Southbridge (SB).

The Northbridge controls RAM, the processor, and the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) video slot. It also
regulates the speed the CPU can communicate with the components.

The Southbridge controls everything else connected to the computer including communication between
the CPU and the expansion ports (hard drives, sound card, Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, and other
I/O ports).

Components of a chipset

Figure 2: Components of a chipset

The Northbridge (labeled NB) and Southbridge (labeled SB) are both shown on a laptop motherboard in
Figure 2.

Expansion Slots

Expansion slots allow the installation of extra components. Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI),
are used to install network cards, sound cards or modems.

AGP slots accommodate video cards with additional capabilities and PCI express (PCIe) cards to connect
host bus adapters (HBAs) for expanded storage and cards for additional USB and Firewire ports.

Expansion slots on a motherboard

Figure 3: Expansion slots on a motherboard

Riser Cards

A riser card physically extends a slot so multiple cards can be plugged into a motherboard. The
expansion cards will actually be turned 90 degrees to the motherboard. This allows cards to fit into a
smaller space. Riser cards are usually only used in low-profile or slimline cases.

Multiple slot riser

Figure 4: Multiple slot riser

The one slot on the motherboard can now accommodate multiple expansion cards.

Multiple slot riser seated in a motherboard

Figure 5: Multiple slot riser seated in a motherboard

Other Slots

Other slots encountered on the motherboard include the audio/modem riser (AMR) and the
communications and networking riser (CNR). These two slots do basically the same thing with the CNR
having a few additional functions. They were created to hold modems, network cards, and sound cards.
You will seldom see these used on today’s motherboards.

As shown in Figure 6, the 30-pin AMR slot is much smaller than a PCI expansion slot. The 30-pin
interfaces accommodate two formats making various audio/modem and audio network combinations
possible.
Audio/Modem Riser (AMR) slot next to white PCI slot

Figure 6: Audio/Modem Riser (AMR) slot next to white PCI slot

The AMR evolved into the CNR adding LAN and home networking functions.

Communications and networking riser (CNR) slot

Figure 7: Communications and networking riser (CNR) slot

Front Panel Connectors

Front panel connectors are used to connect the power LED (light emitting diode) light on the front of the
case to a hard drive, a small internal speaker for testing, the power button, and the reset button. There
may also be additional LED lights for USB, Firewire and audio devices.

All of the front panel connectors from the case get plugged into tiny pins on the motherboard. The
layout of the pins varies from motherboard to motherboard, although they are usually grouped together
and color-coded. You may or may not use all of the connectors.

Sometimes the power LED has a blank pin between the two wires. You can buy an adapter to change the
pin layout or simply cut the connector to accommodate the pins.

It is important to note that the reset jumper must be attached to the pins, in the correct order, before
the computer will start. If nothing happens when you turn on the computer for the first time, check that
the reset jumper was attached correctly.
You may view a visual installation of connectors to the pins on a motherboard at the following URLs:

MSI HOW-TO Install front panel connectors (JFP1) (1:09)

Instalacion del Panel Frontal (3:46)

It is important to remember that each motherboard is different, and it is important to look up the
proper connections in the motherboard manual.

Connection schematic using a sample motherboard front panel connector

Figure 8: Connection schematic using a sample motherboard front panel connector

BIOS – Basic Input/ Output System

The Basic Input/ Output System (BIOS) may be referred to as the System BIOS or ROM (Read Only
Memory) BIOS. The BIOS holds the motherboard’s firmware which is nothing more than a set of
instructions. It is the first software run when the computer is powered on.

The fundamental purpose of the BIOS is to initialize and test the system’s hardware components and to
load the operating system. The BIOS provides a consistent way for applications and the operating system
to interact with I/O devices like the keyboard, mouse, display, and other connected devices.

BIOS and CMOS

Working with the BIOS is a chip known as the complementary metal–oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The
CMOS holds the settings you selected in the BIOS. CMOS is volatile in nature. That means it must be
supplied with continuous power that is supplied by a battery. If the battery runs down settings will be
lost.

CMOS Battery

Figure 9: CMOS Battery

The BIOS has a menu-based user interface to make changes such as:

Configure hardware

Make changes to I/O ports

Set the system time

Enable or disable system components

Set voltages for the CPU and memory

Set the boot sequence

Control fan speeds

Set a BIOS and system password

Enable or disable virtualization support

Users can set various password prompts, such as a password for securing access to the BIOS user
interface functions itself and preventing malicious users from booting the system from unauthorized
peripheral devices.

File:Phoenix bios.jpg

Figure 10: Phoenix BIOS chip

BIOS Options

The first thing the computer does when it is turned on is to run a diagnostic program called the Power
on Self-Test or POST. The POST checks that all the motherboard components are functioning and can
communicate with each other.

