Computer 101: What is a Computer Motherboard Really Part 2?

Let’s go back so far several items have been mentioned as being connected to the motherboard, they are the following hard disk drive which connect via the older IDE or the newer SATA interface cable, then the memory or RAM which is connected via the memory slot and then there’s the graphics card which is generally built-in or is connected via the graphics card slot which could be the now phase-out AGP slot or the newer PCIE slot. All the three system mentioned previously communicates with each other via the motherboard and also communicates with the central processing unit or CPU. The motherboard also serves as the manager of all different systems connected on it. The motherboard also facilitates the proper flow of data from one point to another. One important function of the motherboard is to regulate the flow of current from the power supply unit to all the different components that needs them. The power supply unit is also connected via the motherboard using several color coded wire where in each wire color correspond to a specific value of power that flows thru it.

Also other additional system that interacts with the motherboard are the sound card which processes information to be converted to sound and is play out via a speaker system. Another expansion system is the NIC controller which comes in two configurations. The first type is built-in NIC controller and the second is add-in card. The NIC stand for network interface card or controller, this system allows the computer to be connected to a network, or to the internet. The expansion NIC is also connected via the PCIE slot located next to the graphics card. Also all motherboard have external connector for external devices such the printer, mp3 player, Smartphone, external drive, flash drive, microphone, speaker and many other devices. As we can see the motherboard is the host for all the devices that can connected to the computer. Other devices can also use the external ports of a motherboard to charge their battery. This feature was not available before, but as technology evolves and develops the computer allows other devices such as smart phone and mp3 player to charge their battery via the usb ports.

Motherboard Chips

Memory

One important feature of the computer motherboard is that there are no moving parts. All different systems are electronic there is no wear unlike parts that has a clear movable parts where the continuous movement through constant usage at a long period of time will eventually result in that parts succumbing to wear and tear. But since all components are small, to be exact micro in size or even smaller that power they consume less power compare to conventional devices which would eat a considerable amount of power. While wear and tear is not common to electronic component, power surges are common. These small electronic component when feed with the right amount of power will function correctly but if the power being feed increases dramatically at a given time then that electronic component is very susceptible power burn-out which will cause the main system to malfunction and eventually failure. Just like what I posted a couple of days ago regarding motherboard failure cause by blown-out capacitor, the same is true with IC based components.

CPU

Integrated circuit is the main components of all type of motherboard and much other electronic system. All integrated circuit consume certain amount of very low power from 4 volts DC to 15 volts DC. So if there is a power surge on the motherboard system most IC would not be able to withstand such a sudden increase in power and will always burn-out once the power flowing through is suddenly increased instantly. The main benefit of very small circuits is that a lot of system can be built and compacted which in turns would produce smaller system and greater efficiency in operation. Also the cost of building such system is very chip as well since free made smaller system is already working and linking them together is the only problem. A problem that be easily solve by proper design and configuration. So whenever we are giving importance to other components of the computer the motherboard should also be at the top or near the top of your list because it plays a very important function in your computer over-all performance.

Computer 101: Computer Acronym for Newbie Part 2

6. IDE/EIDE                            - Stand for Integrated Drive Electronics / Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics is an interface technology used between the motherboard and the storage unit. The IDE is the technology that allows the data to be sent back and forth from the motherboard to the hard disk drive or the different ROM Drives. This technology allows the data to be transferred from the storage location to the motherboard where the CPU is located for processing.

For more information regarding the item above please click the link below:

Computer IDE / EIDE in Wikipedia

7. CPU                                    - Stand for the Central Processing Unit or also called the Processor it is the brain of the computer. All the data processing is done here; the CPU is commonly located on the motherboard. It has a heat sink and a cooling fan on top of it. Processing of data generate heat inside the CPU so therefore the need for the heat sink that absorb the heat the CPU when processing and the FAN cools the metal heat sink to enable it to absorb more heat generate by the CPU. Faster CPU can process more data therefore it generate more heat.

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Computer CPU in Wikipedia

8. AT/ATX                              - Stand for Advanced Technology / Advanced Technology Extended simply put it means the size and layout of the motherboard. Another term used to call this feature of the motherboard is the FORM FACTOR.

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Computer AT in Wikipedia 
Computer ATX in Wikipedia

9. HDD                                    - Stand for Hard Disk Drive, this is the device that store the information or data being generated by the user or software. The bigger the size of the HDD the more data it can store. The data it can store can take several forms, like number, letters, music, pictures, video and many others. Data inside a hard disk drive can also be erased and rewritten.

