The most important thing to remember is that you can't afford to miss out on any of the benefits of using a motherboard.
The main requirement of the motherboard is good workmanship, which can provide stable power supply support for the CPU, memory, and other related accessories, in addition to the support of the hardware ceiling. AMD and Intel two CPU interface is different, so the use of the model is also different, usually on the motherboard will be labeled. Let me take you to the computer motherboard basic practical knowledge, I hope to help you!
Computer Hardware Knowledge : BIOS, EFI and UEFI explained!
This article is estimated that many white people do not understand, but we still recommend that you read it, this article mainly explains these "BIOS" boot mode, the computer boot problem will be beneficial to understand the judgment.
The BIOS is a program that is stored on the BIOS chip, and while newer computers nowadays are basically UEFI-booted, earlier transition computers were EFI-booted. In fact, part of the EFI or UEFI is also stored in a chip, because they are in the surface form, the basic function and BIOS is almost the same, so customarily we also store EFI/UEFI chip is called the EFI/UEFI BIOS chip, EFI/UEFI is also called the EFI/UEFI BIOS, but in practice they are not the same as the BIOS at all! Therefore, the BIOS program can be divided into a number of modules, mainly Boot Block boot module, CMOS setup module, Extended Configuration Data (ESCD) module, DMI collection of hardware data module, which is directly responsible for the execution of the boot module BIOS program itself entrance, the computer's basic hardware detection and initialization, the ESCD is used for the exchange of hardware configuration data between the BIOS and the OS. DMI acts as an interface between the hardware management tool and the system layer. Through DMI, users can intuitively obtain any information about the hardware, and the CMOS setup module is the realization of the hardware information setup and saved in the CMOS, which is the most commonly used function of the BIOS program in addition to the boot initialization.
The BIOS itself is assembly language code that is executed in 16-bit real mode by calling the INT 13H interrupt. Because __86-64 is a highly compatible instruction set, and in order to accommodate BIOS's 16-bit real-mode operating environment, even though today's CPUs are 64-bit, if they are still booting from the BIOS (which is basically seen in motherboards before '09), they are still in 16-bit mode when booting. The 16-bit real mode of direct access to the 16-bit real mode of memory is only 1MB, even if you have a 4G, 8G or 16G or 32G memory, to the BIOS always recognize only the first 1MB. in this 1MB memory, the first 640K is called the basic memory, the latter 384K memory is left to boot the necessary hardware and the various types of BIOS itself, the use of the BIOS. This is the first time I've seen a BIOS that has been used in a computer, and I'm sure it's been used in the same way.
When the power switch is pressed, the power supply begins to power the motherboard and other devices, the voltage is not stable, in the early north-south bridge motherboard, by the motherboard north bridge to the CPU reset signal, the CPU initialization; stabilize the voltage after the reset signal will be withdrawn. For the current single south bridge motherboard, the CPU itself to adjust the stabilization voltage to achieve the purpose of initialization, when the voltage is stable, the CPU will be in the system BIOS to retain the memory address of the implementation of the jump to the start of the BIOS instruction to start the implementation of the POST self-test.
In the POST self-test, the BIOS only checks if there is a problem with the system's essential core hardware, mainly the CPU, 640K base memory, whether the graphics card is normal, the PS/2 keyboard controller, the system clock, etc.
In the POST self-test, the BIOS only checks if the system's essential core hardware has a problem. Since the POST check before the initialization of the graphics card, so at this stage if an error occurs, it can not be displayed on the screen, but there is an alarm speaker on the motherboard, and if the motherboard's 8255 peripheral programmable interface chip is not damaged, the POST alarm sound must be out. Can be based on the different alarm sound to determine roughly where the error, in general, a short "beep" sound basically represents the normal start, different errors are different short "beep" sound and long "beep" sound combination. "At the end of the POST self-test, BIOS starts calling interrupts to complete various hardware initialization tasks.
