Module 2

All About Motherboards

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 Part 1
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101)

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 Module Objectives

• By the end of this module, you should be able to:

• Describe and contrast various types and features of motherboards

• Configure a motherboard using BIOS/UEFI firmware

• Maintain a motherboard by updating drivers and firmware, using jumpers to clear

BIOS/UEFI settings, and replacing the CMOS battery

• Select, install, and replace a desktop motherboard

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 Motherboard Types and Features

• A motherboard is the most complicated computer component

− It is one of the first items to consider when building a computer

• Consider the following when purchasing a motherboard:

− Form factor
− Processor socket
− Chipset
− Expansion slots
− Other connectors, slots, and ports

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 Computer cases

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 Computer cases

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 Computer cases

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 Computer cases

Drive bays (external or internal) :

5.25" optical drives
3.5" 2.5" storage drives

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 Computer cases
Open-Air Cases:
Open-air cases have an open or partially open design, which enhances airflow and showcases
components. These are popular among enthusiasts and overclockers.

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 Motherboard Form Factors (1 of 4)

• The motherboard form factor determines the motherboard size and features that
make it compatible with power supplies and cases

• The most popular are ATX, microATX, Extended ATX (E-ATX) and Mini-ITX

• The following slides show a few examples of form factors and comparisons of sizes
and hole positions of several form factors

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Motherboard Form Factors (2 of 4)

Figure 2-2 The ASUS Prime Z590-A

motherboard uses the ATX form
factor

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Motherboard Form Factors (3 of 4)

Figure 2-3 A Mini-ITX motherboard

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Motherboard Form Factors (4 of 4)

Figure 2-4 Sizes and hole positions

for the ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX
motherboards

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor
Sockets (1 of 6)
• A chipset is a set of chips on the motherboard that works closely with the processor
to control the memory, buses on the motherboard, and some peripherals
− It must be compatible with the processor it serves

• A socket is rectangular with pins or pads to connect the processor to the

motherboard

• The two major chipset and processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD

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 Prime Z590-A

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor
Sockets (2 of 6)
• Some of the latest Intel Chipsets include the following:
− 600 Series Desktop Chipsets
− 400 and 500 Series Desktop Chipsets
− 300 Series Desktop Chipsets
− 200 Series Desktop Chipsets

• Some of the current Intel sockets include:

− LGA1700 socket (the number of pins = 1700)
− LGA1200 socket (the number of pins = 1200)
− LGA1151 socket (the number of pins = 1151)

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Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor
Sockets (3 of 6)

Figure 2-6 The LGA 1200 socket is

compatible with the 11th and 10th
generation Intel processors

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor
Sockets (4 of 6)
• Currently, AMD has four chipset and socket categories:
− sTRX4 socket which uses the TRX 40 chipset
− TR4 socket which uses the AMD X399 chipset
− AM4 socket and chipset are used with AMD Ryzen and Athlon processors
− AM3+ socket are used with AMD Piledriver and Bulldozer processors

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Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor
Sockets (5 of 6)

Figure 2-8 The sTRX4 socket

supports the 3rd generation
Threadripper processors and the
TRX40 chipset

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor
Sockets (6 of 6)
• To match a processor to a motherboard and socket, do the following:
− Look at the motherboard manufacturer’s website or user guide for a list of
processors the motherboard supports
− You can also search the Intel or AMD website for the exact processor to make
sure the socket it uses is the same as the socket on the motherboard

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (1 of 6)

• Fine lines found on both the top and the bottom of a motherboard are sometimes
called traces
− Traces are circuits or paths that enable data, instructions, timing signals, and
power to move from component to component on the board

• A bus is a system of pathways used for communication and the protocol and
methods used for transmission
− A protocol is a set of rules and standards that any two entities use for
communication

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (2 of 6)
• PCI Express
− PCIe currently comes in four different slot sizes called PCI Express x1, x4, x8, and
x16
− The number after the “x” refers to the number of lanes available for data
− Example: PCIe x4 contains 4 lanes
− PCIe x16 slot is used by graphics cards that require large throughput
− To provide extra wattage required for cards that require large throughput:
▪ The card may have one, two, or three connectors to connect the card to the
extra power
A PCIe lane is a data pathway with two wire pairs: one for sending and one for
receiving, allowing simultaneous data transmission and reception.

