Motherboards + Add-On Cards

Front 1

Voltages supplied to ATX M.B.

Back 1

+3.3V, +5V, +12V, and -12V outputs and +5V standby output. These are known as "rails" (eg the 12V rail)

Front 2

Basics of ATX, microATX, ITX, + miniITX

Back 2

ATX 12in by 9.6in RAM slots are perpendicular to each other - 90 degree angle

microATX 9.6in by 9.6in Smaller than ATX but backward compatible to it

Mini-ITX 6.7in by 6.7in Designed for HTPCs + other small-footprint systems

Front 3

Install a Video Card

Back 3

Check if the card is compatible, Ready the computer, Ready the VC, Document, Prepare the slot, Install the card to the slot, Connect cables - for power, Test, Install the driver, Test again

Front 4

Bus + clock speeds

Back 4

Bus Speed: Thus is the base clock of the MB + is often referred to as "bus speed" (measured in Hertz)

Internal Clock Speed: This is the internal frequency of the CPU + is the well-known no. that CPUs are associated with. 1MHz is 1 million cycles per second. 1GHz (1000MHz) is 1 billion cycles per second i.e. 1 million/billion pieces of information a second

Front 5

Hyperthreading (HT) + Multicore

Back 5

HT enables a single CPU to accept + calculate 2 independent sets of instructions simultaneously, thereby simulating 2 CPUs.

Muticore CPUs physically contain 2 or more actual processor cores in 1 CPU package acting as a single entity.

Front 6

Power Supplies

Back 6

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) M.B. Connector - 24-pin ATX connector.

CPU Connector- 8-pin CPU connector

Front 7

Power Connectors

Back 7

SATA Connector- 15-pin, 3.3V, 5V, and 12V

Molex Connector - 4-pin, 5V (red), 12v (yellow), two ground wires

PCIe Connector - 6-pin 12V (ATX12V version 2.1), 8-pin 12V (ATX12V version 2.2 and higher)

PCI Express (PCIe) x16 expansion slot is used primarily for video.

Front 8

Disassembly Process For Upgrading Laptops

Back 8

Document + label cable + screw locations.

Organise parts.

Refer to the manufacturer's resources.

Use appropriate hand tools.