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74 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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On modern motherboards, what are the names of the two primary chips that compose the Chipset?
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The Northbridge & Southbridge
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The Northbridge is primarily responsible for doing what on Intel-based motherboards?
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Aides the CPU in communicating with RAM.
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On AMD-based motherboards, with what component does the Northbridge help the CPU communicate?
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The video card. Beginning with the AMD Opteron, AMD introduced HyperTransport, a standard that allows the CPU direct communication with RAM via a controller that is situated directly on the CPU.
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True or False: Since modern Northbridges do plenty of work, some have their own cooling assembly (heat sink & fan).
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True.
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What components do most Southbridge chips generally handle?
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Various expansion devices and mass storage drives, such as hard drives.
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True or False: Most Southbridge chips don't require extensive cooling solutions.
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True. While some Southbridge chips will have a heat sink, they do not require a robust cooling solution such as a sink/fan combo.
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Of the two primary chipset chips (Northbridge & Southbridge), which may require a more robust cooling solution?
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The Northbridge. Typically, it will do much more work than the Southbridge and often has a heat sink/fan combo attached.
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Modern Southbridge chips no longer support what legacy devices/ports?
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FDDs (Floppy Disk Drives), parallel and serial ports. On modern motherboards, the Super I/O Chip commonly handles these legacy components.
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What purpose does the Super I/O chip serve?
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To support legacy devices that are no longer support by the Southbridge on modern motherboards. Some examples of these devices are parallel ports and Floppy Drives.
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True or False: While Super I/O Chips work in concert with the chipset, they are usually not considered a part of the chipset.
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True. Most motherboard manufacturers purchase them separately from the chipset.
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Can a Core2Duo CPU be installed on a motherboard that has a chipset designed for an Athlon 64 X2 CPU?
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No. Chipsets are designed for use with specific processors. Intel and AMD processors cannot be used interchangeably--the CPU must be compatible with the installed chipset.
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True or False: Like most components, motherboards can sometimes ship with dated drivers. A good best practice is to always check for motherboard & chipset driver updates when building a new system.
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True. Even motherboards and built-in chipsets may have newer drivers available. Always check for updates as soon as the system is up and running.
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Provide a definition for the following term: Form Factor.
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A motherboard Form Factor defines the motherboard's size, its orientation, the location of built-in sockets and expansion slots, and also determines the type of power supply and case with which it can be outfitted.
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True or False: Motherboards with different form factors are usually interchangeable and can be swapped in and out of the same case.
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False. The form factor determines what kind of case is most appropriate for the system. An ATX motherboard should be installed in a corresponding ATX-designed case. A BTX motherboard should also be installed in the correct case. They cannot be swapped out (ATX board cannot be installed in a BTX case).
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In regard to motherboard form factors, there are several different major categories, and each category has numerous varieties. What are the two most common categories of Form Factor?
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ATX and BTX are the most common types of form factors seen in the field.
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What are two popular variations of the ATX form factor?
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MicroATX and FlexATX
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On most ATX motherboards, what chip is located centrally on the board and is encircled by the CPU, RAM, and Expansion Slots?
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The Northbridge chip.
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What ports are commonly found "On-Board" an ATX motherboard?
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Mini-DINs (PS/2, one for mouse and one for the keyboard), and USB ports. Additionally, some will also feature on-board NIC, FireWire, audio and video ports.
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Of the two popular form factor types (ATX and BTX), which is the most popular?
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Operating within the scope and timeframe of CompTIA's 2006 A+ objectives, the ATX is most definitely the dominant form factor.
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Fill-In-The-Blank (FITB): MicroATX and FlexATX motherboards are __________ than regular ATX boards.
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A: Smaller
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T/F: ATX boards can be installed in MicroATX cases.
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False. It should however be noted that some ATX cases will accommodate MicroATX (and FlexATX) motherboards.
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Acronym: Define ATX.
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Advanced Technology eXtended.
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Acronym: Define BTX.
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Balanced Technology eXtended.
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What was the primary impelling factor that led to the creation of the BTX form factor?