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Buses and Expansion Slots (3 of 6)

Figure 2-11 Three types of

expansion slots: PCIe x1, PCIe x16,
and conventional PCI

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (4 of 6)

• Conventional PCI slots and buses are slower than those of PCIe
− The PCI bus transmits 32 data bits in parallel and operates at about 500 Mbps
− Used for all types of add-on cards

• Onboard ports (integrated components) are ports coming directly off the
motherboard
− They may include USB, PS/2 mouse and keyboard, video, sound, network, and
eSATA ports
− An I/O shield is a plate installed in computer case providing holes for I/O ports

• A motherboard may have several internal connectors including USB, M.2, SATA, and
PCIe connectors

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (5 of 6)

• SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or Serial ATA) is an interface

standard used mostly by storage devices
− Current versions of SATA include SATA Express (SATAe), SATA3.x, and SATA2.x

• SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) is an interface standard used mostly by storage devices
and is the successor of SCSI

• M.2 (a form factor or connector type) is formerly known as the Next Generation Form
Factor (NGFF)
− It uses the PCIe, USB, or SATA interface to connect a mini add-on card

• A motherboard may have USB headers used to connect a cable from a motherboard
to USB ports on the front of the computer case

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Buses and Expansion Slots (6 of 6)

Figure 2-21 An M.2 slot is keyed

with a notch to hold an M.2 card with
a B key or M key edge connector

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Source: delock.de

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be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. 35
Andrews/Shelton/Pierce, CompTIA A+ Guide To IT Technical Support, 11 Edition ©2023 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not
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 BIOS/UEFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGz0Io_dh_I&ab_channel=PowerCertAnimatedVideos

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 Using BIOS/UEFI Setup to Configure a
Motherboard (1 of 2)
• Firmware on the motherboard is used to do the following:
− Enable or disable a connector, port, or component
− Control the frequency and other features of the CPU
− Manage security features
− Control what happens when the computer first boots
− Monitor and log various activities of the board

• Motherboards made after 2012 use BIOS/UEFI firmware

• UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) improves on BIOS but includes BIOS for
backward compatibility with older devices

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 Using BIOS/UEFI Setup to Configure a
Motherboard (2 of 2)
• Facts you should know about UEFI include the following:
− Microsoft requires UEFI in order for a system to be certified for Windows 10/8
− UEFI is required for hard drives larger than 2 TB
− UEFI offers Secure boot, which prevents a system from booting up with drivers or
an OD that is not digitally signed and trusted by the motherboard or computer
manufacturer
− For backward compatibility, UEFI can boot from an MBR hard drive and provide a
BIOS boot through its Compatibility Support Module (CSM) feature

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 Accessing the BIOS/UEFI Setup Program

• Access the BIOS/UEFI setup program by pressing a key or combination of keys during
the boot process
− For most motherboards, you press F12 or Del during the boot
− See documentation for your motherboard or watch the screen near the beginning
of the boot

• A setup screen appears with menus and Help features

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Viewing and Monitoring Information

Figure 2-25 A BIOS/UEFI setup

screen showing a list of drives
installed on the system

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 Changing Boot Options (1 of 4)

Figure 2-28 Set the boot priority

order in BIOS setup

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 Changing Boot Options (2 of 4)
• Manage Secure Boot
− Secure boot was invented to help prevent malware from launching before the OS
and anti-malware software are launched
− Secure boot works only when the boot mode is UEFI (and not CSM) and the OS
supports it
− It is supported by Windows 10 and several distributions on Linux
− Secure boot holds digital signatures, encryption keys, and drivers in databases
stored in flash memory on the motherboard and/or the hard drive
− When enabled, it checks each driver, the OS, and applications before UEFI
launches these programs to verify it is signed and identified in the Secure boot
databases

