CompTIA A_ Certification All-In-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition - Michael Meyers [133]
Figure 9-18 Front USB and FireWire drive bay device
Sound
Quite a few motherboards come with onboard sound chips. These sound chips are usually pretty low quality compared to even a lower-end sound card, but onboard sound is cheap and doesn’t take up a slot. These connectors are identical to the ones used on sound cards, so we’ll save more discussion for Chapter 20, “Multimedia.”
RAID
RAID stands for redundant array of independent (or inexpensive) disks and is very common on motherboards. There are many types of RAID, but the RAID on motherboards usually only supports mirroring (the process of using two drives to hold the same data, which is good for safety, because if one drive dies, the other still has all of the data) or striping (making two drives act as one drive by spreading data across them, which is good for speed). RAID is a very cool but complex topic that’s discussed in detail in Chapter 11, “Hard Drive Technologies.”
AMR/CNR
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must certify any electronic device to ensure that it does not transmit unwanted electronic signals. This process is a bit expensive, so in the very late 1990s, Intel came up with a special slot called the audio modem riser (AMR), shown in Figure 9-19. An AMR slot was designed to take specialized AMR devices (modems, sound cards, and network cards). An AMR device would get one FCC certification and then be used on as many motherboards as the manufacturer wanted without going through the FCC certification process again. AMR was quickly replaced with the more advanced communications and networking riser (CNR). Many motherboard manufacturers used these slots in the early 2000s, but they’ve lost popularity because most motherboard makers simply use onboard networking and sound.
Figure 9-19 AMR slot
Practical Application
Upgrading and Installing Motherboards
To most techs, the concept of adding or replacing a motherboard can be extremely intimidating. It really shouldn’t be; motherboard installation is a common and necessary part of PC repair. It is inexpensive and easy, although it can sometimes be a little tedious and messy because of the large number of parts involved. This section covers the process of installation and replacement and shows you some of the tricks that make this necessary process easy to handle.
Choosing the Motherboard and Case
Choosing a motherboard and case can prove quite a challenge for any tech, whether newly minted or a seasoned veteran. You first have to figure out the type of motherboard you want, such as AMD- or Intel-based. Then you need to think about the form factor, which of course influences the type of case you’ll need. Third, how rich in features is the motherboard and how tough is it to configure? You have to read the motherboard manual to find out. Finally, you need to select the case that matches your space needs, budget, and form factor. Now look at each step in a little more detail.
* * *
EXAM TIP Being able to select and install a motherboard appropriate for a client or customer is something every CompTIA A+ technician should know.
First, determine what motherboard you need. What CPU are you using? Will the motherboard work with that CPU? Because most of us buy the CPU and the motherboard at the same time, make the seller guarantee that the CPU will work with the motherboard. If you can, choose a motherboard that works with much higher speeds than the CPU you can afford; that way you can upgrade later. How much RAM do you intend to install? Are extra RAM sockets available for future upgrades?
A number of excellent motherboard manufacturers are available today. Some of the more popular brands are abit, ASUS, BIOSTAR, DFI, GIGABYTE, Intel, MSI, and Shuttle. Your supplier may also have some lesser-known but perfectly acceptable brands