226140307126 Computer Maintenance &Troubleshooting (4360701)

Date:
Practical No. 03:
Explore major components of motherboard including north bridge, south bridge, co-
processor, chipset etc.
A. Objectives:
The primary components on a PC motherboard are the PC chipset, CPU, memory, clock,
buses and BIOS. Chipset handles the communication between various components such as
CPU, peripherals, and buses. Northbridge and southbridge are two chips in the chipset.
Hence students will be able to identify the components of the motherboard.

B. RelevantProgram Outcomes (POs):

• Basic and Discipline specific knowledge (PO1): Apply knowledge of basic
mathematics, science and engineering fundamentals and
engineering specialization to solve the engineering problems.
• Life-long learning (PO7): Ability to analyse individual needs and engage in updating in
the context of technological changes in field of engineering.
C. Competency and Practical Skills:
This practical is expected to develop the following skills for the industry-identified
competency like
1. Identify components of motherboard.
2. Find chipset available on motherboard
3. Find common faults in motherboard.

D. Relevant Course Outcomes (COs):

1. Classify various types of motherboards and its components.

E. Practical Outcomes:
1. Identify different components on motherboard.

2. Troubleshoot common problems of motherboard.

F. Relevant Affective domain Outcomes (ADOs):

1 Identify and Describe Components:
2 Understand Functionality
3 Installation and Assembly
4 Troubleshooting
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G. Prerequisite Theory:
A motherboard, also known as a mainboard or system board, is a crucial component in a
computer system. It serves as the central platform that connects and facilitates communication
between various hardware components, allowing them to work together harmoniously. The
motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the PC. It also controls various data
transaction between the CPU and other peripheral connected to it.
Chipset: - A set of chips that provides the interfaces between all of the PC's subsystems. It
provides the buses and electronics to allow the CPU, memory and input/output devices to
interact. PC chipsets, which are housed on one to four chips, include built-in controllers for
almost all common peripherals. The primary components on a PC motherboard are the PC
chipset, CPU, memory, clock, buses and BIOS. Chipset handles the communication between
various components such as CPU, peripherals, and buses. Northbridge and southbridge are two
chips in the chipset. Types of Chipsets: -
Northbridge: -Northbridge is located in the northern section of the motherboard. It is also
known as the host bridge. It is directly connected to the CPU, RAM, AGP, and PCI Express
slots. If it is required for the CPU to communicate with AGP or PCI express slots etc., the
communication occurs via the northbridge. Usually, northbridge operates at a faster speed as it
connects to high-speed components in the computer.
Southbridge: -Southbridge is located in the southern section of the motherboard. It connects the
components such as PCI bus slots, BIOS, SATA and IDE connectors and USB ports

H. Work Situation:
1. Faculty will demonstrate different components of motherboard and its function.

2. Faculty must form a group of four or five students.

3. Students group will observe different components available on motherboard.

I. Resources required.
1. Motherboard
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J. Procedure.
1. Take motherboard from faculty.

2. Identify different components on motherboard.

3. Understand the function of different components of motherboard.

K. Practical related Question:

1. Give details of chipset used in your computer motherboard.
Answer:
Intel 300 Series Chipsets (e.g., Z370, Z390, H370, B360)
• These are common for 8th Gen Intel processors and offer features like PCIe 3.0, support
for DDR4 RAM, and various I/O options.
• Z370/Z390: Higher-end chipsets for overclocking and better performance.
• H370/B360: More budget-friendly options with fewer features like overclocking support.

2. Which chipset is directly connected to CPU? Explain.

Answer:
The chipset directly connected to the CPU is typically the Northbridge or Memory
Controller Hub (MCH), though modern chipsets have evolved and integrated some of the
Northbridge functions into the CPU itself.
a. Northbridge (in traditional chipsets):
o The Northbridge is the primary component responsible for connecting the CPU
to high-speed components like RAM, GPU, and the system bus. o It handles
communication between the CPU and memory, as well as direct connection to the
graphics card and high-speed peripherals.
b. Southbridge:
o The Southbridge chipset connects the CPU to lower-speed components like USB,
SATA, audio, and network interfaces. o Though not directly connected to the CPU
in older architectures, it communicates with the Northbridge to handle tasks outside
the CPU’s direct control.
c. Modern Integrations:
o In recent architectures, the Northbridge functionalities (memory controller, PCIe
lanes, etc.) are often integrated into the CPU itself (as seen in Intel’s Core i7 or
AMD Ryzen processors).
o This integration reduces the need for a separate Northbridge, leading to faster data
communication and lower latency.
d. Direct Connection:
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o The chipset (especially the integrated Northbridge) manages the direct connection
between the CPU and system memory, allowing for efficient data transfer between
components.
3. Give the details of buses available on the motherboard.
Answer:
1. System Bus (Front-Side Bus):
o Connects the CPU to memory and other components.
o Composed of the Data, Address, and Control buses.
2. PCI Express (PCIe):
o High-speed expansion bus used for peripherals like graphics cards and SSDs.
o Provides up to 16 GT/s per lane (PCIe 4.0).
3. USB Bus:
o Used for connecting external devices like keyboards, mice, and USB drives.
o USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 offer speeds ranging from 5 Gbps to 20 Gbps.
4. SATA Bus:
o Connects storage devices (HDDs, SSDs).
o SATA III offers speeds up to 6 Gbps.
5. Memory Bus:
o Connects the CPU to system RAM, enabling data transfer between them. o
Speed depends on RAM type (e.g., DDR4, DDR5).
These buses are key for communication between the CPU and various components on the
motherboard.
4. Label components of motherboard given in fig.1
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5. Write down components available on motherboard and its use in below

table.