CSM : Compatibility Support Module

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Changing Boot Options (3 of 4)

Figure 2-29 Manage Secure Boot

on the Security screen of BIOS/UEFI
setup

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Changing Boot Options (4 of 4)

Figure 2-30 Use CSM to boot

legacy BIOS system or disable it to
implement UEFI Secure Boot

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 Configuring Onboard Devices

• You can enable or disable some onboard devices using BIOS/UEFI setup
− For example: network ports, USB ports, or video ports

• What you can configure depends on the onboard devices the motherboard offers

• One possible setting you can change is USB power share, which enables you to
charge a USB device even when the computer is turned off

• Overclocking is running a processor, memory, motherboard, or video card at a higher

speed than the manufacturer recommends
− Some motherboards and processors allow overclocking, but it is not a
recommended best practice

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Configuring Security Features (1 of 2)

Figure 2-32 Set supervisor and user

passwords in BIOS/UEFI setup to
help lock down a computer

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 Configuring Security Features (2 of 2)

• Drive Password Protection

− Some motherboards allow you to set a password in order to access the hard drive
− Does not encrypt all the data on the drive but encrypts only a few organizational
sectors

• The TPM Chip and Hard Drive Encryption

− Many motherboards contain a chip called the TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
chip
− The BitLocker Encryption tool in Windows is designed to work with this chip
− The BitLocker encryption key (startup key) is kept on the chip
− This method assures that a drive cannot be used in another computer
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 BIOS Support for Virtualization

• Virtualization is when one physical computer uses software to create multiple virtual
computers
− A virtual machine (VM) simulates the hardware of a physical computer
▪ Each VM works like a physical computer and is assigned virtual devices such
as virtual motherboard and virtual hard drive
− Virtualization must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI setup

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 Exiting the BIOS/UEFI Setup Menus

• When you finish with BIOS/UEFI setup, an Exit screen gives you various options, such
as:
− Saving your changes and exiting
− Discarding your changes and exiting

• Some offer the option to Load Optimized Defaults

− This option can sometimes solve a problem when a user has made several
inappropriate changes to the BIOS/UEFI settings or you are attempting to recover
from an error created while updating the firmware

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 Knowledge Check Activity 2-1

• Which type of boot authentication is more secure?

a. Power-on password or supervisor password

b. Drive password

c. Full disk encryption

d. Windows password

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 Knowledge Check Activity 2-1: Answer

• Which type of boot authentication is more secure?

• Answer: c. Full disk encryption

• Full disk encryption is the most secure option because it secures the entire drive, it
cannot be reset by jumpers on the motherboard, and the encryption stays with the
drive even if it is moved to a different computer.

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 Updating Motherboard Drivers and
BIOS/UEFI
• When a motherboard is causing problems or you want to use a new OS or hardware
device, you might need to update the motherboard drivers or update the BIOS/UEFI
firmware

• Both skills are covered next

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 Installing or Updating Motherboard Drivers

• Device drivers are small programs that an OS uses to communicate with specific
hardware

• The CD or DVD that comes with the motherboard contains a user guide and drivers
for its onboard components

• After installing a motherboard, you can install the drivers from CD or DVD and later
update them by downloading updates from the motherboard manufacturer’s website
− Sometimes updates are included in updates to Windows

• Be sure to get the correct drivers for the OS edition and type (example: Windows 10
64-bit) you are using with the board

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 Updating Firmware

• The process of upgrading or refreshing the programming and data stored on the
firmware chip is called updating firmware, flashing BIOS/UEFI, or flashing BIOS

• To flash BIOS/UEFI, always follow the directions found in the user guide for your
motherboard

• Motherboards can use one or more of these methods:

− Download and update from within BIOS/UEFI setup
− Update from a USB flash drive using BIOS/UEFI setup
− Run an express BIOS/UEFI update

