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Motherboards

Motherboards. Chapter 9. Overview. In this chapter, you will learn how to Explain how motherboards work Identify the types of motherboards Explain chipset varieties Upgrade and install motherboards Troubleshoot motherboard problems. Layers of the PCB.

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Motherboards

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  1. Motherboards Chapter 9

  2. Overview In this chapter, you will learn how to Explain how motherboards work Identify the types of motherboards Explain chipset varieties Upgrade and install motherboards Troubleshoot motherboard problems

  3. Layers of the PCB Motherboards are officially printed circuit boards (PCBs) PCBs come in multiple layers with highways of wires (bus systems) in the layers These highways of wires are called traces Layers enable complexity while minimizing any interference

  4. Motherboard Characteristics Form factor defines Size of the motherboard General location of components and parts Chipset defines Type of processor and RAM supported Built-in components determine The core functions of the system

  5. How Motherboards Work Form factor defines Size, shape, and layout of the motherboard Determines the type of case you can use Power supply interface type For upgrades and recommendations, you need to know form factors

  6. The AT Form Factor IBM invented the AT form factor in the early ’80s Lasted through mid ’90s Currently obsolete Large keyboard socket, split power socket (P8/P9) Baby AT was smaller version Alternatives were LPX NLX Both offered expansion on central riser cards More built-in connectors LPX and NLX designed for slimline cases

  7. ATX Motherboard Parts

  8. ATX Form Factor Created in 1995 About the same size as Baby AT Had many ports accessible from rear of PC including mini-DIN RAM was closer to Northbridge and CPU for better performance Uses the soft power feature to turn PC on and off through software

  9. ATX Spin Offs MicroATX and FlexATX are two smaller versions of ATX Many techs and Web sites use the term mini-ATX to describe these boards Cases need to be matched to motherboards Can’t put a larger motherboard into a smaller case Case manufacturers have made accommodations for smaller motherboards in larger cases

  10. Other Form Factors Balanced Technology eXtended (BTX) Due to heat, cooler form factors needed I/O ports and expansion slots switched CPU moved to front of the motherboard Thermal unit blows CPU heat directly out Widely publicized; completely DOA Proprietary form factors Unique to a specific company Don’t follow standards and require upgrades and service from that company Difficult to support

  11. Chipsets A chipset defines The processor type Type and capacity of RAM What internal and external devices the motherboard will support It serves as the electronic interface through which the CPU, RAM, and I/O devices interact Most modern chipsets have two primary chips Northbridge Southbridge

  12. Chipset Chips Northbridge Helps the CPU work with RAM (on Intel-based systems) Communicates with video on newer AMD systems Southbridge Handles expansion devices and mass storage drives Sits between expansion slots and hard drive controllers Super I/O chip Provides legacy support for serial ports, parallel ports, floppy drives, and more

  13. Schematic ofa modernchipset Chipset Schematic

  14. Lab – Find the Bridges On your motherboard, find the following: Northbridge Southbridge

  15. Chipset Chips Not always called Northbridge and Southbridge Intel-based motherboards may refer to them as Memory Controller Hub (MCH) for Northbridge I/O Controller Hub (ICH) for Southbridge Require drivers, though Windows has some generic driver support

  16. Many Makers of PC Chipsets Intel NVIDIA AMD (ATI) VIA SiS Ali

  17. Chipset Comparison

  18. Chipset Comparison (continued)

  19. Motherboard Components Not all chipset features may be supported with ports (for cost savings) Some motherboards may add features USB / FireWire Sound RAID AMR/CNR

  20. Upgrading and Installing Motherboards

  21. Determine what motherboard you need Is your CPU supported? Is the RAM? How many components will you have to upgrade? What’s the best bang for the buck? Look for a high-quality manufacturer ASUS, BIOSTAR, DFI, GIGABYTE, Intel, MSI Be sure you have access to the motherboard manual Choosing a Motherboard and Case

  22. Choosing a Case Select a motherboard compatible with your case Or select a new case Cases come in six basic sizes Slimline Desktop Mini-tower Mid-tower Tower Cube

  23. Case Options Removable face Can make disassembly easier Detachable motherboard mount Can make working on the motherboard easier Front-mounted ports Allows easier access for hot-swappable devices Power supply Verify the power supply is sufficient Replace as necessary

  24. Removing a Motherboard Remove all the cards Remove obstructing drives Remove the power supply (only if necessary) Unscrew the old motherboard The motherboard mounts to the case with small connectors called standouts

  25. Installing a Motherboard Install the CPU and RAM on the motherboard before putting it in the case Check/adjust the location of the standouts Mount the motherboard in the case Install the hard drive(s), power supply, and so forth Insert the power connections and other wires Test!

  26. Wires, Wires, Wires Final step is to connect LEDs, buttons, and front-mounted ports Soft power Reset button Speaker Hard drive activity LED Power USB port FireWire port Sound ports

  27. Troubleshooting Motherboards

  28. Troubleshooting Symptoms Catastrophic failure System will not boot Although uncommon, most motherboards will fail (if they’re going to) within the first 30 days due to manufacturing defects, which is called burn-in failure Electrostatic discharge is the other most common cause To fix, replace the motherboard

  29. More Troubleshooting Symptoms Component failure Intermittent problems Examples include a hard drive that shows up in CMOS but not in Windows Most common causes are electrical surges and ESD Sometimes a BIOS upgrade may solve this problem if the issue is lack of BIOS support for a newer technology Fixes include replacing the component with an add-on card or flashing the BIOS

  30. More Troubleshooting Symptoms (continued) Ethereal symptoms Things just don’t work all the time PC reboots itself for no apparent reason Blue Screens of Death appear as the computer crashes Causes include faulty components, buggy device drivers or application software, slight corruption of the operating system, and power supply problems Fixes include flashing the BIOS or replacing the motherboard

  31. Techniques Isolate the problem by eliminating potential factors Check, replace, verify good component If the hard drive doesn’t work, try a different hard drive or try the same hard drive with a different motherboard If the new hard drive works, you know it wasn’t the motherboard If the same hard drive with a different motherboard works, you can suspect the motherboard

  32. Options There are a couple of options for dealing with a motherboard failure Catastrophic failure – replace the motherboard Component failure – consider an add-on card to replace the device Consider a BIOS update if the device issue is more of a tech problem rather than physical damage

  33. Beyond A+ Relatively new in PC technology Shuttle’s new form factor results in PCs the size of a toaster but as powerful as larger PCs VIA’s tiny form factor called Mini-ITX

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