Hardware initialization work, the main explanation of the two points, first after the POST detection, the computer finally appeared on the boot screen, which is already detected the graphics card and completed the initialization. However, please note that since the BIOS is running in 16-bit real mode, this screen is displayed in VGA resolution (640_480, aspect ratio 4:3), because the highest supported real mode is VGA. previous small 14-17 inch CRT monitors Since they are all in 4:3 ratio, and the highest resolution is relatively low, so there is no sense of contradiction in this boot-up screen, but nowadays But nowadays, LCD monitors are basically widescreen 16:9 with higher resolution, so under such a display, everything on the startup screen can be said to be "miserable" - the graphics are stretched out, the fonts are very large and fuzzy, and the jaggedness of the display fonts is clearly visible. The jaggedness of the display fonts can be clearly seen. Secondly, the BIOS only recognizes hard disks initialized by the Master Boot Record (MBR), which is explained by the fact that subsequent EFIs or UEFIs use a new GUID disk partitioning system (GPT) format, which is not recognized by the BIOS. Once the hardware is all initialized, the next stage is to update the ESCD.
In the ESCD update phase, BIOS will detect the hardware configuration data stored in CMOS and exchanged with the operating system, and will update the data if the system hardware changes, otherwise it will not be updated to keep the original status quo unchanged, and the last thing BIOS will do after the ESCD detection or update is finished is to boot the operating system.
In this last step, BIOS reads the boot or boot record of the corresponding device according to the user-specified hardware boot sequence in CMOS, guides the operating system on the corresponding device to boot, and enters into the operating system, and then the operating system takes over the responsibility of the BIOS for the mutual communication between hardware and software. If you find that none of the hardware has a record of being able to boot the operating system, you will see an error message on the screen and the computer will remain in 16-bit real mode.
Although BIOS as a computer power startup essential part, but from its birth in 1975, nearly 30 years from the date of birth, 16-bit assembly language code, 1M memory addressing, call interrupt a line of execution of the concept and the way the surprisingly did not change at all, although by the major motherboard vendors unremitting efforts, BIOS also has a ACPI, USB device support, PnP Plug and Play support and other new things, but this fundamentally did not change the nature of the BIOS, and Intel in order to accommodate these old technologies, had to be retained in the generation after generation of processors in the 16-bit real mode (otherwise it is simply not possible to boot). However, Intel developed a new Anthem processor in 2001 with the IA-64 architecture and introduced the new EFI. it was later proven that the Anthem processor, the IA-64 architecture, did not spread, while EFI and the successor UEFI flourished and became the main pre-boot environment for computers nowadays.
EFI, the acronym for E__tensible Firmware Interface, directly translates to Extensible Firmware Interface, which is a miniaturized system constructed in a modular, high-level language (mainly C) that, like BIOS, completes the hardware initialization mainly during the boot process, but which directly utilizes the loading of the EFI driver. EFI driver is not directly oriented to the CPU code, but by the EFI bytecode written by the EFI bytecode is dedicated to the EFI virtual machine instructions, need to run in the EFI driver operating environment D__E under the interpretation, so that the EFI can be achieved both wildcard, but also provides good compatibility. In addition, EFI is completely 32-bit or 64-bit, discarding the 16-bit real mode, the maximum addressing of the processor can be realized in EFI, so that any information can be stored at any memory address. In addition, since EFI driver development is very simple, the EFI-based driver model in principle allows EFI to access all hardware functions, and it is entirely possible to read and write files and browse the Internet on EFI. i. The CMOS setup program on the BIOS is executed as a single EFI program on the EFI, with the hardware setup being the hardware setup program, the boot management another program, and the saving of the CMOS another program. The hardware setup is the hardware setup program, the boot manager is another, and saving CMOS is another, although they are all together in the formal shell.
