Motherboards

Sometimes new equipment doesn't work properly with old version of BIOS, when you flash it (if it's supported), you enable new features and proper communication between the motherboard and new equipment.

yes, infact ddr and sdram can be on the same module. It just depends on what your motherboard need, here is a list of all the types of ram. SRAM: Static random access memory uses multiple transistors, typically four to six, for each memory cell but doesn't have a capacitor in each cell. It is used primarily for cache.

DRAM: Dynamic random access memory has memory cells with a paired transistor and capacitor requiring constant refreshing. FPM DRAM: Fast page mode dynamic random access memory was the original form of DRAM. It waits through the entire process of locating a bit of data by column and row and then reading the bit before it starts on the next bit. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 176 MBps. EDO DRAM: Extended data-out dynamic random access memory does not wait for all of the processing of the first bit before continuing to the next one. As soon as the address of the first bit is located, EDO DRAM begins looking for the next bit. It is about five percent faster than FPM. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 264 MBps. SDRAM: Synchronous dynamic random access memory takes advantage of the burst mode concept to greatly improve performance. It does this by staying on the row containing the requested bit and moving rapidly through the columns, reading each bit as it goes. The idea is that most of the time the data needed by the CPU will be in sequence. SDRAM is about five percent faster than EDO RAM and is the most common form in desktops today. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 528 MBps.

DDR SDRAM: Double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM is just like SDRAM except that is has higher bandwidth, meaning greater speed. Maximum transfer rate to L2 cache is approximately 1,064 MBps (for DDR SDRAM 133 MHZ).

RDRAM: Rambus dynamic random access memory is a radical departure from the previous DRAM architecture. Designed by Rambus, RDRAM uses a Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM), which is similar in size and pin configuration to a standard DIMM. What makes RDRAM so different is its use of a special high-speed data bus called the Rambus channel. RDRAM memory chips work in parallel to achieve a data rate of 800 MHz, or 1,600 MBps. Since they operate at such high speeds, they generate much more heat than other types of chips. To help dissipate the excess heat Rambus chips are fitted with a heat spreader, which looks like a long thin wafer. Just like there are smaller versions of DIMMs, there are also SO-RIMMs, designed for notebook computers. Credit Card Memory: Credit card memory is a proprietary self-contained DRAM memory module that plugs into a special slot for use in notebook computers.

PCMCIA Memory Card: Another self-contained DRAM module for notebooks, cards of this type are not proprietary and should work with any notebook computer whose system bus matches the memory card's configuration. CMOS RAM: CMOS RAM is a term for the small amount of memory used by your computer and some other devices to remember things like hard disk settings -- see Why does my computer need a battery? for details. This memory uses a small battery to provide it with the power it needs to maintain the memory contents. VRAM: VideoRAM, also known as multiport dynamic random access memory (MPDRAM), is a type of RAM used specifically for video adapters or 3-D accelerators. The "multiport" part comes from the fact that VRAM normally has two independent access ports instead of one, allowing the CPU and graphics processor to access the RAM simultaneously.

VRAM is located on the graphics card and comes in a variety of formats, many of which are proprietary. The amount of VRAM is a determining factor in the resolution and color depth of the display. VRAM is also used to hold graphics-specific information such as 3-D geometry data and texture maps. True multiport VRAM tends to be expensive, so today, many graphics cards use SGRAM (synchronous graphics RAM) instead. Performance is nearly the same, but SGRAM is cheaper.

Answer 2 Whilst I applaud the above poster for the indepth answer. They are wrong in the assumption that SDram / DDR Ram, can be used at the same time. This is NOT the case. Occasionally on older motherboards, there are slots for SDRam and DDR RAM, they CANNOT be used at the same time, due to the different speeds they run at.

Also there is now DDR II ram, which is faster still than DDR Ram, and again these cannot be used at the same time as DDR Ram. Hope this helps

Be Safe

Cadishead Computers

Yes. They are backwards compatible. Even with the installed 800MHz ram It will still only run at 667MHz speeds.

The PCI video card should work, but you may need to change a setting in your BIOS to recognize it. Enter "setup" when the computer starts, and look for a setting about video options. There is usually a setting indicating to seek an AGP or a PCI video card upon startup. NO! A pci video card will only fit into a pci slot in a motherboard. Likewise an agp will only fit into an agp slot. They are completely different. Both of these above answers are right and wrong. PCI and AGP are two totally different standards, but as long as you have an open PCI slot, you can use a PCI video card and opt not to use the AGP (Make sure to change appropriate options in your BIOS.) ==Answer == Yes you can use a PCI card where the slot is avaliable, but if your motherboard has a slot for AGP cards it is worth noting that the systemboard was designed with AGP in mind. It offers a system bus direct to the prossesor for faster unhindered communication.Running a PCI card on a AGP board may and probably will slow down your system performance.

There are separate industry standards for each so that products can be compatible from vendor to vendor.

For example, motherboards have standard connectors and sizes for different chassis configurations. RAM have different connector conventions so you cannot put the wrong type of ram into your computer.

A bios or cmos jumper

Yes. The connectors are the same. microATX is designed to be backwards-compatible with ATX, including interchangeable cases and power supplies.

The sockets on the outside of a computer that plug into an expansion card are called ports. Depending on the expansion card, there can be a variety of ports including USB, audio and network ports.

The name for the routine that tests the motherboard memory disk controllers is POST-Power On Self-Test

CPU speed is measured in megahertz MHz and gigahertz GHz. Your typical processor is going to be in GHz if you have a super computer then it will be in MHz. The CPU speed can be deceiving so make sure you do your research on them.

If you install DIMMS in all four slots that don't match, the memory will still work, just not at top performance.

A motherboard takes both input and output. For example, it may take inputs from a keyboard or mouse, and output video from an integrated graphics card.

In a more general sense, the motherboard is the device which connects all of the pieces of the computer together; All of the data sent between devices is routed through the motherboard. In effect, every one of these data transmissions can be viewed as input and output (input data from one device to the mobo, output the data from the mobo to another device).

The atx 12 connector is one of the motherboard power connectors and used for 12 volt power connect for cpu voltage regulator.

Three

What are three important considerations when installing a CPU on a motherboard?

1. AGP(accelerated graphics port) edit: now replaced with PCIx (PCI Express) ex 2010

2. Chip set

3. CPU (central processing unit)

4. bios edit: now replaced with the UEFI firmware ex 2014

AGP or Accelerated Graphics Port slots are used for graphics cards. Display quality is significantly enhanced when using AGP video cards.

A PCI card is supplied with an edge connector which fits snugly into a PCI slot on the motherboard. Firm pressure is needed to ensure the card makes a good connection with the slot. There is also a metal plate along another edge of the card which allows the user to fix the card to the computer case with a screw. Before the card is inserted into the PCI slot the blank plate in the back of the case next to the slot must be removed. Most PCI cards provide connectors on the metal plate to allow external devices to be linked up to the computer; these might be display monitors, joysticks, audio connections etc.

The motherboard holds most of the essential circuitry needed for the computer. It contains the CPU, the chipset, the buses, the memory, voltage regulators, the BIOS, the CMOS battery, and various controllers. The motherboard may or may not have integrated graphics. If not, the machine will need a separate video card.

Late 2013 and early 2014 has been and will be a very exciting time for graphics cards.

AMD released the R9 270, 280, 290, and 290x recently.

nVidia recently released and announced the 780Ti, a powerful upgrade to the existing GTX 780.

You can read about any of these cards on a variety of websites including http://linustechtips.com/main/, http://www.anandtech.com, and a variety of other websites.