CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support

10th Edition

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Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or
in part.
 Chapter 2
All About Motherboards

Andrews/Dark/West, CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 10th Edition. © [2020] Cengage. All Rights
Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or
in part.
 Objectives

• 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 or laptop system board

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not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Motherboard Types and Features (1 of 2)

• Motherboard
• Most complicated computer component
• One of the first items to consider when building a computer
• Consider the following when purchasing a motherboard:
• Form factor
• Processor socket and chipset
• Expansion slots
• Other connectors, slots, and ports

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Motherboard Types and Features (2 of 2)

Figure 2-1 The Asus Prime Z370-P

gaming motherboard uses the ATX
form factor and LGA1151 8th
generation process socket

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 Motherboard Form Factors (1 of 5)

• Motherboard form factor determines motherboard size and features that make it compatible
with power supplies and cases
• Most popular:
• ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX
• Mini-ITX is smaller than microATX and is also known as mITX
• The following slides show examples of form factors and comparisons of sizes and hole
positions of several form factors

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Motherboard Form Factors (2 of 5)

Figure 2-2 The Intel desktop

motherboard DH676D uses the mATX
form factor and has the processor,
cooler, and memory modules installed

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Motherboard Form Factors (3 of 5)

Figure 2-3 A Mini-ITX motherboard

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 Motherboard Form Factors (4 of 5)

Form Factor Motherboard Size Description

ATX, full size Up to 12” x 9.6” (305mm x A popular form factor that
244mm) has had many revisions
and variations
microATX (mATX) Up to 9.6” x 9.6” (244mm x A smaller version of ATX
244mm)

Mini-ITX (mITX and Up to 6.7” x 6.7” (170mm x A small form factor (SFF)
ITX) 170mm) board used in low-end
computers and home
theater systems

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Motherboard Form Factors (5 of 5)

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 8)
• 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
• Must be compatible with the processor it serves
• A socket is rectangular with pins or pads to connect the processor to the motherboard
• Two major chipset and processor manufacturers:
• Intel
• AMD

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (2
of 8)
• Intel Chipsets:
• Coffee Lake
• Kaby Lake
• Skylake
• Broadwell and Haswell
• Since the release of the 2nd generation of Intel Core family of processors:
• You can know which generation a processor fits in by the four digits in the model number
• Example: Core i5-6200U processor is a 6th generation processor

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Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (3
of 8)

Figure 2-5 The 8th generation

LGA1151 socket with the cover
removed and load plate lifted, ready to
receive the processor

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (4
of 8)
• Sockets for Intel Processors
• Current Intel sockets for desktop computers:
• LGA1151
• LGA1150
• LGA1155
• Intel sockets used in servers and high-performance workstations:
• LGA2066
• LGA2011
• LGA1366

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Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (5
of 8)

Figure 2-6 The 7th and 6th generation

LGA1151 open socket and the bottom
of an Intel processor

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Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (6
of 8)

Figure 2-8 The LGA1366 socket with

the socket cover removed and the load
plate lifted ready to receive a
processor

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part.
 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (7
of 8)
• Zero insertion force (ZIF) sockets are used to lift the processor up and out of the socket,
using levers
• AMD Chipsets and Sockets
• Current AMD chipset and socket categories for personal computers:
• TR4 (Threadripper 4) socket uses the AMD X399 chipset
• AM4 chipset family and AM4 socket is used with AMD Ryzen and Athlon processors
• AM3+ and AM3 are PGA sockets used with AMD Piledriver and Bulldozer processors
• FM2+ is an older PGA socket used with AMD Athlon, Steamroller, and Excavator
processors and A-series chipsets

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 Intel and AMD Chipsets and Processor Sockets (8
of 8)
• Match a Processor to the Socket and Motherboard
• You must pay close attention to the actual model number of the processor to know which
socket it requires and which motherboards can support it
• To match a processor to a motherboard and socket:
• 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 8)

• 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
• Bus:
• 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 8)

Figure 2-10 On the bottom of the

motherboard, you can see the bus
lines terminating at the processor
socket

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (3 of 8)

• 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

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Buses and Expansion Slots (4 of 8)

Figure 2-11 Three types of expansion

slots: PCIe x1, PCIe x16, and
conventional PCI

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Buses and Expansion Slots (5 of 8)

Figure 2-12 PCIe documentation for

one motherboard

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Buses and Expansion Slots (6 of 8)

