Chapter One

Motherboards, Processors,
and Memory
Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.
 220-901 Domain 1.0
Objectives Covered
1.1 Given a scenario, configure settings and use BIOS/UEFI tools on a PC.
Install firmware upgrades flash BIOS.
BIOS component information: RAM, Hard drive, Optical drive, CPU, Boot
sequence, Enabling and disabling devices, Date/time, Clock speeds,
Virtualization support
BIOS security (passwords, drive encryption: TPM, lojack, secure boot)
Use builtin diagnostics.
Monitoring: Temperature monitoring, Fan speeds, Intrusion
detection/notification, Voltage, Clock, Bus speed
1.2 Explain the importance of motherboard components, their purposes, and
properties.
Sizes: ATX, MicroATX, MiniITX, ITX
Expansion slots: PCI, PCIX, PCIe, miniPCI
RAM slots
CPU sockets
Chipsets: Northbridge/Southbridge, CMOS battery
Power connections and types
Fan connectors
Front/top panel connectors: USB, Audio, Power button, Power light, Drive
activity lights, Reset button
Bus speeds

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 220-901 Domain 1.0
Objectives Covered (cont.)
1.3 Compare and contrast RAM types and features.
Types: DDR, DDR2, DDR3, SODIMM, DIMM, Parity vs. nonparity, ECC vs.
nonECC, RAM configurations (Single channel vs. dual channel vs. triple
channel), Single sided vs. double sided, Buffered vs. unbuffered
RAM compatibility and speed
1.6 Differentiate among various CPU types and features, and select the appropriate
cooling method.
Socket types: Intel (775, 1155, 1156, 1366, 1150, 2011), AMD (AM3, AM3+,
FM1, FM2, FM2+)
Characteristics (Speeds, Cores, Cache size/type, Hyperthreading, Virtualization
support, Architecture [32bit vs. 64bit], Integrated GPU, Disable execute bit)
Cooling (Heat sink, Fans, Thermal paste, Liquidbased, Fanless/passive)

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 The System Board

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Motherboard Form Factors

ATX
micro ATX
ITX

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 System Board Components
Chipsets
Expansion slots and buses
Memory slots and external cache
CPU and processor sockets
Power connectors
Onboard disk drive connectors
Keyboard connectors
Integrated peripheral ports and headers
BIOS/firmware
CMOS battery
Front-panel connectors

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Motherboard Chipset

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Motherboard Chipset

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Expansion Slot Types

Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI)
PCI Express (PCIe)
PCI-Extended (PCI-X)

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 PCI and PCI-X Slots

PCI-X slots

PCI slot

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 PCIe Slots
PCIe slots

PCI slots

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Modules

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Slot Characteristics

SDR SDRAM: 168 pins

DDR SDRAM: 184 pins
DDR2 SDRAM: 240 pins
DDR3 SDRAM: 240 pins

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Example Memory Capacities

L1 cache: 64KB
L2 cache: 256KB
L3 cache: 4MB 12MB
RAM: 4GB 16GB
HDD/SDD: 100s of GBs to TBs

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 CPUs Under Heatsinks

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 CPU Sockets

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 CPU Sockets

LGA 775 (Socket)

LGA 1156 (Socket H)
LGA 1155 (Socket H2)
LGA 1150 (Socket H3)
LGA 1366 (Socket B)
LGA 2011 (Socket R)
Socket AM3
Socket AM3+
Socket FM1
Socket FM2
Socket FM2+

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Motherboard ATX Power

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Firmware

Software encoded in hardware

Often implemented on ROM chips
Found in computers, printers, etc.
Common example: computers BIOS
Found on adapters for SCSI, graphics,
etc.

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 BIOS Chip & CMOS Battery

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Flashing the BIOS

Only when necessary

Use only manufacturer utilities
and firmware.
Dont lose power.

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 BIOS Boot Screen During
POST

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

BIOS Settings Saved in CMOS

Date
Time
Drive configuration
Memory
CPU settings
Integrated ports
Boot sequence
Power management
Virtualization support
Security (passwords, Trusted Platform Module
settings, LoJack)

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Front- and Top-Panel
Connectors

Power button
Power light
Reset button
Drive activity lights
Audio jacks
USB ports

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Motherboard Front-Panel
Header

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 CPUs

DIP
PGA varieties
LGA

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 CPU Location in a Computer

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 CPU Features

Hyperthreading
Multicore
Throttling
Speed
32- and 64-bit processors
Virtualization support
Integrated GPU

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Logical Processors

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Inside a Computer

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Characteristics

Parity Checking
Cells
Memory banks
Error-correcting code (ECC)
Single- and double-sided memory
Single-, dual-, and triple-channel memory
Buffered and unbuffered memory

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Types

DRAM
Asynchronous
Synchronous (SDRAM)
Single data rate (SDR)
Double data rate (DDR)
DDR2
DDR3

SRAM
ROM

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Throughput and FSB Speed

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Packaging

DIMM
SODIMM

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Memory Packaging

168-pin SDR SDRAM DIMM

240-pin DDR2 SDRAM DIMM

240-pin DDR3 SDRAM DIMM

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.
 Memory Packaging

144-pin SDR SDRAM SODIMM

200-pin DDR2 SDRAM SODIMM

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Cooling Fans

Front intake fan

Rear exhaust fan
Power supply exhaust fan
CPU fan
Chipset fan
Video card chipset fan
Memory module fan

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Motherboard Fan Power
Connectors

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 System Unit Airflow

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.

 Cooling Systems

Memory cooling
Hard drive cooling
Chipset cooling
CPU cooling
Air cooling
Liquid cooling
Heat pipes
Peltier cooling
Phase-change cooling
Liquid nitrogen and helium cooling
Undervolting

Wiley Inc. 2015. All Rights Reserved.