3.4 Given a scenario, install & configure motherboards, CPUs, & add-on cards Flashcards

Question

What is down-plugging in PCIe?

Answer 1

Fitting a PCIe adapter into a shorter slot ## Footnote As long as there are no obstructions in the case preventing it from being fully inserted & connected

Answer 2

Label on motherboard ## Footnote A PCIe slot might physically appear to be able to accommodate more lanes, but it may only support a lower number of lanes as indicated by a label

Answer 3

"`x16/x8`" or "`x16 @ x8`"

Answer 4

Yes ## Footnote i.e. You can use a PCIe v2 adapter with a v4 motherboard or a v3 adapter with a v2 motherboard. The bus speed matches the lowest component version.

Answer 5

Up to 25W | An extra 75W power can be supplied via a PCIe power connector

Answer 6

To support older technologies ## Footnote It is superseded by PCIe

Answer 7

PCI ports can be included on a PCIe MOBO ## Footnote However PCI cards can't be fitted into PCIe slots

Answer 8

- ATX - ITX

Answer 9

Advanced Technology eXtended

Answer 10

Information Technology eXtended

Answer 11

12" x 9.6" (305mm x 244mm)

Answer 12

9.6" square (244mm x 244mm)

Answer 13

Mini-ITX | SFF PCs are popular as home machines & for use as mini servers

Answer 14

6.7" square (170mm x 170mm)

Answer 15

Embedded systems & portables ## Footnote No commercial motherboards were ever produced form the original plain ITX specification

Answer 16

Using standoffs ## Footnote Standoffs secure the motherboard, preventing contact with the case. Positioned in aligned holes, they accommodate compatible form factors for both the case and motherboard.

Answer 17

Refer to motherboard documentation

Answer 18

If any jumper clips needs to be adjusted ## Footnote A jumper is placed over header pins in a particular orientation. i.e. there might be a jumper that enables recovery mode

Answer 19

I/O cutout at rear of the case ## Footnote Prepare the motherboard's I/O blanking plate by removing caps to expose USB, audio, & video ports. Snap the blanking plate into the case's cutout.

Answer 20

Insert standoffs in case to match MOBO holes ## Footnote Check if standoffs are threaded or push-down. Ensure the motherboard is supported at corners, edges, and center. Avoid adding standoffs without corresponding motherboard holes.

Answer 21

Place motherboard on the standoffs ## Footnote Secure standoffs with correct screws, ensuring firmness without over-tightening to prevent board damage. Complete PC setup by adding power and disk devices, installing addon adapter cards, and connecting data and power cables.

Answer 22

- Power button (soft power) - Drive (HDD) activity lights - Audio ports - USB ports

Answer 23

Sends a shutdown command to the OS | It doesnt directly turn off a PC ## Footnote Holding down the power button for a few seconds will cut the power

Answer 24

9-pin headers ## Footnote They accept up to 2 4-pin port connection (the 9th pin is to orient the cable correctly).

Answer 25

20-pin headers (2x10) ## Footnote They can be cabled to 2 ports

Answer 26

Diagram the position & orientaiton of header connectors | This helps remember how to reassemble everything correctly later on ## Footnote If you don't have a diagram, consult the MOBO documentation or check for labels on the wires and headers. However, these labels may not always be straightforward to follow.

Answer 27

Main P1 motherboard power connector

Answer 28

Supplies power from PSU to the MOBO

Answer 29

3-pin or 4-in Molex KK format

Answer 30

Enabling fan speed control with PWM signals on the blue wire | PWM = Pulse Width Modulation

Answer 31

By varying the voltage

Answer 32

Yes, but system may be unable to vary the fan speed | (or may need special configuration to be able to do so)

Answer 33

Yes, but it can't use PWM | PWM = Pulse Width Modulation ## Footnote This means it won't be able to enable precise fan-speed control

Answer 34

Adds functions/ports not supported by the MOBO

Answer 35

PCIe or PCI

Answer 36

- Sound - Video - Capture - NIC

Answer 37

Generate the signal for a monitor/projector ## Footnote Low-end graphics are usually integrated into the motherboard or CPU, known as onboard graphics. For demanding tasks like gaming or design, a more powerful graphics card is needed, installed via PCIe slot. These cards often use chipsets from ATI/AMD, NVIDIA, or Intel

Answer 38

- GPU - Graphics memory - Video ports

Answer 39

Microprocessor that renders 2D & 3D images ## Footnote Basic GPU performance is often gauged by its framerate in specific games or applications. Additional performance aspects include its support for various levels of texture and lighting effects.