Figure 2-14 Auxiliary power

connectors to support PCIe

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 Buses and Expansion Slots (7 of 8)

• PCI
• Conventional PCI slots and buses are slower than those of PCIe
• Slots are slightly taller than PCIe slots
• Transmits 32 data bits in parallel and operates at about 500 Mbps
• Used for all types of add-on cards
• Riser Cards Used to Extend the Slots
• A low-profile or slimline case may not give you enough room to install an expansion card
standing up in a slot
• A riser card installs in the slot and provides another slot at a right angle
• Riser cards come for all types of PCI and PCIe slots

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Buses and Expansion Slots (8 of 8)

Figure 2-15 The PCI riser card

provides a slot for an expansion card
installed parallel to the motherboard

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 Onboard Ports and Connectors (1 of 9)

• Onboard ports (integrated components)

• Ports coming directly off the motherboard
• May include USB, PS/2 mouse and keyboard, video, sound, network, and eSATA
ports
• I/O shield
• Plate installed in computer case providing holes for I/O ports
• Internal connectors
• USB, M.2, SATA, and IDE connectors

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Onboard Ports and Connectors (2 of 9)

Figure 2-16 A motherboard provides

ports for common I/O devices

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Onboard Ports and Connectors (3 of 9)

Figure 2-17 The I/O shield fits the

motherboard ports to the computer
case
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 Onboard Ports and Connectors (4 of 9)

• SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or Serial ATA)

• An interface standard used mostly by storage devices
• Current versions of SATA:
• SATA Express (SATAe)
• SATA3
• SATA2
• M.2
• Formerly known as the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF)
• Uses the PCIe, USB, or SATA interface to connect a mini add-on card
• Commonly used by wireless cards and solid-state drives (SSDs)

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Onboard Ports and Connectors (5 of 9)

Figure 2-20 An M.2 slot and three

possible screw positions to secure a
card to the motherboard

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Onboard Ports and Connectors (6 of 9)

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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 Onboard Ports and Connectors (7 of 9)

• IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) standard

• Used to interface storage devices with the motherboard
• IDE connector has 40 pins
• USB
• USB header is used to connect a cable from a motherboard to USB ports on the front of
the computer case

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Onboard Ports and Connectors (8 of 9)

Figure 2-22 An IDE connector and

cable

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Onboard Ports and Connectors (9 of 9)

Figure 2-23 Two USB headers are

used to connect the motherboard to
USB ports on the front of the computer
case
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 Using BIOS/UEFI Setup to Configure a
Motherboard (1 of 2)
• Firmware on the motherboard is used to:
• 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
• Prior to 2012, motherboards used BIOS 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 about UEFI:
• 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, F2, or Del during the boot
• See documentation for your motherboard or watch the screen near the beginning of
the boot
• Setup screen appears with menus and Help features

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Viewing and Monitoring Information (1 of 2)

Figure 2-26 A BIOS/UEFI setup

screen showing a list of drives installed
on the system

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Viewing and Monitoring Information (2 of 2)

Figure 2-27 Information about the

system is reported when you first
access BIOS/UEFI setup

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 Changing Boot Options (1 of 5)

• In the BIOS/UEFI setup boot menu, you can set the order in which the system tries to boot
from certain devices
• Called the boot priority order or boot sequence
• Boot Priority Order:
• Examples where you might need to change the boot priority order:
• Some distributions of Linux can be installed on a USB flash drive, so you can boot
the OS from this drive when you put the USB device first in the boot priority order
• When installing an OS on a hard drive, you might want BIOS/UEFI to first boot from a
DVD to install from a setup DVD
• If you are installing an OS from a server, put the PCI LAN: EFI Network option at the
top of the boot priority and enable PXE Boot to LAN
• Boot from the Windows setup DVD to troubleshoot a computer that will not start

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 Changing Boot Options (2 of 5)

• 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
• Supported by Windows 10/8 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

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Changing Boot Options (3 of 5)

Figure 2-30 Manage Secure boot on

the Security screen of BIOS/UEFI
setup

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 Changing Boot Options (4 of 5)

• Manage CSM and UEFI Boot:

• The Boot screen allows you to select UEFI mode of CSM (Compatibility Support Module)
mode
• UEFI mode is required for Secure boot to be enabled
• Use CSM for backward compatibility with older BIOS devices and drivers and MBR hard
drives