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In a word--Heat. Powerful CPUs and video cards in modern systems create massive amounts of heat, which motivated the PC industry to create a form factor that provided superior cooling opportunities.
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Of all the form factors available, which provides superior cooling for its components?
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BTX.
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What are the two main varieties of the BTX form factor (not including BTX itself)?
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MicroBTX and PicoBTX. Including BTX, these three form factors are aimed at replacing their predecessors: ATX, MicroATX and FlexATX.
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At first glance, BTX boards look similar to ATX boards, except for what major change?
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The Expansion Slots and I/O ports have "swapped" to their adjacent sides.
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Describe the airflow of a BTX case (air entry and exit points and flow direction).
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The air enters the front of the case and flows through, exiting at the back.
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On a BTX motherboard, where is the CPU located, and why is this location important?
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The CPU is located at the front of the board. When installed in the case, the air flow coming in the front first passes around the CPU, helping to keep it cool.
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T/F: BTX defines a special heat sink and fan assembly called the "Thermal Unit". The thermal unit's fan blows the hot CPU air directly out the back of the case.
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True. ATX boards have a less efficient cooling system whereby fans merely blew air into the case and relied on the power supply fan and other case fan to force it back out.
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Acronym: Define NLX.
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New Low-profile eXtended
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What is a defining characteristic of the NLX form factor that sets it apart from ATX and BTX form factors?
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Riser cards/boards. These are a part of the motherboard separate from the main board (usually sitting perpendicular to the board--"rising" up--in an expansion slot) that are connected by additional cables and power connections.
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What components of a system case must be arranged to properly align and then secure the motherboard to the case chassis?
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The standouts. They must align with the mounting holes drilled into the motherboard and then secured so the board will stay in place.
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T/F: Motherboards can often be the most elusive component to troubleshoot because symptoms may manifest themselves as being caused by other components.
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True. Motherboards can cause problems that provide difficult to diagnose symptoms. As an example, a NIC card may appear to not be functioning after a blackout. A new NIC may be purchased and installed, but still not function. Since the motherboard is the core component upon which all others are built, it can be difficult to determine if a component has gone bad or if it is actually a problem being caused by the motherboard.
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T/F: A PC's Power Supply takes low-voltage Direct Current (DC) from a wall outlet and converts it into high-voltage Alternating Current (AC).
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False. The opposite is correct: High-voltage AC is taken by the power supply and converted to low-voltage DC.
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While the U.S. provides 110-120 VAC, most of the rest of the world uses 220-240 VAC. In regard to the Power Supply, what must be done before using a desktop PC in a foreign country?
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Most power supplies have a switch on the back that allow for different voltages. Ensure that the switch is set in the proper position before using a PC in a foreign country.
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What is the power connector for the AC plug on the back of a power supply called?
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IEC 320 connector.
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T/F: Power supplies come in various form factors that determine its physical shape and size, as well as the types of connectors the unit will supply.
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True. Just like motherboards, power supplies also are defined by different form factors. Fortunately, they more or less mirror motherboard form factors.
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FITB: All power connectors are ________ so you can't easily plug them in backward.
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A: Keyed.
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What are the voltages supplied by a Molex connector?
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5V, 12V
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Molex connectors typically supply power to what devices?
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PATA (Parallel ATA [Advanced Technology Attachment]) and SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) hard drives, optical drives, and in some cases PCIe video cards and some PCIe motherboards (PCI stands for "Peripheral Component Interconnect" and the 'e' stands for "Express")
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Mini connectors supply which voltages?
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5V, 12V
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Mini connectors typically supply power to which device?
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FDD (Floppy Disk Drive)
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SATA connectors supply which voltages?
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5V, 12V
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SATA connectors typically supply power to which device?
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SATA (Serial ATA [Advanced Technology Attachment]) drives.
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Molex connectors typically supply power to what devices?
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PATA (Parallel ATA [Advanced Technology Attachment]) and SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) hard drives, optical drives, and in some cases PCIe video cards and some PCIe motherboards (PCI stands for "Peripheral Component Interconnect" and the 'e' stands for "Express")
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Mini connectors supply which voltages?
