MOTHERBOARDS

 What are the FORM FACTORS? 

like what puzzle lego shape is the model & what fits with it?

They all have an "I/O AREA" = panel that tends to fit through slots in cases

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Different FORM FACTOR panels: 

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ATX motherboard - most common "form factor"


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MICRO ATX - slightly smaller



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ITX middle size (uncommon)



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MINI ITX is even smaller



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server systems have extremely uncommon FORM FACTOR panels



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I/O shield adapts to any motherboard to any PC CRATE/INCASING 
[the box on the outside protecting computer guts)

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Old motherboards had too many specialized chips

SOUTHBRIDGE & NORTHBRIDGE chip sets. Like 2 tiny flat buildings

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Modern CPUs took over all NORTHBRIDGE functions

The remaining SOUTHBRIDGE interfaces with slower hardware 
- like keyboards, hard drives, etc.
MOTHERBOARD manufacturers advertise their CHIP SETS and brag about them
(Make sure you always save your MOTHERBOARD's book, DVD, or PDF online)

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SATA cables are separate from the motherboard & connect to it

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SATA cables- for hard drives

- look like a little boot

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& SATA connection ports on a motherboard 

look like tiny stacked USB ports

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POWER CONNECTOR PORT

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CPU PORT
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VRM VOLTAGE REGULATORS + CAPACITORS
- these break down electricity from power cord & adjust it to each tip
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Look for bubbled, melted, & domed up CAPACITORS to know a motherboard is fried
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PCIE expansion slots 
- to add new cards (video, sound, etc)
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Standard long 16 lane PCIE SLOT


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X4 = 4 LANE PCIE


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tiny PCIE SLOT is SINGLE LANE


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PCI was old & had too many parallel wires


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1 SERIAL > PARALLEL


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Bunch of little connectors look like forks USB CONNECTORS for DONGLES, etc

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DONGLES can have anything on it (usb, serial, hdmi, vga, etc)

helps with backwards compatibility
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(example of good cable management)
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SSD drive clamps down on motherboard
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TOWER CASES
Cases come with standouts for any motherboard, pass throughs, hard drive mounts
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BEFORE MOUNTING A MOTHERBOARD WITHIN A CASE 
- test the motherboard with CPU and RAM sticks
And place the I/O shield









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