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Computer HDD in Wikipedia

10. SATA.                               - Stand for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment is a technology that allows the data to be accessed from the storage unit to the motherboard. This technology allows the faster data transfer from the storage unit to the CPU or memory for faster processing. Also SATA technology uses thinner cable than the IDE/EIDE design therefore allowing for a more space inside the form factor of a computer casing. Also form factor can design for a casing of a computer. For bigger casing more space is available for air to flow inside the main system unit of the computer.

                                               For more information regarding the item above please click the link below:

Computer SATA in Wikipedia 

Computer 101: Parts that Affects the Over-All Computer System Performance. Part-2

Another part that directly affects the over-all performance of the computer is the amount of memory installed in relation with the software requirement of the user. For most standard computer the minimum amount installed should be 2 Gigabytes but this is only for standard user. This amount of memory my vary depending on the software requirements of the user. For any professional user that uses software intensive application then it should be more than 4 gigabytes. Another type or requirements is for the gaming industry. Games that needs vast amount of memory should have more memory preferred for it. The more memory there is available for the software the better. Remember the Operating system like MS Windows or MAC OS first and foremost is the first who uses this memory to function properly.

Each of this Operating System software requires each minimum memory requirements to function properly. All software requires being loaded into the memory to before being able to function normally. To verify the amount of memory installed into your computer, use the DXDIAGNOSTIC Tool or just check the system information of your computer via the control panel or by accessing the properties of the my computer and viewing the system information.

Another parts that contribute to the overall performance of the computer is the bus speed of the motherboard and the seek time of the hard disk. For the seek time I have already mentioned this on the older post on this blog. For the system bus it is where the data travel from one component to another during the processing of information. It all starts from the input to the processing to the output. The bus is like a road or system of road wherein the data is the put into a carrying signal that acts like a vehicle the data is the person going from one place to another. In order for them to reach its intended destination they must use the road or system bus. Wider system bus or more data it can handle in a given cycle the faster the information is process the better. Simply put it if a slow bus rate is use to transfer huge amount of data for each given time then you have a slow processing function and a slow output even if you have a fast processor, large amount of memory and fast hard drive. The same is true with all the other aspects they must be all fast in order to complement each other for the over-all performance of your computer.

Computer 101: Parts that Affects the Over-All Computer System Performance. Part-1

Processing speed, Booting speed and over-all performance of your computer. This is always what we wanted from our computer, from desktop to laptop. What ever the model or kind of computer that we have we need speed in it's performance. My processor has 2 or 3 GHz of computing power but still it seems slow to react to all my task. Well yup your processor is fast, but it just one of the many factor that affect the over-all speed performance of the computer. But they say that if you have a very fast processor then it good enough to make your computer fast also in processing. Partly true and wrong. That just sales talk, most sale person will talk about a lot of things even magnifying feature that should be standard in every computer. Especially if they know that the person buying does not possesses the technical knowledge to see thru what thy saying. Let's see there are at least four parts of the computer that needs to be attune with one another to really know if your system is fast enough for you. 

First there is the processor, which should be in quad core technology by now. The what? Quad core processor meaning your computer should have at least FOUR processor in it. But how do I determine if my processor has four processor in it, inst that technology suppose to be for super computer? Well yes it's true back then and more than four is needed for super computer. Do not bother with dual core processor, the standard for today's processor is four processor or Quad Processor. Now how do we determined that the computer that I am going to get has four processor. Please see screenshot below.

As you can see from the picture above the illustration of the Quad technology with four processor. Now how did you get there, can I as a regular guy know this. Yes everyone can do this display how many processor there computer has. Now wait a minute here, there is only one processor every time i look inside a new computer, the motherboard contains only one, how come there is four of them there? Yup your correct there is only one  package inside every computer. It's like this everybody knows that the normal is there is one  main building big or small right. But inside this main building there are several rooms, especially the really big one. The same is also true for all new quad core processor. There is only one package but inside this package there can be four processor inside instead of the regular one. Now designer and engineer's where able to implement that design it all started with the dual core processor. They say two is better than one, but four or more is much much better. Now that quad processor is becoming or is already a standard in computing then you need to know how to verify it. To display the screen-shot above just follow this simple step.

Windows 7 Control Panel

Click the start button and find and click on the control panel menu. Then the screen-shot above will appear. On the control panel please select the system and security sub-menu highlighted above. Then the screen-shot below will appear.

From the screen shot below please click on the Device Manager Link and the Device Manager that contain all the hardware information on your computer will appear just like on the screen shoot below.

 

On the device manager just click on the processor tree to display how many processor is there on your computer. It will show just how many there are. Just like on the first screen shot. More on my next post.

               

Computer 101: Parts on the Outside Part-2

Now the CPU or the Central Processing Unit or System Unit contains the main inside hardware parts of the computer. Let see there the motherboard, the memory module(s), the CPU chip, the hard drive, DVD RW drive, the Power Supply Unit, the cooling fan and heat sink on top of the CPU. Lets see did i miss anything, well the motherboard contains all the connecting point of all the hardware devices mentioned above. Ah h theres the graphics card or video card, the sound card for high end users and the network or LAN card optional for others.

Inside a typical CPU

Today's motherboard comes with a built-in S/V/L, wait what an S/V/L. It stand for Sound, Video. and LAN. The only thing missing if your purchasing a new motherboard is the CPU and it cooling system and the memory module which is sold separately. But if your purchasing a whole computer set then that not applicable. Okay lets focus on the motherboard that is found inside every computer. The motherboard is where it all connects. The monitor using its cable is plug into the video card port which is connected or built-in the motherboard. The same is true for the mouse and keyboard, they connects via the PS2 or USB port which is usually built-in into the motherboard. The same is true to all external devices that we can connects to the computer, your Web cam, Mic, Speaker system, your smartphone, printer, scanner, external drive and a host of other devices. The most common port used in interconnection for today devices is the USB port. Your supposed to just plug it in and let it connect to your computer.

USB, LAN, PS2, MIC and Speaker port

Okay where suppose to blog about the external parts not the inside parts, but i thought i should give you a sneak preview of my nest post. Back to the external parts. The CPU Case is also important not just for appearance but also for the cooling system it can provide to your CPU unit. You should know where are those FAN located so would not be able to block them when placing your computer on tight spot. Also it should be strong enough to handle the daily grind that it would experience. The air should be able to get in and out of your CPU Case with the aid of those cooling fan properly positioned in your case design. The CPU is where all the work is done, the input, processing and output is done all in there. Make sure to also check on your CPU regularly so that dust build up and other stuff like small insects should not make your CPU there permanent abode. It should be check regularly, lets say weekly to maintain it in top form.

Related articles

• How To Properly Install A New Motherboard (tfollowers.com)
• The Pc Case - The Central Part Of A Pc (pctechmojo.com)
• VIA offers $89 processor and motherboard combo for custom HTPCs (engadget.com)
• Picking the parts for a future-proof PC (guardian.co.uk)
• Any motherboard with better graphics cards than mine? (ask.metafilter.com)

Computer 101

One may ask a question What is a computer? and the answer to that depends on how do you look at things, the computer, basically it has screen which display the information, it has a keyboard and mouse to access and manipulate this information and a main system unit where all the information is store and process. All this component are link together via cables, all this cable is connect to the main system unit most of the time it is located at the back of the computer.

The computer is one of the most used machine today. It can be found in almost all places in all country of the world today. The reason for this is it been design to carry-out all sort of task man would like it to do. Do task are but not limited to are typing,programming, playing games. mathematical computations, simulations, watching movie or video, listening to music, communicating with other people, and a whole lot more. Because of this versatility, it has spread all over the planet in just a few decade ever since its humble beginning.

As i explain earlier the computer is made up of several main keys parts, i say key parts because without them it will not function properly. They are the monitor, system unit, keyboard, pointing devices and printer. Still the other add on parts that has been dim necessary and very useful is the web-cam, microphone and speaker or headset. The function of the the main key part is always been the basic, to input and process the information and create an output of that information.

A computer can do multiple things at once of course this would this would depend on the hardware configuration that the computer has. If the computer will be used for ordinary task such as typing report, watching movies, personal stereo system and playing minor games such as solitaire, then a ready made computer from the shelf is right. But is if the computer will be used for gaming then a higher memory, a faster processor, a bigger hard drive and a separate graphics card will be needed. Please consult and do some planning if your going to buy a new set of computer.

Another function of the computer is to do specific task, one major example of this is a computer is used as an ATM Machine. To function like this a software is used to configure that computer to function as required and an added hardware is added to the exiting computer setup to complete the task. So the computer can be programmed to do also specific task.

Photo Credit

Now here comes the internet, and everybody is suddenly connected to everybody. The function and usefulness of the web-cam, mic and speaker suddenly get a very big boost. It has become a must add-in accessories for the all type of computer, today if you want to talk to your friend or family who is in another far away place, face to face, then all the three items mentioned is a must for you. Such is  the winder of the internet the its changes the status of these three times from luxury to necessity or needs, whenever one decide to acquire a computer. Of course one also needs a stable and reliable internet connectivity.

Now using them all together as one simple machine doing a variety of task then one would have a pretty good idea of what we can expect from this machine called the computer.