Whether you’re installing a new graphics card, upgrading your hard drive, or replacing a power supply with a higher-wattage unit, you will certainly need to open your computer case and perform some direct operations on the motherboard.
If you haven’t done this in the past year or two, you may not recognize everything inside. For instance, most modern motherboards (BMC) come equipped with PCI Express x16 slots or various other types of connectors. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the commonly used components found in today’s BMCs.
CPU: Typically, it is rare to replace the processor (CPU), and upgrading the CPU often does not yield significant benefits. However, newer CPUs tend to run “hotter,” which means you will notice more cooling slots inside your case. It is crucial to regularly clean dust from these slots, as they are the main cause of inefficient cooling. If you want to speed up your computer with a higher-speed CPU, you must also upgrade the CPU cooler. Additionally, adding hard drives, high-end graphics cards, or overclocking the CPU can cause the system to run excessively hot. For more information on cooling your computer, refer to the article “Cool Breezes Inside Your PC” in TGVT A-2/2002, page 85.
RAM: Upgrading RAM is often the simplest and most cost-effective way to boost your computer’s performance. However, RAM types are constantly changing, and currently, DDR2 RAM is the latest and supports the highest speeds. In fact, the most challenging part of upgrading RAM is finding the right type and capacity for your computer’s RAM sticks. For step-by-step installation guidance, consult the article “Boosting Memory Speed for PCs” in TGVT A-10/2000, page 111.
 |
Figure 1: Check memory usage with the free tool FreeMem. |
Additionally, to regularly monitor memory usage, you can download the free utility FreeMem.
PCI Express Slots: Most high-end computers today come equipped with PCI Express (PCIe) expansion slots along with standard PCI slots. The standard PCI Express slot supports bandwidth that is over 30 times greater than that of PCI and can effectively replace both PCI and AGP slots completely. Fortunately, sound cards, network cards, and many older PCI expansion cards will still be usable for some time, as most current BMCs support both PCI and PCI Express slots simultaneously.
However, you may no longer be able to use your AGP graphics card with future generations of computers. In the U.S., most new BMCs on the market use PCI Express x16 slots for graphics cards instead of AGP slots. Systems that support both AGP 8x and PCI Express x16 are currently in development, although Uli chipset manufacturers have released new chipsets that support both AGP 8x and PCI Express x16.
PCI Express slots come in various lengths, depending on the data capacity they can support. The PCI Express x1 slot, which replaces the standard PCI slot, is about 1 inch (or 26mm) long and can support up to 250 MBps of data input/output at the same time. The PCI Express x16 slot, similar to a standard PCI slot, can replace 90mm (approximately 3.5 inches) AGP graphics card slots and can transmit data up to 16 times faster than the x1 slot: 4 GBps of data input/output simultaneously.
To see a comparison table of bandwidth between PCI Express and AGP, refer to the article “Graphics Power: The Era of PCI Express” (ID: A0411_137).
SATA: Serial ATA (SATA) replaces the slower parallel ATA standard (also known as PATA or EIDE), which has been used to connect hard drives and optical drives to BMCs for years. SATA ports first appeared on motherboards two years ago, and many current BMCs support both SATA and PATA simultaneously.
SATA connectors are smaller than PATA connectors and support only one drive. Therefore, you do not need to worry about jumpers to set up a master or slave drive as you would with PATA. SATA cables are smaller, causing less clutter inside the case than PATA cables, and most importantly, the smaller cables minimize the risk of overheating inside the case (larger PATA cables can obstruct airflow). Furthermore, SATA connectors can easily extend outside the case for use with external hard drives and optical drives.
SATA drives require a special power connector instead of the standard 5V connector still used for IDE drives. Many new computers come with a SATA power connector, but older models often do not, and you may need to purchase an adapter for $5 to $10.
Audio and Video
DVI Port: Most new monitors and graphics cards support the Digital Video Interface (DVI) connector instead of the VGA connector used in traditional CRT monitors. The DVI port only transmits video signals, without accompanying audio.
HDMI Port: Some high-end computers also feature a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port. The HDMI connector resembles a standard USB connector but is smaller and easier to use than the DVI connector. This connector can transmit both video and audio signals, making it ideal for home entertainment systems. However, be aware that HDMI uses HDCP copy protection technology, which allows digital content providers to control how often customers can copy HDTV and other high-definition content.
To connect a DVI-enabled computer or graphics card to an HDMI-equipped monitor (or vice versa), you will need an adapter, such as the High Performance HDMI to DVI Video Adapter ($30, find.pcworld.com/49358).
S/PDIF Port: Typically, all digital audio signals must be converted into analog form. In computers, sound cards are responsible for converting digital audio signals into analog, which are then sent to speakers. Digital speakers that use USB connectors perform this conversion inside the speaker.
The longer audio remains in digital signal form, the better the quality becomes. That’s why many high-end and mid-range computers today are equipped with the Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format (S/PDIF) port to transmit digital signals directly from the BMC to the speakers (without needing a sound card or any external devices). Look for a small square connector, known as a TOSlink connector, on the back of the computer or on the sound card.
Bùi Xuân Toại
PC World US
