Module 6: The Motherboard
Week of Tue, Sep 8 · module closes Sat, Sep 12
Take Meerk's quiz for Module 6
This module's items
- M6 Discussiondue Thu, Sep 10 · points in Canvas
Exact due times are in Canvas. Late work is not accepted.
Know these cold
- The chipset manages USB, SATA, PCIe lanes, and audio — acting as the I/O hub between CPU and peripherals.
- PCIe slots: x1 (NICs, sound cards), x4 (M.2 adapters), x16 (GPUs — the longest slot).
- M.2 slots accept SATA or NVMe SSDs depending on key type (B, M, or B+M) and board spec.
- VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) steps down +12V to the precise CPU core voltage (0.8-1.4V).
- Standoffs must be installed before seating the board — contact shorts destroy PCB traces.
- Both the 24-pin ATX and the 8-pin EPS connectors must be connected before the system will POST.
Meerk's quiz — open the Module 6 gate
10 questions, no time limit. 85% on your first attempt in a 24-hour window opens the gate. Retakes inside the window are practice — they help you learn, they don't count. Work alone; the point is to know it, not to have seen it.
Stuck?
Raise your hand. Mr. James gets a message right away and can help you remotely. Nothing else is stored — just your last name, grade, and where you're stuck.
Dinner Table Question
Ask at home: A new build posts 1 long plus 2 short beeps (video not detected). GPU is in the x16 slot. What do you check first?
En español: Una PC nueva emite 1 pitido largo y 2 cortos (video no detectado). La GPU esta en el slot x16. Que verificas primero?