Section 3 Flashcards

Front 1

ATX

Back 1

ATX form factor is the most common form factor for full-sized computers.

12" x 9.6".

Front 2

Mini-ATX

Back 2

A Mini-ATX motherboard is a slightly smaller variation of the full ATX size that measures

11.2" x 8.2".

Front 3

Micro-ATX

Back 3

The micro ATX form factor is an even smaller version of the ATX standard, with a maximum size of 9.6" x 9.6". mounting holes are in the same position as ATX motherboards.

Front 4

Mini-ITX

Back 4

The Mini-ITX is the smallest variation of the ATX standard, with a maxinmum mother board size of 6.7" x 6.7".

Front 5

NLX

Back 5

NLX is an older form factor used for slimline desktop-style computers. NLX is an improvement over an even earlier LPX form factor.

Front 6

BTX

Back 6

The BTX form factor was designed to give developers better options for managing system performance and balancing thermal management.

Front 7

Desktop

Back 7

Desktop cases sit horizontally and are usually used for low-end systems that are not meant to be upgraded (i.e there may be few or no expansion slots).

Front 8

Tower

Back 8

Tower cases can be as high as 2 feet tall. They have extensive room for expansion. Tower size classifications include:

Minitowers typically have 1-2 drive bays for expansion.

Midsize typically have 2-4 drive bays.

Full-size may have between 6-10 drive bays for expansion.

Front 9

small Form Factor (SFF)

Back 9

Small form factor computers use mini-ITX or custom motherboards to reduce the size of the system. Some SFF cases might be classified as minitowers with 1-2 drive bays. others might include all computer components in the shape of a ball or integrated within a monitor as a single unit.

Front 10

Notebook

Back 10

Notebook cases are generally proprietary and often vary among models.

Front 11

AC (alternating current)

Back 11

Alternating current is the type of current distributed through wall sockets. with AC, the voltage alternates (at a quick rate) between a negative and positive charge. This type of current is good for appliances requiring a high current.

Front 12

DC (Direct current)

Back 12

Direct current is the type of current used inside a computer. Negatively charged particles being drawn toward a positive charge create a direct current flow. This type of predictable reliable current is ideal for an application where a lower current is required.

Front 13

RAIL

Back 13

Much like a circuit breaker in a house, separate rails allow you to distribute the power load between multiple circuits to prevent any one circuit from becoming overloaded. Each rail can power multiple devices.

Front 14

WATTS

Back 14

The WATT describes how much work or how much power can be supplied to various devices.

Front 15

Soft Power

Back 15

Soft Power is a condition where the motherboard always has power, even when the computer is turned off.

Front 16

20-pin

Back 16

The 20-pin connector is the main motherboard connector and supplies 3.3, 5, and 12 volts to the motherboard. On older motherboards, the CPU is powered through a 5 volt wire in this connector.

Front 17

24-pin (20+4 pin)

Back 17

The 24 -pin motherboard connect replaces the 20-pin connector in older motherboards. the additional 4 pins supply an extra wire for 3.3, 5, and12 volts.

Front 18

4-pin +12 volt power (p4) (old)

Back 18

starting with the Pentium IV processor (P4), CPUs required more power than could be provided through the main motherboard connector. In addition, processors are powered using 12 volts instead of 5 volt. The 4-pin 12 volt connector supplies 2 additional wires of 12 volt power.

Front 19

8-pin EPS +12 volt

Back 19

The 8-pinEPs connector provides 4 lines of12 volt power. This connector is used with some older dual processor systems or some newer quad-core processors. Depending on the processor and the motherboard, you might be able to use a single 4-pin connector instead of the 8-pin connector( all 8-pins are typically required for quad-core processors. some power supplies have two 4-pin connectors (4+4) that are meant to be used together in the 8-pin connector.

Front 20

6-pin PCI Express

Back 20

The 6-pin PCIe connector, also known as a PEG connector (PCI Express Graphics), plugs in directly to the video card to supply the additional power. the 6-pin connector provides 75 watts.

Front 21

4-pin accessory power

Back 21

The 4-pin accessory power connector (often called a 4-pin Molex connector) is used by IDE hard drives, optical drives, and other accessory devices. the connector provides both 5 volts (red wire) and 12 volts (yellow wire)

Front 22

SATA power cable

Back 22

The SATA power cable has 15 pins and provides 3.3, 5, and 12 volts. as its name implies, it is used for powering SATA devices.

Front 23

4-pin mini-molex

Back 23

The 4-pin mini-molex connector provides both 5 and 12 volts and is used by floppy drives.

Front 24

processor interface

Back 24

current processors have a socket that accepts the processor. pins in the processor drop into the motherboard processor socket. the motherboard socket must match the socket type and design used by the processor ( in other words, when choosing a motherboard, make sure it matches the processor you will use). some motherboards support multiple processors and will have a socket for each processor.

Front 25

memory modules

Back 25

The motherboard contains slots for different types of memory. Memory modules must be compatible with the type supported by the motherboard, the total memory capacity, and the processor and chipset support.

