Data Bus

Lines of the bus, a system of pathway used for communication on the motherboard, used for data

Megahertz

One million Hz, or one million cycles per second.

ball grid array (BGA)

A connection via a processor that is soldered to the motherboard, and the two are always purchased as a unit

Chipset

A group of chips on the motherboard that controls the timing and flow of data and instructions to and from the CPU

Gigahertz

One thousand MHz, or one billion cycles per second.

Device driver

Small programs stored on the hard drive and installed in Windows that tell Windows how to communicate with a specific hardware device such as a printer, network, port on the motherboard, or scanner.

CMOS battery

The battery on the motherboard used to power the CMOS chip that holds BIOS setup data so that the data is retained when the computer is unplugged

Front-side bus

The bus between the CPU and memory on the motherboard. The bus frequency in documentation is called the system speed, such as 400 MHz

Bus

The paths, or lines, on the motherboard on which data, instructions, and electrical power move from component to component.

PCI Express (PCIe)

The latest evolution of PCI, which is not backward-compatible with earlier PCI slots and cards. PCIe slots come in several sizes, including PCIe x1, PCIe x4, PCIe x8, and PCIe x16.

Processor socket

A mechanical component that provides mechanical and electrical connections between a microprocessor and a motherboard.

Allows for the CPU to be replaced without soldering

Intel Socket LGA775

Has no socket holes; instead, it has 775 protruding pins which touch contact points on the underside of the processor

Works with DDR3 and DDR2 memory

LGA 1155

Intel microprocessor compatible socket which supports Intel Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge microprocessors.
1155 pins in the socket touch 1155 lands on the processor
Very popular Intel socket in use today
Works with DDR3 memory

System Clock

or

System Timer

QuickPath Interconnect

Universal PCI

Card

Notches for both 3.3V and 5V

ISO Image

A file format that has an .iso file extension and holds an image of all the data, including the file system that is stored on an optical disc.

I/O Shield

A plate installed on the rear of a computer case that provides holes for I/O ports coming off the motherboard.

Protocol

A set of rules and standards that two entities use for communication.

Expansion bus

Bus that does not run in sync with the system clock

ATX

Advanced Technology Extended

Form factor introduced by Intel in 1995.

Made better use of space and resources than did the earlier AT form factor.

Local I/O

Bus

Local bus that connects to the slower I/O controller hub or South Bridge of the chipset

Other name for throughput

Other name for bandwidth

On-board Ports

Ports that are directly on the motherboard, such as a built-in keyboard port or on-board network port.

(description) 

Mini-ITX

or ITX

Small form factor used in low-end computers and home theater equipment

Often used with an Intel Atom processor

Sometimes purchased as a motherboard-processor combo unit

LoJack

Technology embedded in the BIOS of many laptops to protect a system against theft.

North Bridge

That portion of the chipset hub that connects faster I/O buses (for  example, the video bus) to the system bus.

Data path size

The number of lines on a bus that can hold data, for example, 8, 16, 32, and 64 lines, which can accommodate 8, 16, 32, and 64 bits at a time.

Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor

The technology used to manufacture microchips. These chips require less electricity, hold data longer after the  electricity is turned off, and produce less heat than earlier technologies.

PCI Express 2.0

Throughput

Which bus has speeds up to 500 MB/sec per lane in each direction?

Socket H2

Another name for LGA 1155

Socket T

Another name for LGA 775

9.6" x 9.6"

Dimensions of MicroATX form factor

(description)

MicroATX

Smaller version of ATX form factor

Flashing BIOS

The process of upgrading or refreshing the programming stored on a firmware chip.

12" x 9.6"

dimensions of ATX form factor

6.7" x 6.7"

dimensions of Mini-ITX

or ITX form factor

Land grid array

LGA

socket has blunt protruding pins on the socket that connect with lands or pads on the bottom of the processor

Pin grid array

PGA

socket has holes aligned in uniform rows around the sockets to receive the pins on the bottom of the processor

staggered pin grid array

socket has pins staggered over the socket to squeeze more pins into a small space

Flip-chip land grid array

or

Flip chip pin grid array

the chip is flipped over so that the top of the chip is on the bottom and makes contact with the socket.

CMOS RAM

Memory contained on the CMOS configuration chip.

Local

Bus

Bus that runs in sync with system clock

PCI 3.3V Card

(note where notch is)

PCI 5V card

(Note where notch is)

Image of Aux 6-pin

PCIe Power Connector

from Power Supply

Example of

Parallel bus

Conventional PCI:

serial or parallel?

description 

PCI-X

64-bit data path

three major revisions

Focus on server market

backwards compatible with 3.3V Conventional PCI

Example of

serial bus

PCI Express:

serial or parallel?

PCIe 1.0

Allowed for 150 watts to cards

• 75 watts from pins on expansion card
• 6-pin PCIe auxiliary connector from power supply provided 75 watts

PCIe 1.1

This standard had up to 225 watts

Allows for 2 6-pin PCIe connectors from power supply

PCIe 2.0

Standard that doubled bus frequency

Allows for up to 32 lanes on one slot

Wattage increased to 300 watts

8-pin PCIe connector from power supply provides 150 watts

PCI Riser Cards

Allowed for PCI card use in slimline or low-profile cases

Cards were then mounted to be parallel with the motherboard

Industry Standard Architechture

(ISA)

Produced by IBM

Originially 8-bit, 16-bit in 1984

Usually black in color