Answer 40

Graphics Processing Unit

Answer 41

Up to 12GB GDDR RAM ## Footnote Graphics Double Data Rate (GDDR) memory technology is similar to the DDR modules used for system RAM

Answer 42

4-6GB GDDR RAM ## Footnote Graphics Double Data Rate (GDDR) memory technology is similar to the DDR modules used for system RAM

Answer 43

Shared memory | Meaning the adapter uses system RAM

Answer 44

x16 interface

Answer 45

Record video input as a movie or streaming file ## Footnote Capture cards record footage from various sources, including PC games, console HDMI outputs, and live camera HDMI sources like camcorders. Some also function as TV tuners, capturing video from broadcast TV. They come in internal PCIe or external USB/Thunderbolt formats.

Answer 46

To process & output audio signals ## Footnote Multi-channel sound cards paired with speakers offer different audio levels, from mono/stereo to surround sound. Basic onboard sound may come with the motherboard, while better quality audio is available through PCIe/PCI expansion cards. Pro-level cards may feature onboard memory and extra input jacks.

Answer 47

Noise from other internal components during recording ## Footnote Most audio interfaces designed for professional use are external units connected via USB or Thunderbolt

Answer 48

Bonding it into a single higher bandwidth link ## Footnote Most computers include an onboard Ethernet adapter as part of the motherboard chipset, but you might need to install an add-on NIC or upgrade an adapter for different network types or cabling, like copper versus fiber optic. Additionally, you can add a Wi-Fi adapter for wireless network connectivity, which comes in various 802.11b standards. Some cards can also connect to cellular data networks.

Answer 49

Instructions are created via CPUs instruction set & stored in memory

Answer 50

Temporary storage within CPU that holds data during processing | It operates the the CPU's clock speed

Answer 51

Small memory block storing frequently used CPU instruction & data | This helps enhance performance

Answer 52

- x86 - x64 - ARM

Answer 53

Design & organization of a processor's components to optimize instruction execution ## Footnote These architectures are developed to improve the process of fetching instructions from memory, decoding them, executing them, & writing back the results

Answer 54

Set of CPU operating instructions | It defines how a CPU should operate ## Footnote x86 operates in 32-bit mode

Answer 55

Extension of x86 to allow for 64-bit operation

Answer 56

CPUs became capable of handling 64-bit instructions ## Footnote Initially, CPUs were designed to process instructions that were up to 32 bits wide. However, as technology progressed, CPUs became capable of handling instructions that are 64 bits wide, allowing for increased performance and memory addressing capabilities.

Answer 57

As 64-bit software ## Footnote No 32-bit CPU can run 64-bit software; but a 64-bit CPU can run 32-bit software

Answer 58

Code that supports specific hardware for an OS

Answer 59

Advanced RISC Machine

Answer 60

Designs that hardware vendors customize & manufacure ## Footnote ARM designs power Apple's latest hardware, most Android devices (particularly by Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Samsung), many Chromebooks, and select Windows tablets and laptops.

Answer 61

System-on-Chip (SoC)

Answer 62

All the controllers are part of the CPU | Controllers are the video, sound, networking, & storage ## Footnote ARM designs feature simpler instructions compared to x86, leading to improved power efficiency and thermal performance, resulting in longer battery life and enabling fanless cooling.

Answer 63

Redesign & compile them to use the ARM instruction set ## Footnote However, converting x86/x64 apss to run on a different instruction set is an onerous task

Answer 64

Via emulation | Windows 10 ARM-based devices use emulation to run X86 & X64 apps ## Footnote The downside to this is that emulation imposes a significant performance penalty

Answer 65

- Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) - Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)

Answer 66

Multiple threads to run through the CPU

Answer 67

Stream of instructions from a software application

Answer 68

Reducing idle time & maximizing work per cycle | This improves efficiency

Answer 69

There are multiple CPUs installed | This enhances performance without requiring software to be multithreaded

Answer 70

Using multiple CPUs to distribute processes across them | SMP is more common in servers & high-end workstations ## Footnote Unlike SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading), SMP (Symmetric Multiprocessing) doesn't rely on software being multithreaded to deliver performance benefits

Answer 71

A separate processor | they're capable of executing instructions independently ## Footnote i.e. a dual-core CPU has 2 cores on the same chip, effectively acting as 2 processors

Answer 72

Its own execution unit, registers, & cache memory ## Footnote Theres also a shared cache that all cores can access. This setup is called chip-level multiprocessing (CMP)

Answer 73

By a notation like `nC/nT` | i.e. 8C/16T CPU

Answer 74

the number of cores the CPU has ## Footnote i.e. 8C/16T CPU

Answer 75

The number of simultaneous threads each core can handle ## Footnote i.e. an 8C/16T CPU can handle 16 threads simultaneously because it supports multithreading, even though it has 8 physical cores