EFI is functionally equivalent to a lightweight OS, but EFI was not designed to be a professional OS. First, it is only an interface between the hardware and the operating system; second, EFI does not provide an interrupt access mechanism, and EFI has to poll the hardware to check and interpret it, which is less efficient than driver execution under an OS. Finally, EFI has only a simple memory management mechanism, in segment protection mode only the memory segment, all programs can access any segment location, does not provide real protection services. Along with EFI, a new GUID disk partitioning system (GPT) was introduced to support the traditional MBR disk can only exist in four primary partitions, only in the creation of the primary partition is less than four, you can create an extended partition, and then on it to create a logical partition recognized by the system, the logical partition is also the number of logical partitions, too many logical partitions will seriously affect the system startup, the MBR hard disk partitioning only supports the maximum capacity of 2T. GPT supports any number of partitions, the size of each partition is unlimited in principle, but in practice it is limited by OS regulations and can not be infinite, but it is a very important progress compared to MBR's 2T limit.The partition type of GPT is uniquely specified by the GUID table, and basically it is not possible to duplicate it, and the EFI system partition can be accessed by EFI and used for EFI. The EFI system partition can be accessed by EFI to access some of the drivers and applications. Although this in principle makes the EFI system partition insecure, the data placed here is generally "marginal", so even if it is destroyed, it will not have serious consequences, and can be easily recovered.
When EFI developed to 1.1, Intel decided to make EFI public, so the subsequent 2.0 attracted many companies to join, EFI no longer belongs to Intel, but belongs to the Unified EFI Form of the international organization, EFI in 2.0 after the so-called UEFI, UEFI, in which the EFI and the original is the meaning of a U is Unified (Unified). UEFI is an abbreviation for Unified (Unified, Unified), so UEFI means "Unified Extensible Firmware Interface". Compared with its predecessor EFI, UEFI mainly has the following improvements:
First, UEFI has a complete graphical driver function, while the previous EFI added a graphical driver in principle, but in order to ensure that EFI can be used as a driver, it is not necessary for EFI to have a graphical driver.
Firstly, UEFI has full graphics driver capability. Previously, although EFI in principle added a graphics driver, in order to ensure a good transition between EFI and BIOS, most of EFI was still a kind of DOS interface (still with 640_480VGA resolution), only supported PS/2 keyboard operation (very few supported mouse operation), and did not support USB keyboard and mouse. To the UEFI, is a complete graphics driver, whether it is PS / 2 or USB keyboard and mouse, UEFI are supported, and UEFI in the graphics card also supports the GOP VBIOS, the display of the settings interface is the graphics card high-resolution 640__480 or 1024__768 display, so the screen is small but clear, but this will lead to a large area around the screen to stay black, but the fish and fish and mouse.
Advanced Mode
Advanced mode provides a more comprehensive UEFI BIOS environment that is designed specifically for overclockers.
Second, UEFI has a unique feature, Secure Boot, which EFI does not have. Secure Boot, in fact, is commonly referred to as firmware verification. After turning on UEFI's Secure Boot, the motherboard will judge each hardware according to the hardware signature recorded by the TPM chip (or the CPU's built-in TPM), and only the hardware driver that meets the authentication will be loaded, whereas Win8 and later Windows continue to check the signature of the hardware driver during the process of loading the operating system, and the hardware that meets the Windows record can be Windows This reduces the risk of bootable programs being preloaded before the operating system starts, but it also causes the system installation to become monopolized.
Either EFI or UEFI must have a preloaded environment, a driver execution environment, drivers, and other necessary components, and in order to support some of the older devices (e.g., mounting a legacy MBR hard drive under UEFI, a graphics card that does not support UEFI booting that is still supported to run under UEFI, and so on), it also requires a CSM compatibility support module, which is only supported by either EFI or UEFI. The following is the process of booting a computer with EFI or UEFI, which supports GPT disks.