The BIOS can be accessed at system startup with a particular key sequence. This is usually the delete key
or the F2 key, but different manufacturers may have a different sequence to press.

CMOS Setup Utility

Figure 11: CMOS Setup Utility

Built-in tools can monitor the following:

Temperature

Fan Speeds

Intrusion detection

Voltages

Clock

Bus speeds

To see additional screenshots of various options that can be viewed and/or changed in the BIOS setup,
browse to MSI 790GX-G65 Motherboard Reviews and scroll down to the bottom of the page.
The BIOS software is stored on a non-volatile ROM chip on the motherboard. This means the chip does
not lose its contents even if there is no power going to the BIOS.

Using the BIOS menu, you are able to change hardware configurations such as the order in which the PC
boots – floppy drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, USB.

The ROM BIOS is commonly called the computer’s firmware. Firmware used to be hardcoded on the chip
and could not be changed without replacing the chip. Most modern devices can be upgraded when new
features are added. This process is called flashing the BIOS.

Newer BIOS chips are made of Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) chips.
This type of chip allows the content of the BIOS to be rewritten without removing the chip from the
motherboard. This way the BIOS software can be easily upgraded to add new features or fix bugs.

So what happens if you set a BIOS password and then forget what it was? The BIOS and system
passwords can be easily erased along with all the other user settings. This can be done by removing the
battery, waiting a few seconds and then putting it back in.

The most common way is to locate the CMOS reset jumper. Simply move the jumper to the enabled
position (jumper on pins 2 and 3), and turn on the computer which sends an electrical signal to erase the
CMOS. Be sure to then move the jumper back to the disabled or default position (jumper on pins 1 and
2). The CMOS is now back to the factory default settings.

File:Jumper-reset-bios.png

Figure 12: CMOS Reset jumpers

EFI and UEFI

Starting in 2011, the BIOS was replaced on some motherboards with a more complex Extensible
Firmware Interface (EFI) or the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). This new BIOS type was
introduced to provide more diagnostic and repair tools to the computer and provide a more efficient
interface between the operating system and the components.

Initially made for the Itanium architecture, it is now available for x86 and x64 platforms and provides
legacy support for BIOS services. It can support remote diagnostics and repair of computers, even
without an operating system

Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

Figure 13: Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI)

Documentation

It is very important to document the settings you have changed in the CMOS. This way if something ever
happens, like the CMOS battery runs down, you have a record of what the previous settings were and
how to reset them.

It is recommended that you tape your documentation inside the case so anyone that works on that
computer has a copy of your configuration.

Keep well-labeled, written record of:

All changes you make to CMOS

Records of hardware and software installed

Network settings
Keep documentation up to date and in a safe place. Also, the document before you flash or replace the
BIOS chip.

Bus Structures

A bus can be defined as a channel or path between components. The speed of the bus has a lot to do
with the speed of the computer.

There are a lot of incredibly complex components in a computer, and all of these parts need to
communicate with each other in a fast and efficient manner. Otherwise, the amazing speed and
capabilities of each individual component is lost in the whole.

Typical Bus Structures

There are two key buses in a computer: the system bus and the shared bus.

The system bus is also called the local bus or front side bus. This bus connects the CPU to the system
memory. It is one of the most important buses in the system. The faster the processors can move
information in and out of the memory, the faster computers operate. When selecting a motherboard,
find one with the fastest system bus possible.

The shared bus is what connects all the other components to our computer and moves information
around inside the motherboard.

The shared bus connects the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA), Extended Industry Standard
Architecture (EISA), PCI, and PCIe, USB, and Firewire buses together. This is done through bridges, which
are part of the computer’s chipset. This bridge acts as a traffic cop, integrating the data from the other
buses into the system bus. This bridge lets multiple devices access the same path to the CPU and system
memory.
Most chipsets have two bridges: the Northbridge and the Southbridge. You can see in Figure 13 that the
Northbridge controls the CPU, memory, and the AGP slot for video. The front side bus, memory bus, and
AGP bus all connect to the Northbridge.

The Southbridge basically controls everything else. Hard drives, CD players, DVD players, PCI bus, and
I/O ports are all connected to the Southbridge. The Southbridge regulates what bus and how much
information can be passed to the Northbridge.

Bus structure

Figure 14: Bus structure

Summary

The motherboard is considered the nervous system of a computer. Everything that is not built into the
motherboard is connected to it in slots or through ports. Its main components are the system clock,
CPU, chipset, RAM, ROM BIOS, CMOS, power supply, ports, and the system bus with expansion slots.

Information stored in the BIOS is powered by the CMOS battery. Without the battery, the BIOS settings
would have to be reset each time the host is booted. Information, such as the type of hard drive, the
boot order, date and time, is stored in BIOS and is used by the host when it is booting.

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