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5V, 12V
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Mini connectors typically supply power to which device?
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FDD (Floppy Disk Drive)
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SATA connectors supply which voltages?
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5V, 12V
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SATA connectors typically supply power to which device?
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SATA (Serial ATA [Advanced Technology Attachment]) drives.
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PCIe connectors supply what voltage to which device?
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12V; PCIe video cards
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Identify the supplied voltages and component powered by the 20-wire P1 connector.
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3.3V, 5V, 12V; supplies power for older ATX motherboards.
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Identify the supplied voltages and component powered by the 24-wire P1 connector.
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3.3V, 5V, 12V; supplies power for current ATX motherboards.
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The P4 connector supplies what voltage to which device?
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12V; secondary power for current ATX motherboards.
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The AUX connector supplies what voltages to which device?
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3.3V, 5V, 12,V; auxiliary power for motherboards
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Name the power connectors the supply the following voltages: 5V, 12V.
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Molex, Mini, and SATA.
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Name the power connectors the supply the following voltage: 12V.
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PCIe and P4
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Name the power connectors the supply the following voltages: 3.3V 5V, 12V.
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P1 (20-wire), P1 (24-wire), AUX.
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There are two P1 connectors that are differentiated by their number of wires. How many wires does each of the two P1 connectors have?
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20-wire and 24-wire.
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Of the two P1 connectors, which typically supply power for newer motherboards?
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The 24-wire P1 usually supplies power for newer motherboards.
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What is the equation that expresses wattage?
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W=VA
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A power supply must provide a minimum level of what to ensure it can power a PC?
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Wattage. If the unit cannot provide enough wattage, the system will not power on, or may suddenly power-off if the max wattage provided is exceeded by demand for more from the PC. Therefore, it is a best practice to purchase a power supply that will provide more wattage than your system needs. This also allows for upgrading your system later without having to replace the power supply.
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When installing new hardware components, upgrading existing hardware, or adding-on any hardware device, what should always be checked in regard to power?
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That the new, total, maximum wattage of the system does not exceed the wattage supplied by the power supply.
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Better quality power supplies will come equipped with what harmonics-eliminating circuitry?
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Active Power Factor Correction (commonly abbreviated simply as "active PFC").
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Acronym: Define PFC.
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Power Factor Correction.
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How does an auto-sensing PFC power supply reduce harmonics?
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The power supply will automatically detect the voltage coming from the wall and smoothly adjust it, eliminating harmonics.
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Power supplies will fail in two distinct ways. Name each.
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Sudden death or slowly degrade over time.
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When you push a PC's power button, nothing happens. The unit is plugged in, and power is flowing to the outlet. All power connectors inside the case are properly attached. You notice the fan inside the power supply will not turn when the power button is pressed. What tool would you use to test the voltages coming from the power supply?
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A multimeter.
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T/F: If a power supply is suspect as damaged, you should open it and examine its circuitry for visible damage.
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False. Never open a power supply for any reason-they store dangerous levels of electricity at all times. Replace it with a new unit.
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Like a faulty motherboard, a power supply going bad can cause intermittent problems throughout the entire system. What is the best way to check if the power supply is the cause of these "phantom" problems?
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A power supply is a FRU (Field Replaceable Unit). Swap out the suspected power supply with a known good one.
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An AC adapter that plugs into a laptop works exactly like what desktop PC component?
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Power supply. An AC adapter works exactly like an internal power supply, converting AC into DC.
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What three things must be checked to ensure an AC adapter is compatible with a device?
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Voltage, amperage, and polarity. If the voltage or amperage output is too low, the device won't run. If the polarity is reversed, the device won't work. If the voltage or amperage (especially amperage) is too high, the device may be destroyed.
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What are the six basic case sizes?
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Slimline, desktop, mini-tower, mid-tower, tower, and cube.
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Name two items that are purely aesthetic modifications available for a case.
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LED/Fiber optic lighting, see-through side panels, digital temperature displays, and many others.
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