Front 26

Expansion slots

Back 26

Expansion slots allow you to add features to your computer by inserting expansion cards into the available slots. There are a number of different standard expansion slots including:

Industry Standard Architecture (ISA

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe

Front 27

Onboard Components

Back 27

network cards

audio cards

video cards

USB

Firewire

Front 28

faceplate connectors

Back 28

A faceplate fits over the motherboard"s ports to secure them and protect the motherboard from dust and debris. There are standard connectors for onboard I/O components that don't require expansion cards. these connectors typically include the following. PS/2 mouse or keyboard ports, USB ports, serial ports (COM 1, 2, 3, and 4), parallel ports ( LPT1 and 2), mic in, line in, line out connectors, MIDI/game ports.

Front 29

onboard internal connectors

Back 29

There are a number of connectors on motherboards for component such as power supplies, fans, and LED lights. System cases often have additional ports available,such as USB, or Firwire ports, that need to be connected to the motherboard. these ports are connected to the motherboards front panel connectors, whch are also called HEADERS

Front 30

BIOS chip

Back 30

The BIOS chip is firmware (hardware hardcoded with software) attached to the mother board and is essential in booting the computer.

Front 31

CMOS battery

Back 31

CMOS battery supplies power to the CMOS to retain system settings used by the BIOS during system boot.

Front 32

CHIPSET

Back 32

The chipset is a group of chips that facilitate communication between the processor, memory components, and peripheral devices. the chipset controls the bus speed and also power management features. chipsets are usually attached to the motherboard and are non-upgradeable .

Front 33

jumpers

Back 33

jumpers are electrical connection points that can be set to control devices and functions attached to the motherboard. some funtions controlled by jumpers are: clearing the CMOS password, clearing the CMOS settings, setting the CPU bus speed on the motherboard, enabling or disabling onboard components.

Front 34

Documentation

Back 34

when selecting and working with motherboards, a good place for information is the motherboard documentation. Most motherboard documentation includes a diagram of the motherboard that identifies the components listed above and details any jumper settings. if you are missing the motherboard documentation, check the manufacturer's web site.

Front 35

Manufacturer

Back 35

Intel and AMD are the two producers of processors used in modern PCs

Front 36

32-bit or 64-bit processor

Back 36

A 32-bit processor can process 32 bits of info at a time, and has up to 4 gigabites

A 64-bit processor can process 64 bits of info at a time, and has up to 16.8 terabites

Front 37

speed

Back 37

processors operate using an internal clock that is the same as, or multiple of, the motherboard bus speed. the speed is represented in MHz and is also referredto as frequency

Front 38

multi-core

Back 38

a multiple core processor has multiple processors within a single processor package

Front 39

cache

Back 39

cache is memory that the processor can access directly without using the system RAM. there are three types of processor cache: Level 1 cache is integrated on the processor die itself and stores instruction for the processor. on Multi-core systems, each processor typically has its own L1 cache, one is for instructions and one is for data. Level 2 cache is additional cache used for both instruction and data, Depending on the processor, L2 cache might be shared between 2 or more cores, or exclusive to a single core. Level 3 cache is additional cache beyond L2 cache. for multi-core systems, L3 cache is shared between all cores.

Front 40

process size

Back 40

The process size refers to the manufacturing process used to etch transistors onto the silicon wafer that will become the CPU. process size is expressed in microns ( such as .25 microns) or nanometers (90 nm which = .09 microns.)

Front 41

Hyper-threading

Back 41

hyper-threading is a feature of some intel processors that allows a single processor to run threads (instructions) in parallel, as opposed to processing threads linearly.

hyper-threading is not the same as multi threading.

Front 42

Throttling

Back 42

throttling is the process of modifying the operating characteristics of a processor based on current conditions.

Front 43

turbo boost

Back 43

turbo boost allows the processor to dynamically run above its rated speed to improve performance.

Front 44

Mobile Processors

Back 44

mobile CPUs are used in notebook computers where portability and mobility are a concern. special versions of processors are built to minimize power consumption and the amount of heat generated.

Front 45

Virtualization

Back 45

virtualization allows a single physical machine (known as the host operating system) to run multiple virtual machines (known as the guest operating systems).

Front 46

Integrated Memory Controller

Back 46

in a traditional processor design, the processor is connected to the front side bus and the Northbridge chip. the processor communicates with other systems components through the front side bus. Smaller manufacturing size has reduced the overall size of a processor, leaving more room on the processor die for additional cores or cache. to improve performance, some processors include the memory controller on the processor die rather than on the northbridge chip, resulting in faster memory access by the processor.

Front 47

cooling

Back 47

processors require some form of heat dissipation system to function properly. without a heat dissipation system, a processor will overheat and burn out in less than a minute. most modern CPUs require a heat sink and a fan on top. Between the CPU and the heat sink, thermal paste or a thermal pad helps transfer heat from the CPU to the cooling unit.

Front 48

overclocking

Back 48

overclocking is a feature that causes the processor to operate at a higher speed. overclocking is typically preformed by those who want to get the maximum performance from their system.

Front 49

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

Back 49

PGA processors implement a series of pins on the underside of the processor package in an array. the pins are inserted into corresponding receptacles within the processor socket on the mother board.

Front 50

Land Grid Array (LGA)

Back 50

the LGA socket moves the connecting pins from the processor package to the socket itself. conducting pads are implemented on the bottom of the processor that contact the protruding pins from the processor socket