Module Focus/Specific Learning Outcomes: make sure that you write the key unit objectives to be acquired the end of the unit.

Learning Activity: Complete a learning activity. This will help you to review or practise what you have learned and to prepare you for an assignment or an examination. You will not submit learning activities to your tutor/marker. Instead, you will compare your responses to those provided in the Learning Activity Answer Key found at the end of the applicable module. Video/Flashcard app: View a video.

Stop/Caution: Use caution when conducting this learning activity or experiment.

Assignment: Complete an assignment. You will submit your completed assignments to your tutor/marker for assessment in accordance with the chart found in the course Introduction.

Learning Partner: Ask your learning partner to help you with this task.

Note: Take note of and remember this important information or reminder.

Examination: Write your final examination at this time.

UNIT VOCABULARY SKILLS WORK FUNCTIONS QUIZ

2 Lead-in activity Reading To understand the main 10-question test to understand functions of a better the subject Motherboard Motherboard Working individually or in pairs. Use the Form Factors verbs in sentences to To identify the components get acquainted with the Listening meaning in context. To broaden vocabulary Watch a video about a connected to the topic Motherboard

To enhance reading Listen and check comprehension

Watch a video describing different types of

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In this unit, you will learn;

 To understand the main function of a Motherboard  To identify it’s main parts

 To broaden vocabulary related to the topic of a Motherboard

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UNIT 2  Motherboard and its main parts  Comparatives, superlatives Motherboard

1 Lead-in Activity: Select the verb from the three alternatives given which is the most similar to the verb in italics:

1) contain 2) place 3) accommodate

a - describe a - put a - provide

b - shape b - change b - produce

c - include c - replace c - suggest

4) determine 5) pertain to something

a - give a - divide to st.

b - decide b - separate from st.

c - decrease c - refer to st.

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2 Read the text or watch a video and check the answers from the pre-reading task: Motherboard

The motherboard is the main printed circuit board and contains the buses, or electrical pathways, found in a computer. These buses allow data to travel between the various components that comprise a computer. A motherboard is also known as the system board or the main board.

The motherboard accommodates the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), expansion slots, heat sink and fan assembly, basic input/output system (BIOS) chip, chipset, and the circuitry that interconnects the motherboard components. Sockets, internal and external connectors, and various ports are also placed on the motherboard.

The form factor of motherboards pertains to the size and shape of the board. It also describes the physical layout of the different components and devices on the motherboard. The form factor determines how individual components attach to the motherboard and the shape of the .

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The most common form factor in desktop computers was the AT, based on the IBM AT motherboard. The AT motherboard can be up to approximately 1 foot wide. Its big size led to the development of smaller form factors. The placement of heat sinks and fans often interferes with the use of expansion slots in smaller form factors.

A newer motherboard form factor, ATX, improved on the AT design. The ATX case accommodates the integrated I/O ports on the ATX motherboard. The ATX power supply connects to the motherboard via a single 20-pin connector, instead of the confusing P8 and P9 connectors used with some earlier form factors. Instead of using a physical toggle switch, the ATX power supply can be powered on and off with signalling from the motherboard.

3 After-reading task - match the sentences halves:

1) The AT motherboard can be up to a) how individual components attach to the motherboard and the shape of the computer case. 2) Sockets, internal and external connectors, and various ports b) with signalling from the motherboard.

3) The form factor of motherboards relates to c) approximately 1 foot wide.

4) The ATX power supply can be powered on and off d) are also placed on the motherboard.

5) The form factor determines e) the size and shape of the board.

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Language note:

The world of computers and technology likes to use abbreviations and those who use computers regularly meet new abbreviations and terminology very often. There are two types of abbreviations:

a) initialism - a term formed by initial letters taken from a word or series of words, but which is pronounced letter by letter.

b) acronym - a term formed by initial letters taken from a word or series of words, that is pronounced as a word.

ATX advanced technology eXtended

AT advanced technology

BIOS basic input/output system

CPU central processing unit

RAM random access memory

ROM read-only memory

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4 Read the abbreviations and decide if they are spelled or read as a word. Then listen and check.

1) RAM 2) 512 MB of RAM 3) HD-DVD 4) 17” LED display 5) 1.66 GHz 6) BIOS 7) CPU

8) ROM 9) GUI 10) I/O ports 11) IMAP 12) FSB 13) ASCII

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5 Look at the picture of an ATX computer motherboard MSI KT3 Ultra ver. 1.0. Use expressions below to match them with numbers in the picture.

a) chipset 1) ______b) CNR modem slot 2) ______c) I/O chip 3) ______d) AGP graphic card slot 4) ______e) RAM slots 5) ______f) processor socket 6) ______g) audio chip 7) ______h) PCI slots 8) ______

i) ATA connectors 9) ______j) ATX power connector 10) ______k) BIOS 11) ______l) floppy drive connector 12) ______m) connectors for buttons, 13) ______indicator lights etc.