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Using Jumpers to Clear BIOS/UEFI Settings
(1 of 2)
• A jumper is two small posts or metal pins that stick up off the motherboard that is
used to hold configuration information
− An open jumper has no cover and a closed jumper has a cover on the two pins

• If flashing BIOS/UEFI fails, a jumper can be set to undo the update

• To learn how to set jumpers, see the motherboard documentation

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Using Jumpers to Clear BIOS/UEFI Settings
(2 of 2)

Figure 2-38 This group of three

jumpers controls the BIOS
configuration

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 Installing or Replacing a Motherboard

• A motherboard is considered a field replaceable unit

• A technician needs to know how to select an appropriate motherboard and how to

install or replace one in a desktop or laptop computer

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How to Select a Desktop Motherboard (1 of
2)
• Three approaches to selecting a motherboard include the following:
− Select the board that provides the most room for expansion
− Select the board that best suits the needs of the computer’s current
configuration
− Select a motherboard that meets your present needs with moderate room for
expansion

• Some questions to ask yourself when selecting a motherboard include the following:
− How is the motherboard to be used?
− What form factor does the motherboard use?
− Which brand (Intel or AMD) and model processors does the board support? Which
chipset Andrews/Shelton/Pierce,
does it use? Which processors does it support?
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How to Select a Desktop Motherboard (2 of
2)
• Some questions to ask yourself when selecting a motherboard include the following
(continued):
− Which type and speed of memory does the board support?
− Does the board fit the case you plan to use?
− What are the price and the warranty on the board? Does the board get good
reviews?
− How extensive and user friendly is the documentation and how helpful is the
manufacturer website?
− What warranty and how much support does the manufacturer supply for the
board?

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 How to Install or Replace a Motherboard (1
of 2)
• The general process for replacing a motherboard is as follows:
− 1. Verify the right motherboard is selected
− 2. Get familiar with documentation, features, settings
− 3. Remove components to reach the old motherboard
− 4. Install the I/O shield
− 5. Install the motherboard
− 6. Install the processor and processor cooler
− 7. Install RAM into the appropriate slots on the motherboard
− 8. Attach the wires and cabling (case switches, power supply, drives)

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How to Install or Replace a Motherboard (2
of 2)
• The general process for replacing a motherboard is as follows (continued):
− 9. Install the video card on the motherboard
− 10. Plug the computer into a power source
− 11. Boot the system and enter UEFI/BIOS setup
− 12. Observe POST and verify no errors occur
− 13. Verify that Windows starts with no errors
− 14. Install the motherboard drivers
− 15. Install any other expansion cards and drivers
− 16. Verify that the system is operating properly, make final OS and BIOS/UEFI
adjustments

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 Knowledge Check Activity 2-2

• After trying multiple times, a coworker is unable to fit a motherboard in a computer

case and is having difficulty aligning screw holes in the motherboard to standoffs on
the bottom of the case. Which is most likely the source of the problem?

a. The coworker is trying to use too many screws to secure the board; only four
screws are required.

b. The form factors of the case and the motherboard don’t match.

c. The form factors of the motherboard and the power supply don’t match.

d. The board is not oriented correctly in the case. Rotate the board.

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 Knowledge Check Activity 2-2: Answer

• After trying multiple times, a coworker is unable to fit a motherboard in a computer

case and is having difficulty aligning screw holes in the motherboard to standoffs on
the bottom of the case. Which is most likely the source of the problem?

• Answer: B. The form factors of the case and the motherboard don’t match.
• Form factors are designed to have the motherboard screw holes align with the
standoffs in the case when they match.

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 Summary

• Now that the lesson has ended, you should be able to:

• Describe and contrast various types and features of motherboards

• Configure a motherboard using BIOS/UEFI firmware

• Maintain a motherboard by updating drivers and firmware, using jumpers to clear

BIOS/UEFI settings, and replacing the CMOS battery

• Select, install, and replace a desktop motherboard

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