 wire fans too? (2)

Answer 16

The CPU fan power connector has 4 wires, but is able to accept 3 wire fans too

Question 17

Can a motherboard have more than one case fan power connector? These are almost always how many wires?

Answer 17

A motherboard can have more than one case fan power connector and these are almost always 3 wires

Question 18

How can case fans plugged into the motherboard be controlled?

glass

Answer 18

Through Windows (unlike fans plugged directly into the PSU)

Question 19

What does a Pico-ITX motherboard measure?

Answer 19

Pico-ITX measures 3.8 x 2.8 inches

Question 20

What does a Nano-ITX motherboard measure?

Answer 20

4.7 x 4.7 inches

Question 21

What does the chipset determine? (3)

Answer 21

1. Type of processor the motherboard can accept
2. Type and capacity of RAM
3. What internal/external devices the motherboard supports