Answer 76

Via virtualization software | These create virtual machines (VMs), each running its own OS

Answer 77

Processor features that support virtualization | Making them available across their processor ranges. ## Footnote these features are also known as hardware-assisted virtualization

Answer 78

Virtualization feature for efficient virtual memory management ## Footnote Intel & AMD have extensions for SLAT (Extended Page Table (EPT) for Intel, Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI))

Answer 79

CPU's form factor & how it's connected to the motherboard ## Footnote Intel & AMD use different socket types, so you can't install an AMD in a MOBO designed for an Intel CPU (& vice versa)

Answer 80

Zero Insertion Force (ZIF) ## Footnote No pressure is required to insert the CPU, reducing the risk of bending or breaking the pin contacts

Answer 81

Land Grid Array (LGA) ## Footnote The LGA form factor positions the pins that connect the CPU on the socket. The CPU is placed on a hinged plate & then secured to the socket using a locking layer

Answer 82

Pin Grid Array (PGA) ## Footnote PGA CPUs have pins underneath them. To install, gently place the CPU into the socket, then secure it with a locking lever. Be careful to align pin 1 on the CPU with pin 1 on the socket to avoid damaging the pins.

Answer 83

Twist gently to remove heatsink | To avoid it sticking to the CPU ## Footnote If reinstalling the same heat sink, clean old thermal grease from the surfaces & apply a small amount of new grease in an X pattern

Answer 84

Excess could damage the socket

Answer 85

CPU generation | In each gen., manufacturers offer various models with different specs

Answer 86

AMD or Intel CPUs & their generation ## Footnote CPU compatibility relies on the motherboard's socket type and chipset. Upgrading CPUs without changing motherboards is uncommon and usually not worthwhile.

Answer 87

Specialized program code stored in flash memory

Answer 88

Basic Input/Ouput System

Answer 89

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface

Answer 90

32-bit ## Footnote BIOS has limited functionality

Answer 91

64-bit ## Footnote UEFIhas a full GUI & mouse operation, network functionality, & better boot security. A PC with UEFI may also support booting in a legacy BIOS mode

Answer 92

**Shift**-click the **Restart** button from Windows logon screen

Answer 93

Defines device boot order ## Footnote Typical options include Fixed disk (HDD/SSD), Optical drive (CD/DVD/Blu-ray), USB, Network/PXE, etc.

Answer 94

Manages device access & funcitonality ## Footnote This involves managing USB ports, configuring boot options, and setting security features.

Answer 95

via BIOS/UEFI or OS apps

Answer 96

Require user authentication before loading the OS

Answer 97

- Supervisor/Admin/Setup - User/System

Answer 98

System setup program | i.e. BIOS/UEFI

Answer 99

Whole computer ## Footnote This is very secure; nothing can be done until the firmware has initialized the system

Answer 100

UEFI feature that prevents malware hijacking

Answer 101

Configuring firmware with cryptographic keys to identify trusted code ## Footnote The system firmware verifies the OS boot loaduer using these keys, ensuring it's digitally signed by the OS vendor. This prevents unauthorized boot loaders or OS installations

Answer 102

Trusted Platform Module

Answer 103

Hardware for storing certificates, cryptographic keys, & hashed passwords ## Footnote "specification" means it's a set of standards or guidelines defining its functionality, features, and implementation requirements.

Answer 104

Systems with UEFI firmware

Answer 105

Using a hardcoded endorsement key in each TPM microprocessor

Answer 106

- Firmware - Boot loader - OS kernel | To prevent tampering ## Footnote TPM chips have secure storage areas where disk encryption programs like BitLocker can store their keys

Answer 107

via System setup program or OS

Answer 108

Hardware Security Module

Answer 109

Device for secure cryptographic key storage & operations | A device like a USB ## Footnote HSMs provide tamper-resistant hardware-based security, requiring user authentication i.e. password, PIN, or fingerprint) to access stored keys.

Answer 110

Block of copper or aluminum with fins ## Footnote The fins expose a larger surface area to the air around the component to achieve a cooling effect by convection.

Answer 111

Thermal paste/pad | This ensures the best transfer of heat by eliminating small air gaps ## Footnote Thermal pads are easier to apply but doesn't always perform as reliably

Answer 112

System of pumping water around the chassis

Answer 113

- Water loop/pump - Water blocks & brackets - Radiators/fans | Theres closed-loop systems that install to a single component (CPU/GPU) ## Footnote Open-loop systems require periodic draining, cleaning, and refilling. Ensure fans and radiators are dust-free. Drain the system before relocating the PC.