Assignment 3

Question 1

What are the three most popular form factors used for motherboards?

Answer 1

The three most popular form factors are ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini ITX.

Question 2

Which type of Intel chipsets was the first to support the graphics controller to be part of the processor?

Answer 2

The Sandy Bridge chipset was the first to support the graphics controller to be part of the processor.

Question 3

How many pins does the Intel Socket B have? What is another name for this socket?

Answer 3

The intel Socket B has 1366 pins. The other name for the socket is the LGA1366.

Question 4

What type of memory does the LGA1155 socket work with? Which socket was it designed to replace?

Answer 4

The LGA1155 socket works with DDR3 memory. The LGA1155 socket was designed to replace the LGA1156 Socket.

Question 5

Does the Sandy Bridge chipset family use two chipset housings on the motherboard or a single chipset housing? The Nehalem chipset?

Answer 5

The Sandy Bridge chipset family uses one chipset housing on the motherboard. 
The Nehalem chipset uses two chipset housing on the motherboard.

Question 6

How many pins does the AMD socket AM3 have?

Answer 6

The AMD socket AM3 has 941 holes for pins.

Question 7

Which part of a Nehalem chipset connects directly to the processor, the North Bridge or the South 
Bridge?

Answer 7

The north bridge of a Nehalem chipset connects directly to the processor.

Question 8

How does the throughput of PCI Express Version 3.0 compare to PCIe Version 2.0?

Answer 8

The PCIe Version 3.0 is approximately double the speed of PCIe Version 2.0 and is backward compatible with PCIe Version 2.0 components.

Question 9

What is the maximum wattage that a PCIe Version 2.0 expansion card can draw?

Answer 9

The maximum wattage that a PCIe Version 2 can draw is 300W. 


Question 10

What type of power connector on the motherboard was introduced with PCIe Version 1.0? How much power does this connector provide?

Answer 10

The power connector introduced with the PCIe Version 1 was the new 6pin PCIe connector. The new 6pin PCIe connector provides an additional 75W (to allow for 150W in total to the PCIe Card version 1).

Question 11

What type of power connector was introduced with PCIe Version 2.0? How much power does this connector provide?

Answer 11

The power connector introduced with PCIe Version 2.0 was the new 8-pin PCIe power connector. The new 8-pin PCIe power connector provided 150W.

Question 12

If you are installing an expansion card into a case that does not have enough clearance above the motherboard for the card, what device can you use to solve the problem?

Answer 12

If you are installing an expansion card into a case that doesn’t have enough clearance you can use a PCI Riser Card.

Question 13

Which chip on the motherboard does Windows BitLocker Encryption use to secure the hard drive?

Answer 13

The BitLocker Encryption uses the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) chip on the motherboard.

Question 14

How can you find out how many memory slots are populated on a motherboard without opening the 
computer case?

Answer 14

If you would like to view how many memory slots are populated on a motherboard without opening the computer case then you can simply view it on the BIOS or UEFI setup screen.

Question 15

What are two reasons you might decide to flash BIOS?

Answer 15

You may decide to flash (update) the BIOS because your system hangs at odd times or during the boot sequence or because some motherboard functions have stopped working or are giving problems.

Question 16

What is the easiest way to obtain the latest software to upgrade BIOS?

Answer 16

The easiest way to obtain the latest software to upgrade BIOS is the Express BIOS update.

Question 17

What can you do if the power-on password and the supervisor password to a system have been forgotten?

Answer 17

If both the power-on password and the supervisor password to a system have been forgotten, they can be reset by setting a jumper (group of pins) on the motherboard to clear all of the BIOS customized settings and to return the BIOS setup to its default settings.

Question 18

How is CMOS RAM powered when the system is unplugged?

Answer 18

The CMOS Ram is powered by a nearby lithium coin-cell battery.

Question 19

Describe how you can access the BIOS setup program.

Answer 19

You can access the BIOS setup program by pressing a key or combination of keys during the boot process (for most motherboards it is required to press F2 or DEL during the boot but for some older motherboards it is required to press CTRL + ALT + ESC).

Question 20

Does Windows 7 support a secure boot in UEFI? Windows 8? Linux Ubuntu version 14?

Answer 20

Windows 7 does not support a secure boot in UEFI. Both Linux Ubuntu v. 14 and Windows 8 do support the secure boot in UEFI.

Question 21

Which partitioning method must be used for partitioning a 4-TB hard drive?

Answer 21

For a hard drive larger than 2 TB it is required to use the GUID Partition Table.

Question 22

If a USB port on the motherboard is failing, what is one task you can do that might fix the problem?

Answer 22

If there is a failing USB port on the motherboard, it might fix the problem to remove the jumper cable to that port or disable it via BIOS. Then you can easily add an expansion card.

Question 23

What might the purpose be for a SATA-style power connector on a motherboard?

Answer 23

The purpose of a SATA style power connector on the motherboard is to allow for additional wattage for PCIe cards.

Question 24

What is the purpose of installing standoffs or spacers between the motherboard and the case?

Answer 24

Standoffs are installed between the motherboard and the case so that the board is kept from touching the case.

Question 25

When installing a motherboard, suppose you forget to connect the wires from the case to the front panel header. Will you be able to power up the system? Why or why not?

Answer 25

No you will not be able to power the system because one of the wires from the case to the front panel header is the power switch cable.

Question 26

Why don’t all buses on a motherboard operate at the same speed?

Answer 26

All of the buses on a motherboard do not operate at the same speed because they need to support slower bus speeds to be backwards compatible.

Question 27

When you turn off the power to a computer and unplug it at night, it loses the date, and you must 
reenter it each morning. What is the problem and how do you solve it?

Answer 27

If you turn off the computer and then it loses its date when you restart it is required to check the CMOS battery. The battery would simply need to be replaced.

Question 28

Why do you think the trend is to put more control such as the graphics controller and the memory controller in the processor rather than in the chipset?

Answer 28

The trend for people to put graphics controllers and memory controllers in the processor rather than the chipset is due to the fact that it is more cost efficient to install it there and often times easier to do as well.

Question 29

4. When troubleshooting a desktop motherboard, you discover the network port no longer works. What is the best and least expensive solution to this problem? If this solution does not work, which solution should you try next?

Answer 29

b. Disable the network port and install a network card in an expansion slot. (1st solution)


c. Use a wireless network device in a USB port to connect to a wireless network. d. Return the motherboard to the factory for repair. (2nd solution)

Question 30

A computer freezes at odd times. At first you suspect the power supply or overheating, but you have eliminated overheating and replaced the power supply without solving the problem. What do you do next?

Answer 30

e. Flash BIOS to see if you are able to gain any information that way.