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Changing Boot Options (5 of 5)

Figure 2-31 Use CSM to boot a legacy

BIOS system or disable it to implement
UEFI Secure boot

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 Configuring Onboard Devices (1 of 2)

• 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 on your system depends on the onboard devices the motherboard
offers
• Overclocking:
• 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 Onboard Devices (2 of 2)

Figure 2-32 Enable and disable

onboard devices

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 Configuring Security Features (1 of 5)

• Other security features besides Secure boot:

• Power-on passwords
• LoJack
• Drive password protection
• TPM chip
• Drive encryption

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 Configuring Security Features (2 of 5)

• Power-On Passwords:
• Power-on passwords are assigned in BIOS/UEFI setup to prevent unauthorized access
to the computer and/or BIOS/UEFI setup utility
• Depending on the motherboard, it may be possible to set a supervisor and user
password
• How to set passwords varies depending on motherboard and BIOS

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Configuring Security Features (3 of 5)

Figure 2-33 Set supervisor and user

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

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 Configuring Security Features (4 of 5)

• LoJack for Laptops Technology:

• LoJack and Computrace Agent technology are embedded in the firmware of many
laptops to protect a system against theft
• Must subscribe to the service
• The service can be used to locate a laptop whenever it connects to the Internet
• Once located, you can give commands through the Internet to lock the laptop or delete all
data on it
• 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

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 Configuring Security Features (5 of 5)

• 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 10/8/7 works with this chip
• An encryption key (startup key) is kept on the chip
• Assures that a drive cannot be used in another computer
• Can be used with other encryption software that may be installed on the hard drive other
than BitLocker
• If the motherboard fails and is replaced, you’ll need a backup copy of the startup key to
access data on the hard drive

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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 (1 of 2)

• 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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Exiting the BIOS/UEFI Setup Menus (2 of 2)

Figure 2-34 The BIOS/UEFI Utility Exit

Screen

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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 (1 of 2)

• Device drivers are small programs that allow software to interact with certain 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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Installing or Updating Motherboard Drivers (2 of 2)

Figure 2-36 Download drivers, utilities,

BIOS/UEFI updates, documentation,
and other help software from the
motherboard manufacturer’s website

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part.
 Updating Firmware (1 of 2)

• 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
• Reasons to flash the BIOS/UEFI:
• The system hangs at odd times or during boot
• Some motherboard functions have stopped working or are causing problems
• You get errors when trying to install a new OS or hardware device
• You want to incorporate some new features or a new component on the board

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 Updating Firmware (2 of 2)

• 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
• Cautions to be aware of when updating BIOS/UEFI firmware:
• Don’t update firmware without a good reason
• Back up first
• Select the correct update file
• Don’t interrupt the update

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Using Jumpers to Clear BIOS/UEFI Settings (1 of 3)

• A jumper is two small posts or metal pins that stick up off the motherboard that is used to
hold configuration information
• Open jumper has no cover and a closed jumper has a cover on the two pins
• Jumpers can be used to clear a forgotten supervisor or power-on password
• If flashing BIOS/UEFI fails, a jumper can be set to undo the update

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not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Using Jumpers to Clear BIOS/UEFI Settings (2 of 3)

Figure 2-37 A 6-pin jumper group on a

circuit board: (a) has no jumpers set to
on, (b) has a cover parked on one pin,
and (c) is configured with one jumper
setting turned on

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part.
Using Jumpers to Clear BIOS/UEFI Settings (3 of 3)

Figure 2-39 BIOS configuration jumper

settings

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Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in
part.
 Replacing the CMOS Battery

• CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) is a method of manufacturing

microchips
• CMOS RAM is a small amount of memory stored on the motherboard that retains data even
when the computer is turned off
• It is charged by a nearby lithium coin-cell battery
• To replace the CMOS battery:
• Choose correct replacement battery (must be an exact match to the original or the
manufacturer’s recommendation)
• Power down system, unplug it, press power button to drain the power, remove case
cover
• Use ESD strap, remove old battery using a flat-head screwdriver, pop new battery into
place

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not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Installing or Replacing a Motherboard

• A motherboard is considered a field replaceable unit

• A technician needs to know how to:
• Select an appropriate motherboard
• 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:

• Select the board that provides the most room for expansion
• So you can upgrade and exchange components and add devices easily
• 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
• Ask the following questions when selecting a motherboard:
• 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 does it use? Which processors does it support?
• Which type and speed of memory does the board support?