In general, the preloaded environment and the driver execution environment are stored in the UEFI (UEFI BIOS) chip, when the power switch is turned on, the main components of the computer are beginning to have power supply, and unlike BIOS, the UEFI preloaded environment is the first to start the implementation of the initialization work responsible for the CPU and memory (which is the full capacity), where, if there is a significant problem, the computer Even if there is an alarm horn, it will not sound, because UEFI does not drive the 8255 sound, but the preloaded environment only checks the CPU and memory, if the two main hardware problems, the screen does not show can be determined immediately, in addition, some motherboards will have to provide LED prompts, can be based on the CPU or memory light roughly determine the fault.
After the CPU and memory are initialized, the driver execution environment (D__E) is loaded, and when D__E is loaded, UEFI has the ability to enumerate and load UEFI drivers. At this stage, UEFI will enumerate and search for the UEFI driver for each piece of hardware, and then load it one after another to complete the hardware initialization work, which will be faster than the read interrupt loading speed of the BIOS. This is a much faster process than the BIOS readout, so if the UEFI driver for the graphics card is loaded successfully, the computer will boot up and the hardware driver will be loaded.
During the boot phase, the same boot sequence is used to boot to the appropriate device (GPT devices only, if you boot a traditional MBR device, you need to turn on the CSM support), boot the operating system and enter the boot phase, where it is important to note that UEFI detects that there is no operating system booting device, and then proceeds directly to the UEFI settings page. Instead of displaying a black screen like a BIOS, UEFI will go directly to the UEFI setup page when it detects that no OS is present.
In summary, the BIOS and UEFI startup process can be summarized as follows: BIOS initializes the CPU, and then jumps to the BIOS startup for POST self-tests, which, if there is a serious error, will alert the computer to different alarms, and then loads various hardware using read interrupts to complete the hardware initialization process into the operating system startup. The UEFI is a preloaded environment that directly initializes the CPU and memory, and if there are problems with the CPU and memory, it will just black out, and then start the P_E to search for various hardware and load the driver, complete the hardware initialization, and then enter the operating system boot process as well.
In addition, the BIOS is a 16-bit assembly language program that can only run in 16-bit real mode with only 1MB of accessible memory, while the UEFI is a 32-bit or 64-bit high-level language program (C program) that breaks through the real mode limitations to reach the maximum addressability required.
Newbie computer repair knowledge: common English markings on the motherboard explained!
1. Hard disk and floppy drive interfaces
PRIIDE and IDE1 and SEC IDE and IDE2 - indicates the main and secondary hard disk and optical drive interfaces
FLOPPY and FDD1 ----- indicates the floppy drive interface
Note: There are pins around the interface in order to indicate that the interface is connected to a number, such as 1, 2, and 33, 34 and 39, 40-like numbers. We use the floppy and hard drive cables with the red wire near the 1 position.
2. CPU socket
SOCKET-478 and SOCKET 462, SOCKET 370 - indicates the number of pins of the type of CPU.
3. Memory Sockets
DIMM0, DIMM1, and DDR1, DDR2, DDR3 - indicates the type of memory used
4. Power Supply Interface
AT__1 or AT__PWR - 20-pin AT__ power supply interface
AT__12V------CPU Dedicated 12V connector for power supply (2 yellow and 2 black ****4 pcs)
AT__P5 ------ memory power supply connector (color 1 red, 2 orange, 3 black, ****6 pcs)
5. Fan connector
CPU-FATN1----- CPU fan
PWR-FAN1------ power supply fan<
CAS-FAN1 and CHASSIS FAN and SYS FAN, etc.---indicates chassis fan power interface
FRONTFAN ------ front chassis fan
REARFAN ------- rear chassis fan
6. Chassis panel interface
P_PANEL or FRONT PNL1 - Front Panel Interface
RESET or RST ------- Reset
PWR_SW or PW_ON ------ Power On
PWR_LED --------- Power Indicator
ACPI_LED --------- Advanced Power Management Status Indicators
TUBRO_LED or TB_LED ---- for Acceleration Status Indicator
HD_LED or IDE_LED ----- for Hard Disk Indicator
SCSILED --------- for SCSI Hard Disk Operational Status Indicator
HD+ and HD--------- Positive and negative hard disk indicators such as MPD+ and MPD-, PW+ and PW-
SPEAKER and SPK------ motherboard speaker interfaces
BZ1---------- Peak Tone
KB_LOCK and KEYLOCK - indicate keyboard lock interfaces
TUBROS/W - the ----- acceleration transfer switch interface
7. Peripheral interfaces
LPT1 and PARALL----- denote printer interfaces
COM1 and COM2------ serial communication ports, also peripheral MODEM interfaces, the old square mouse interface
RJ45--------- built-in network card interface
RJ11--------- built-in MODEM interface
USB or USB1 and USB2, FNT USB, etc.---indicates front or rear USB interface on motherboard
MSE/KYBD------ mouse and keyboard interface
CD_IN1 and JCD---- indicate CD audio input connector
AU__IN1 and JAU__---- denote the line audio input connector
JAUDIO or AUDIO---- denotes the onboard audio output connector. If your speakers have front headphone and microphone jacks that match the onboard AUDIO connector, you can conveniently use both the front and rear audio outputs at the same time without having to go back and forth.