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Language note:

Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives

1) We make the comparative or superlative forms of short adjectives by adding -er and -est, for example: hard, harder, hardest

2) We make the comparative or superlative forms of long adjectives by adding more and most, for example: expensive, more expensive, most expensive 3) We use (not) as.... as to compare two things, for example: it is (not) as big as...

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Read the text about form factors and complete the sentences with the correct form of adjectives using the information from the table.

Form Factors

A motherboard is one of the most important component in a computer. When you buy a computer generally you start with deciding which processor and motherboard you want. From the previous reading you have learnt that the form factor determines how individual components attach to the motherboard and the shape of the computer case. It also determines the size of the board and its features that make it compatible with power supplies, cases, processors, and expansion cards. The most popular motherboard form factors are ATX, MicroATX, FlexATX, BTX, and PicoBTX.

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Maximum Number Maximum Maximum Form Factor Produced of Expansion Slots Width Depth

ATX 7 in 1996 12 9.6

MicroATX 4 in 1996 9.6 9.6

FlexATX 4 in 1999 9 7.5

BTX 7 in 2004 12.8 10.5

MicroBTX 4 in 2005 10.4 10.5

PicoBTX 2 in 2006 8.0 10.5

1) MicroATX motherboard is ______(wide) than 5) Flex ATX motherboard is ______(young) than BTX FlexATX. motherboard.

2) ATX motherboard is ______(old) of all motherboards. 6) Pico BTX motherboard has ______(small) number of expansion slots of all motherboards. 3) MicroBTX motherboard is as ______(deep) as PicoBTX motherboard. 7) BTX motherboard is ______(wide) of all motherboards.

4) MicroATX motherboard has ______(big) number of expansion slots than PicoBTX.

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7 Watch a video describing different types of motherboards and while watching answer the questions below. To watch, please click on the icon.

1. Which four characteristics associated with motherboards are mentioned in the video? 2. What does the abbreviation ATX stand for? 3. Explain advantages of backward compatibility of a micro ATX motherboard.

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8 Look at an advert of a motherboard and its specifications. Decide whether the statements below are true of false. Gigabyte GA-X99-UD5 WIFI eATX Motherboard - X99 LGA2011-v3 Socket DDR4 USB 3.0

Huge Saving! Usually £225.61! £189.99 Product Description Gigabyte GA-X99-UD5 WIFI - 1.0 - motherboard - extended ATX - LGA2011-v3 Socket - X99 Product Type Motherboard - extended ATX Chipset Type Intel X99 Express Processor Socket 1 x LGA2011-v3 Socket Compatible Processors Core i7 Extreme Edition, Core i7, Xeon E5-2600 v3 series, Xeon E5-1600 v3 series Max RAM Size 64 GB RAM Supported 8 DIMM slots - DDR4, non-ECC, registered, unbuffered Storage Ports 6 x SATA-600 (RAID), 4 x SATA-600, 1 x SATA Express port, 1 x M.2 USB / FireWire Ports 8 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0 + (4 x USB 3.0 + 4 x USB 2.0 via headers) Audio HD Audio (8-channel) LAN Bluetooth, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac

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1. My current mother board is an ATX. This new one will fit fine. T/F 2. I will be able to connect DDR3 memory to the motherboard. T/F 3. The maximum RAM is 64MB. T/F 4. I will have enough USB ports to plug in my mouse, keyboard, web cam, speakers, iPod and Phone all at the same time. T/F 5. I can have an 8 speaker surround sound system plugged into this motherboard. T/F 6. I can only connect this motherboard to a network (LAN) using wi-fi. T/F 7. I can connect hard discs to RAID. T/F

9 QUIZ - please click on the icon.

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Sources: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MSI_KT3_Ultra_ver_1.0_-_labeled.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/P1024sl2_motherboard.jpg http://www.dabs.com/images/product/uni2/DigitalContent/9q/9Q1Z_8A106912-E960-4461-A171-6532F639313B_large.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/VIA_Mini-ITX_Form_Factor_Comparison.jpg?uselang=cs https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Motherboards_form_factors.svg/719px- Motherboards_form_factors.svg.png https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4vuDb_uiNk

GLAFKA’s sources:

VIDEO, "Describing parts of motherboard": https://youtu.be/SWlAvSX-ZdU?list=UUiwKO-pQO-xj1WoSBjPn1-A

Listen and check: http://glafka.cz/evet/unit2/sound/Motherboard.mp3

Quiz: http://glafka.cz/evet/unit2/quiz_u2/Motherboard.htm

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