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 How to Select A Desktop Motherboard (2 of 2)

• Ask the following questions when selecting a motherboard (continued):

• What are the embedded expansion slots, internal and external connectors, and devices
on the board?
• 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)

• General process for replacing a motherboard:

• 1. Verify right motherboard is selected
• 2. Get familiar with documentation, features, settings
• 3. Remove components to reach old motherboard
• 4. Install the I/O shield
• 5. Install the motherboard
• 6. Install the processor and processor cooler
• 7. Install RAM
• 8. Attach cabling (case switches, power supply, drives)
• 9. Install video card on motherboard
• 10. Plug the computer into a power source, attach the monitor, keyboard, and mouse

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 How to Install or Replace a Motherboard (2 of 2)

• General process for replacing a motherboard (continued):

• 11. Boot the system and enter UEFI/BIOS setup
• 12. Observe POST and verify no errors
• 13. Verify that Windows starts with no errors
• 14. Install the motherboard drivers
• 15. Install other expansion cards and drivers
• 16. Verify that the system is operating properly, make final OS and BIOS/UEFI
adjustments
• Example: setting power-on passwords

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 Replacing a Laptop System Board (1 of 3)

• When replacing the motherboard on a laptop, you may need to fully disassemble the entire
laptop
• Consider alternatives before proceeding
• General procedure for replacing the motherboard:
• 1. Update Windows and device drivers and make sure Windows is working properly
• 2. Disconnect the AC adapter and press Fn + S + V to set the battery in Ship Mode
• 3. Remove the hard drive slot compartment cover and the hard drive
• Next, remove the slot compartment cover that gives access to the memory and Mini
PCIe card, and then remove these two components
• 4. To remove the keyboard bezel, remove the 13 screws, detach the touch pad and
keyboard ribbon cables from the two FPC (flexible printed circuit) connectors

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 Replacing a Laptop System Board (2 of 3)

• General procedure for replacing the motherboard (continued):

• 5. To detach the system board, remove the 5 screws holding it in place and then remove
the 6 ribbon cables connecting the speakers, hard drive, optical drive, USB ports, battery,
camera, and LCD panel
• 6. Follow directions in reverse order to reassemble the system

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not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
Replacing a Laptop System Board (3 of 3)

Figure 2-45 Detach the system board

from jacks on the left side of the case
and then lift the system board up and
out of the case

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part.
 Chapter Summary (1 of 3)

• The motherboard is the most complicated of all components inside the computer
• The most popular form factors are ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX
• The chipset embedded on the motherboard determines what kind of processor and memory
the board can support
• When matching a motherboard to a processor, use only processors the motherboard
manufacturer recommends for the board
• Components that are built into the motherboard are called onboard components
• Other components can be attached to the system in some other way, such as an
expansion card, internal connector, or external port
• A 40-pin IDE connector on a motherboard was designed to use older IDE storage devices
and is seldom seen on modern motherboards

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 Chapter Summary (2 of 3)

• The firmware that controls current motherboards is a combination of the older BIOS and the
newer UEFI
• UEFI supports the GPT partitioning system for hard drives, which supports hard drives
larger than 1 TB
• Booting using UEFI mode is required to use Windows Secure boot
• Motherboard settings that can be configured using BIOS/UEFI setup include changing the
boot priority order, managing Secure boot options, selecting UEFI mode or CSM mode,
enabling or disabling onboard devices, overclocking the CPU, and managing power-on
passwords
• Secure boot uses databases to verify that hardware drivers are digitally signed by their
manufacturers
• Update motherboard firmware when a component on the board is causing problems or you
want to incorporate a new feature or component on the board

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not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.
 Chapter Summary (3 of 3)

• When flashing BIOS/UEFI, don’t update firmware without a good reason, backup firmware
before you update it, be certain to select the correct update file, and make sure the update
process is not interrupted
• Jumpers on the motherboard may be used to clear BIOS/UEFI settings, restoring them to
factory defaults
• When selecting a motherboard, pay attention to the form factor, chipset, expansion slots and
memory slots used, and the processors supported
• For laptops, it’s usually more cost effective to replace the laptop than to replace a failed
system board

Andrews/Dark/West, CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 10th Edition. © [2020] Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May
not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.