8.2.1 The Motherboard

8.2.1 The Motherboard The motherboard is a large circuit board that acts like the computer's spine. It links all the parts together and sends electrical signals between them. Motherboard Sizes The two most common form factors for motherboards are advanced technology extended (ATX) and micro-ATX. The ATX motherboard is rectangular, about 12 inches by 9 inches. The micro-ATX is square, about 9 inches by 9 inches. Both types of motherboards have a 24-pin power connector, which takes power from the power supply and provides it to all the connected parts.Motherboards don't come in a one-size-fits-all design. They fall into two main categories: proprietary and standardized. Proprietary means the motherboard is made to fit a specific case or system, like the one in your laptop or cellphone. You can't just swap your laptop's motherboard with your cellphone's because it won't fit. This proprietary design is also common with big manufacturers like Dell and HP. If you have a specific Dell desktop and need to replace the motherboard, you'll need to find the exact Dell-specified model.A standardized or industry-standard motherboard, on the other hand, isn't made for a specific system. It can fit into all kinds of cases, from simple to complex ones. Motherboard Specs A motherboard is made to work with specific types ofcentral processing unit (CPU)and memory, and will have sockets designed to hold those specific types of components. The most widely used brands of CPU are Advanced Micro Devices (or AMD) and Intel.AMD CPUs and Intel CPUs are very different and can't be swapped with each other. Each type of motherboard will have sockets for certain AMD or Intel CPUs. The socket that holds the CPU uses azero insertion force (ZIF)mechanism to push the processor into the motherboard and keep it in place securely. This helps prevent the motherboard from bending, which could cause permanent damage.There are fewer options when it comes to memory and how it works on motherboards. Memory types have been pretty standard over the years, with the DDR (Double Data Rate) family being the most common in recent decades. DDR memory changes every 4–6 years, and each generation has different slot connectors. The latest one is DDR5. The most important thing to remember is that as long as you match up the parts that are designed to work together correctly, your computer will run well. Computer Buses and Expansion Slots Directions: Read each question carefully. For each question, choose the best answer from the options provided and circle or mark your choice. What is the primary purpose of buses on a motherboard? To store data permanently To connect the keyboard and mouse To transfer data and power between components To increase the computer's RAM What does the term "PCIe" stand for? Peripheral Component Interface Express Personal Computer Integration Expansion Peripheral Component Interconnect Express Primary Computer Interface Extension Which of the following is a common size for PCIe slots? x3 x1 x5 x7 How does the speed of PCIe slots change with each new version? It remains the same It is half as fast It decreases slightly It doubles What does the Latin word "omnibus," from which "bus" is derived, mean? For all Together Separate Fast