Overview
This lecture covers the basics of installing motherboards and connectors, including cable types, motherboard installation and configuration, and legacy cable types—key for CompTIA A+ exam preparation.
Cable Types and Connectors
- All-in-One PCs integrate components into the monitor; towers are separate and easier to upgrade.
- Front panel ports may include USB, audio jacks, power/reset buttons, and sometimes optical drives.
- Rear panel ports provide various motherboard and expansion card connections, with the PSU placement varying.
- USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors: Type A (host), Type B (printers), Mini and Micro (small devices); USB 3 is faster, often colored blue.
- HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) and DisplayPort are video cables; both transmit video, HDMI also carries audio.
- Thunderbolt cables can transmit data, video, and support daisy chaining; Lightning connectors are proprietary to Apple devices.
- SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) has separate cables for data and power; old Molex connectors were used for older drives and fans.
- RJ45 connectors are used for network (Ethernet) cables; RJ11 connectors are for telephone lines (POTS).
Installing and Configuring Motherboards
- Always unplug devices before working on them for safety.
- Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can damage components; use anti-static wrist straps, or touch the metal case to discharge static.
- CPU sockets hold the central processing unit; match the CPU and motherboard socket types (e.g., LGA 1155).
- Memory slots (RAM) are color-coded for channels; fill the same color/channel first for dual-channel operation.
- CMOS (coin cell) battery stores system time and BIOS settings; typically lasts 5-10 years.
- Expansion slots (PCIe, PCI) are used for graphics, network, and other add-on cards.
- Front panel headers connect case buttons and LEDs to the motherboard.
- SATA and legacy PATA/IDE ports connect storage devices.
- Identify key motherboard components for exam questions (e.g., CPU socket, RAM slots, PCIe slots, CMOS battery).
Legacy Cable Types
- "Legacy" means outdated technology; legacy cables are rarely used in modern systems.
- IDE (PATA) cables are wide, flat cables for old hard drives and optical drives; colored stripe indicates Pin 1.
- Molex connectors were used for power on old drives and fans.
- Serial (COM/RS-232/DB9) ports were used for modems and other peripherals; now mostly found in server rooms.
- SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) was used for old hard drives; now obsolete.
- Adapter cables and converters allow connecting devices with differing port types (e.g., HDMI to VGA).
Key Terms & Definitions
- All-in-One PC — Computer with components built into the monitor.
- Tower Case — Standard standalone PC case.
- USB — Universal Serial Bus, a standard for connecting peripherals.
- HDMI — High-Definition Multimedia Interface, transmits audio/video.
- DisplayPort — Video interface standard, royalty-free.
- Thunderbolt — High-speed data and video connection supporting daisy chaining.
- Lightning Connector — Apple’s proprietary connector for mobile devices.
- SATA — Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, for storage devices.
- Molex connector — 4-pin power connector for older drives/fans.
- RJ45 — 8-pin connector for network cables.
- RJ11/POTS — 4-pin connector for telephone lines.
- ESD — Electrostatic Discharge, which can damage electronics.
- CMOS battery — Coin cell battery storing BIOS settings and system time.
- PCIe/PCI — Expansion slots for add-on cards.
- IDE (PATA) — Old standard for connecting drives.
- SCSI — Obsolete interface for storage devices.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key motherboard components and ports visually on actual or online motherboard diagrams.
- Recall differences and uses of cable types for exam preparation.
- Practice identifying cable connectors and expansion slots.
- Prepare for module 2 of the CompTIA A+ course.