Chapter 1

Motherboards, Processors, and Memory

The following CompTIA A+ 220-801 objectives are covered in this chapter:

• 1.1 Configure and apply BIOS settings.
  • Install firmware upgrades – flash BIOS
  • BIOS component information: RAM, Hard drive, Optical drive, CPU, Boot sequence, Enabling and disabling devices, Date/time, Clock speeds, Virtualization support
  • BIOS security (passwords, drive encryption: TPM, lo-jack)
  • Use built-in diagnostics
  • Monitoring: Temperature monitoring, Fan speeds, Intrusion detection/notification, Voltage, Clock, Bus speed
• 1.2 Differentiate between motherboard components, their purposes, and properties.
  • Sizes: ATX, Micro-ATX, ITX
  • Expansion slots: PCI, PCI-X, PCIe, miniPCI, CNR, AGP 1x, AGP2x, 4x, 8x
  • RAM slots
  • CPU sockets
  • Chipsets: Northbridge/Southbridge, CMOS battery
  • Jumpers
  • Power connections and types
  • Fan connectors
  • Front panel connectors: USB, Audio, Power button, Power light, Drive activity lights, Reset button
  • Bus speeds
• 1.3 Compare and contrast RAM types and features.
  • Types: DDR, DDR2, DDR3, SDRAM, SODIMM, RAMBUS, DIMM, Parity vs. non-parity, ECC vs. non-ECC, RAM configurations (Single channel vs. dual channel vs. triple channel), Single sided vs. double sided
  • RAM compatibility and speed
• 1.6 Differentiate among various CPU types and features and select the appropriate cooling method.
  • Socket types: Intel (LGA, 775, 1155, 1156, 1366), AMD (940, AM2, AM2+, AM3, AM3+, FM1, F)
  • Characteristics: Speeds, Cores, Cache size/type, Hyperthreading, Virtualization support, Architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit), Integrated GPU
  • Cooling: Heat sink, Fans, Thermal paste, Liquid-based

A personal computer (PC) is a computing device made up of many distinct electronic components that all function together in order to accomplish some useful task, such as adding up the numbers in a spreadsheet or helping you write a letter. Note that this definition describes a computer as having many distinct parts that work together. Most computers today are modular. That is, they have components that can be removed and replaced with another component of the same function but with different specifications in order to improve performance. Each component has a specific function. In this chapter, you will learn about the core components that make up a typical PC, what their functions are, and how they work together inside the PC.

Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, throughout this book the terms PC and computer can be used interchangeably.

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In this chapter, you will learn how to identify system components common to most personal computers, including the following:

• Motherboards
• Processors
• Memory
• Basic input/output systems (BIOS)
• Cooling systems