Motherboards: All You Need to Know!

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Similar to the nervous system of a human body, motherboards are the backbone of a computer. Allowing information and power to travel from one component to another, they also act as a platform for a majority of the other components to be housed on.

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A motherboard is essentially a PCB(printed circuit board) with multiple sockets and connectors on it. Its main function is to house and provide a way to transfer data to and between various other computer components, such as a CPU, GPU, and memory. Additionally, it contains an interface for various peripherals and external components to be connected to the computer, called a "Back Panel I/O" (Back Panel Input/Output). Upon startup of the computer, the motherboard provides power to the components housed on it, through the Power Supply and performs a "POST"(Power On Self Test), checking the integrity of all components and ensuring they are all working smoothly.

(Image Source - An Altair 8800 Computer from 1974. Inside, can be seen a backplane configuration of a motherboard.)

Computers initially used several PCBs arranged together in a configuration called a "backplane". This configuration however, soon proved to be very space inefficient and hard to repair and upgrade. Between the 1980s and 1990s, manufacturers started consolidating a growing number of functions onto a single motherboard. With the invention of laptop in the 1990s, even more peripherals were integrated onto a single motherboard and into a very compact space. Even though these motherboards were, and still are, extremely space efficient, most prove to be very hard to upgrade and service.

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Installing a motherboard into a computer that you're building yourself is fairly straight-forward. Here's a step-by-step guide to install a motherboard into a home-built PC:

1. Install stand-off screws into the holes inside the middle of your case, that correspond to the holes on your motherboard. Some cases already come with stand-off screws preinstalled but you may still need to add or remove some to fit your motherboard.
2. Insert the Back I/O Plate/Shield into the corresponding hole in the back panel of your case. Moderate force will be required to get the Shield into place and an audible pop should be heard.
3. Note: At this point, you should have your CPU, CPU cooler, and RAM already installed on the motherboard before inserting it into the case.
4. Align your motherboard with your I/O shield and tilt it at about a 15-degree angle towards it. Slide the back I/O into the shield and then tilt the motherboard into place so that the standoffs on the case align with the holes in your motherboard. Ensure that the back I/O is fully inserted into the shield.
5. Now, you should be able to screw your motherboard into the case using the provided screws into the standoffs.

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Motherboards have various different form factors, which correspond to sizes. Each size corresponds to a computer case size. Smaller motherboards are reverse compatible with larger cases but a larger motherboard will not fit into a smaller case. In order from smallest to largest, the form factors are as follows:

1. Pico-ITX - This motherboard form factor is usually not used in desktop computers but in systems such as in-vehicle computers, digital signs, etc.
2. Nano-ITX - This formfactor is also not used in desktops but it was specially designed for media centers, smart TVs and other entertainment devices.
3. Mini-ITX - Mini-ITX is the smallest motherboard form factor that is used in common desktop computers. It is very space efficient and is usually only 6.7 x 6.7 inches large. However, these boards usually support only a limited number of memory modules and PCIe slots.
4. Micro-ATX - Usually 9.6 x 9.6 inches large, Micro ATX is very common for most consumer built desktops. It offers a great balance between space efficiency and space for peripherals.
5. Standard-ATX - The most common size at 12 x 13 inches, Standard-ATX is the most common variant in store-bought computers. It offers the most space for peripherals at the cost of space efficiency.

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Many of today's motherboards come with several improvements to the original design. For example, manufacturers have started adding m.2 SSD slots to motherboards, which offer an extremely fast and space-efficient storage option. Some larger form factor motherboards also allow for multiple CPUs to be housed on one board, and most Standard-ATX size boards will allow for multiple GPUs to be used together. Nowadays, All consumer motherboards come with a BIOS or a "Basic Input Output System", which allows the user to modify the settings of the board and the components on it to increase performance.

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Today, motherboards have many systems in place to ensure the least amount of issues possible. However, you may encounter some issues with your motherboard, such as:

• ESD Discharge - ESD stands "Electro Static Discharge" and is usually static electricity that flows from your body to the motherboard upon touching it. This will cause unexpected electricity to flow through the components of the board, damaging them.
• Beep Codes - In some cases, a motherboard may fail a POST test and may start beeping. These beeps are called beep codes and the number and frequency of them determines the issue that the board encountered during POST.

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While repairing, installing or diagnosing motherboards, there are some basic tools that you might need. Here are some:

• Screwdriver - For installing your motherboard into your case. Will be used to screw the board onto the standoffs.
• Digital Multimeter - If you encounter an issue with your motherboard, you may need to check individual connections of the components to the PCB itself.
• POST card - Used for issues in the POST process of the motherboard, this useful tool displays the POST code of the board, which allows you to find a specific component that is not working.
• Copy of an operating system on a flash drive - In order to start your computer into more than just a BIOS, you will need an OS ISO file that you are able to transfer to your PC.

Kischuk, Dan. “Motherboards.” Information Technology Systems 1. Information Technology Systems 1, 12 Oct. 2020, Naperville, Naperville Central High School.