F_AUDIO------- front audio input and output connectors
MODEMIN1------ built-in modem input connectors
About DIY Hardware Brand New Kits Science Fiction
What does Brand New Kit mean for motherboards and graphics cards?
In DIY hardware, kits are basically found on motherboards and graphics cards, as well as power supplies, especially motherboards and graphics cards. The so-called "work package" is the product without a retail box, the hardware is only a separate anti-static bag packaging, but also work package has a kraft paper simple box (non-retail color box), usually these products will be placed in a large cardboard box, which has a piece of paper will be separated from each piece of hardware, the brand new work package is better to understand, that is, the brand new!
These products are usually placed in a large cardboard box with a piece of paper separating each piece of hardware, and the brand new work package is better understood as a brand new product without a retail box.
In the well-known hardware brands, such as ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc., there are also packaged motherboards and graphics cards, and these packaged products are mainly aimed at the crowd mainly in Internet cafes, DIY machine manufacturers and other high-volume purchase of the installed population, the price is cheaper, the installation of the more convenient, without having to one by one unpacking.
There may be users who say, this and bulk CPU is not a reason, but also no packaging, only a bare CPU, on the surface is a reason, but very different. CPU bulk is mainly in the supply channel, warranty, packaging, CPU performance, workmanship, there is no difference, but the work of the package of graphics cards and motherboards in the supply channel is the same, the regular channel outflow of the product, mainly the The different groups oriented, the warranty is usually the same as the retail product, but the workmanship of the material compared to the retail product there are differences in the phenomenon of material shrinkage, which is the main reason why the packet products are cheaper, not just no retail box so simple.
Talking about the work package shrinkage products, have to talk about the computer machine, computer machine why not recommend, from the current market, mixed, can be divided into three categories.
1, second-hand hardware assembled from a computer
Discontinued hardware assembled computer, mostly eliminated for many years of i5, i7 processor, generally intel's first generation, the second generation, the third generation of i5, i7 processor, the model is generally i5-750, i7-920, i5-2400, i5-3470 and other discontinued products. To know that now is already intel's ninth generation processor, each generation will have a different degree of upgrading, including architecture, process, core, single-core performance, although the beginning of the i5, i7 models, it can be said that has been eliminated successive generations of i5, i7 processor is not as good as the current low-end products, know that intel's seventh generation to the eighth generation has had a 40% performance improvement, the eighth generation to the ninth generation has also had a 10% The performance improvement is about 10 percent. For only recognize i5, i7 processor, and do not know the importance of the generation of white, was pit really still in the drum, looks like the model is the beginning of i5, i7, seems to be very high-end, but with the new product performance comparison, may also be the performance level of the entry-level products.