Sr No Components Use
1 CPU Socket Holds and connects the CPU to the
motherboard, allowing communication.

2 RAM Slots Holds the system memory (RAM) modules,

allowing fast data access by the CPU.

3 PCIe Slots Used to install expansion cards (e.g.,

graphics card, sound card, network card).

4 Power Connectors Provides power to the motherboard and

components connected to it.

5 SATA Ports Connects storage devices like SSDs and hard

drives for data transfer.

6 CMOS Battery Powers the CMOS chip, maintaining BIOS

settings and system time.

7 BIOS/UEFI Chip Stores the motherboard's firmware for

system startup and hardware configuration.

8 I/O Ports (USB, Audio, Ethernet) Provides external connectivity options for
peripherals (USB devices, audio devices,
network connection).

9 VRM (Voltage Regulator Regulates voltage to the CPU and other

Module) components for stable operation.

10 Heat Sinks/Fans Dissipates heat generated by the CPU,

chipset, and other components to maintain
optimal temperature.

11 Chipset Manages data flow between the CPU,

memory, and peripheral devices.

12 M.2 Slots Used for connecting high-speed storage

devices like SSDs and Wi-Fi cards.

13 Audio Codec Converts digital audio signals to analog

signals (and vice versa) for audio devices.

14 Network Interface Card (NIC) Provides wired or wireless network

connectivity for the system.
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Major Components of Motherboard

A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer, and it houses and connects
all the critical components of the system.

Below is an exploration of the major components of a motherboard, including the north bridge,
south bridge, co-processor, chipset, and more:

1. Chipset:
The chipset is a collection of integrated circuits (ICs) that manage data flow between the CPU,
memory, and peripherals. It is divided into two main parts:

• North Bridge: Handles high-speed communication between the CPU, RAM, and GPU.

• South Bridge: Manages slower peripherals like USB ports, SATA connectors, and audio
devices.

Modern motherboards often integrate the north bridge functions into the CPU, leaving the south
bridge (now called the Platform Controller Hub or PCH in Intel systems) to handle I/O
operations.

2. North Bridge
The north bridge is a critical component that connects the CPU to high-speed devices like:

• RAM (Memory Controller): Manages data transfer between the CPU and system memory.

• GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): Handles communication with the graphics card via the
PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slot.

• Front-Side Bus (FSB): In older systems, the north bridge connected the CPU to the rest of
the system via the FSB.

In modern systems, the north bridge's functions are often integrated into the CPU itself, reducing
latency and improving performance.

3. South Bridge
The south bridge handles communication with slower peripherals and components, including:

• Storage Devices: SATA and IDE interfaces for hard drives and SSDs.

• USB Ports: Manages data transfer for USB devices.

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• Audio and Networking: Integrated sound cards and Ethernet controllers.

• Legacy Devices: PS/2 ports for keyboards and mice, serial ports, etc.

The south bridge connects to the CPU or north bridge via an internal bus (e.g., DMI in Intel
systems).

4. Co-Processor
A co-processor is a secondary processor that assists the CPU with specific tasks. Examples
include:

• Math Co-Processor: Historically used to handle complex mathematical calculations (now

integrated into modern CPUs).

• GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): While not a traditional co-processor, modern GPUs
offload graphics rendering from the CPU.

• AI Accelerators: Some systems include dedicated co-processors for machine learning

tasks.
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L. Assessment Rubrics:

% of
Criteria Rubrics Marks
point
Excellent (90-100%): Thorough understanding and precise
explanation with accurate and comprehensive
information.
C1: Adequate (70-89%): Good understanding with accurate
Content & 50 % presentation, covering essential aspects.
Accuracy Needs Improvement (50-69%): Basic understanding with
noticeable inaccuracies or missing details.
Insufficient (Below 50%): Significant lack of understanding
with major inaccuracies or misunderstandings.
Excellent (90-100%): Insightful analysis and logical
reasoning with coherent and well-developed arguments.
Adequate (70-89%): Reasonable analysis with logical flow
C2: and coherent arguments, though lacking depth.
Analysis / 25% Needs Improvement (50-69%): Limited analysis or logical
Testing flaws, requiring improvement in depth and coherence.
Insufficient (Below 50%): Lack of analysis or significant
logical flaws, indicating insufficient understanding or
effort.
Excellent (90-100%): Clear and concise writing with
effective use of language and appropriate terminology.
Adequate (70-89%): Mostly clear with occasional
C3: ambiguity, utilizing language appropriately.
Clarity & 25% Needs Improvement (50-69%): Lack of clarity and
Presentation confusing expression, requiring improvement in language
usage.
Insufficient (Below 50%): Poor clarity and confusing
expression, indicating significant issues in language and
presentation.
Total Marks for Practical = 0.5 * (Marks of C1) + 0.25 * (Marks of C2) + 0.25 * (Marks of C3)

Signature with Date: