The Form factor keeps the expansion of motherboards under a certain limit so that all the motherboards have some level of uniformity. From largest to smallest, there’s ATX, Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX. The components of the Micro ATX are also more exotic as compared to the Mini ITX.A computer technician must also be able to determine whether a power supply is adequate based on the configuration of the computer and the components installed.Motherboards come in three main sizes-for more info see our diagram and explanation of motherboard parts. This is because the former needs a smaller case, so all costs are reduced. A Mini ITX motherboard would cost less compared to a Micro ATX system. The Mini ITX and Micro ATX both have a small form factor and offer plenty of features.
Select an appropriate power supply based on a given scenario.In the early days of computers, every manufacturer had its own proprietary hardware. Identify the voltage for each colored power supply wire. Differentiate between computer form factors. Form Factor: ATX Socket: AM4, supports 2nd & 3rd generation AMD Ryzen. Identify the distinguishing properties of a motherboard.AMD Motherboard CPU RAM Combo Phenom II X6 1045T ASUS M4A78LT-M Samsung 2x8GB 16. A form factor plays a very important role since it indicates the extent to which a motherboard can expand.
Compatible with most ATX cases, but has fewer slots than ATX. It is the most common form factor.A smaller variant of the ATX form factor. Differences in form factors include the variation in size and expansion capabilities.Table 1: Most Common Form Factors Form FactorCreated by Intel in 1995. Power supply – Provides power to the motherboard and all other installed hardware componentsTable 1 describes the most common form factors. Motherboard – The main circuit board of the computer system all system components are plugged into the motherboard Case – houses the hardware components of the computer system
All cases perform the same basic functions–to house the system components and provide cooling. Types of Computer CasesCases on the market today vary in size and even color. It is found in three versions: the Mini-ITX, the Nano-ITX, and the Pico-ITX. Although one can find the BTX and DTX form factors today, they are not widely used.The newest form factor is the ITX or Integrated Technology eXtended.
With a sealed case, one minimizes dust reaching the internal components while optimizing cooling. The case should be easily sealed. For good airflow and efficient cooling, the flow into the case should at least match the flow of air coming out (positive airflow). Cooling turns out to be more efficient with the case sealed rather than open. The case should provide good airflow. The case should accommodate all components and the fans required for keeping components from overheating.
It is a printed circuit board which means that it electrically connects all of the electronic components. Slimline desktops are fixed-configuration versions of the desktop, with smaller vertical dimension, and they are not upgradeable.Figure 1: Types of cases Types of MotherboardsThe motherboard is also known as the mainboard or system board. Full-size towers are used with servers and multi-bay systems.Desktops are less popular because the footprint of the system takes up more space and they are difficult to maintain. Ninety percent of cases fall in the midsize tower category. The minitower is sometimes called the shuttle form factor and was often used with portable computers. Figure 1 illustrates the various types of cases.
Ports are physical connectors that allow the connection of devices such as a mouse or printer.Several motherboards are pictured in Figure 3. There are also holes in the case that align with the ports of the motherboard. There are holes in the motherboard that align with the holes in the case. Different types of motherboards support different CPU’s and have different expansion capabilities to add hardware components down the road.The motherboard must fit in the case. Deciding on the type of motherboard is usually the first step when building a computer.
A power switch turns the power supply on and off. Conversely, an AT form factor is pulling air into the case. For an ATX form factor, the fan is always taking the air out of the computer. Each has a fan for cooling. So an ATX case can hold an ATX, micro-ATX, or mini-ATX motherboard, for example, but a micro-ATX case could not support a full-size ATX motherboard.Figure 3: Comparison of computer motherboard form factors Computer Power SuppliesThe backside of every power supply looks essentially the same. For this reason, a case can hold smaller versions of the same form factor.
Some power supplies have a light indicating when the power is on. If something goes wrong with a power supply, the options are to take it to an authorized repair service or to simply replace it.Common power supply problems for home users can usually be traced back to the power switch being off or the wrong voltage selected. Laptops and portable devices usually have an external power supply as shown in Figure 5.Some higher-end computers and most servers have redundant power supplies which protect the computer from going down if the primary power supply fails this is known as fault tolerance.Figure 6: Server power supply Troubleshooting Power SuppliesAn A+ technician is not certified to open or repair a power supply. A Desktop power supply like the one pictured in Figure 4 is installed internally within the case. For more information on foreign voltage by country, review the Foreign Voltage Guide by Country.There are several types of power supplies.
The extra four pins provide +12 volts, +5 volts, and +3.3 volts and support PCI Express expansion slots.When processors (CPUs) began to require more power, the 4-pin motherboard auxiliary connector was added. This connector provided +3.3 volts, +5 volts, +12 volts, and -12 volts and could power expansion cards installed in PCI expansion slots.Today, the 24-pin P1 connector is the main motherboard connector. Motherboard Power ConnectorsOlder ATX motherboards were powered by the 20-pin P1 connector. It is important to learn about each of these connectors and the associated wattage. In general, higher wattage is associated with a greater number of connectors which support more installed hardware components. Power ConnectorsThe type and number of connectors on a power supply is dependent on the wattage of the power supply.
The additional 4-pin and 8-pin connectors provide extra power to motherboards that use a Pentium 4 or higher processor.Figure 10: 4-pin auxiliary power connectorIn the article, PC Power Supply Cables and Connectors, the various power supply connectors used with computers are described.The 6- and 8-pin connectors pictured in Figure 11 provide power to the Peripheral Component Interconnect express ( PCIe) slots for devices such as graphics cards. Auxiliary Power ConnectorsThe 4-pin auxiliary connector was later replaced with an 8-pin motherboard auxiliary connector that provided additional amps for the processor. The four pins auxiliary connector provided an additional 12 volts of power.The 20+4 P1 connector has the flexibility to plug in either a 20-pin or 24-pin power connector on a motherboard.If the pin count of a connector on the power supply does not match that of the main power connector on the motherboard, adapters can be purchased to increase a 20 pin to a 24 pin or to decrease a 24 pin to a 20 pin.
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