CHAPTER 9Motherboards

In this chapter, you will learn how to

• Identify the types of motherboards

• Explain chipset varieties

• Upgrade and install motherboards

• Troubleshoot motherboard problems

The motherboard provides the foundation for the personal computer. Every piece of hardware, from the CPU to the lowliest expansion card, directly or indirectly plugs into the motherboard. The motherboard contains the wires—called traces—that make up the buses of the system. It holds the vast majority of the ports used by the peripherals, and it distributes the power from the power supply (Figure 9-1). Without the motherboard, you literally have no PC.

Figure 9-1 Traces visible beneath the CPU socket on a motherboard

Historical/Conceptual

How Motherboards ...

Get CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exams 220-701 & 220-702), 7th Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.