2, foreign garbage hardware assembled from a computer
The foreign garbage is actually second-hand, just the server out of the product, its advantage is that the core is more, foreign garbage hardware assembled from the computer can be said to be the most can be "bluffing", what the six-core twelve-threaded what beat the i5, i7. What unconscionable performance comparison charts, etc., in front of fooling the white man what falsehoods are said. Usually these CPUs are basically E5, E, ___ the beginning of the model, claiming to be i5 level, i7 level, i9 level, in short, can write more exaggerated write more exaggerated. These foreign trash although the number of cores and threads more, but the architecture of the old, backward process, heat, single-core performance is weak, on the performance, not as good as the current sale of entry-level CPU. generally on the motherboard will be with the elimination of the magic of the ___58, ___79 motherboards, such as ___58, ___79 this kind of LGA1366, LGA 2011 interface motherboards have long since eliminated, ___58, ___79 this kind of LGA1366, LGA 2011 interface motherboards, the motherboards. There are no brand-new products on the market, and intel is unlikely to be able to produce the products that are being phased out. They are small factories that recycle the ___79 and ___58 chips to refurbish the new motherboards, and this type of hosting, in addition to the chassis, is new, and the others are not likely to be new.
3, shrinking package hardware assembled from a computer
Speaking of which, again on the subject of package hardware, this host, although the use of brand new hardware currently on sale, but the "water" is still very deep, first of all, it goes without saying that the CPU is certainly bulk, and even mixed with miscellaneous or third-line brand products, all in order to reduce the cost of the computer, but also to reduce the cost of the computer. Brand products, all this is to reduce costs. I believe that many users find some computer machine with ASUS and other well-known motherboards, the machine appears and so on well-known brands, such as motherboards, graphics cards, power supplies and so on is basically a package product, take ASUS motherboards, for example, known as ASUS four beasts, such as DRAGON (Dragon), PI__IU (Pixi), BASALT (Xuanwu), KYLIN (Kirin), which can be called e-commerce special! In fact, is the package, such as ASUS B365M-BASALT (some e-commerce is very smart, not write directly, write directly ASUS B360M or ASUS B365M, do not dare to write the suffix is basically this type), are part of the package motherboards, the price is relatively low, in the materials, power supply phases, interfaces and so on have a certain amount of watering down of material, materials can be saved to save the entire budget is to reduce the machine! The first step in the process is to create a new, more efficient, and more reliable platform for the user to access and use.
Just like the motherboard of a certain model online, model number ASUS B365M-BASALT, is a work package product.
Let's take a look at the difference between the work-in-package ASUS B365M-BASALT and the retail ASUS TUF B365M-PLUS GAMING motherboard, as shown below.
From the appearance of the motherboard, I believe you can see at a glance, the work package motherboard in the absence of thermal armor, there is no doubt that in the heat dissipation and value will be almost, the size of the work package motherboard is also scaled down quite a lot, although they are both based on the M-AT ___ board type, the ASUS B365M-BASALT dimensions are only 22.6 cm ___ 18.5 cm, while the retail version of the ASUS TUF B365M -PLUS GAMING dimensions of 24.4 cm __ 24.1 cm, the size of the shrinkage means that the layout of the motherboard is more compact, such as two less memory slots, a graphics card slot, an M.2 slot, two sata interfaces, etc., in short, basically save all the province, the workmanship material is basically obvious, will not be introduced one by one. The biggest difference is mainly reflected in the cooling and overclocking ability, cooling will be relatively poor, overclocking ability is weak, if the retail version of the cheapest, called the beggar's edition, the work package graphics card must be beggars, beggars in the overlord!
Just like a certain rainbow home NetChip version of the graphics card, is belong to the work package products, as shown in the following figure, this graphics card, although it is to have the positioning of the middle and high-end RT ___ 2060 chip, but the workmanship material looks even worse than a thousand dollars of graphics cards.
★ Computer motherboard application knowledge Daquan
★ White motherboard basics literacy
★ Computer motherboard practical cold knowledge
★ Computer motherboard science knowledge Daquan
★ Computer hardware knowledge: newbie must have the four major computer hardware basics