Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region V SHS
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SORSOGON
CASTILLA CLUSTER

COMPUTER SYSTEMS SERVICING NC II

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET NUMBER: 6 (Quarter 1)

CMOS and Motherboards

Name of Student: __________________________ Parent’s Signature: ___________

Grade and Section: _______________________________________________________

I. Introductory Concept

In the workplace, many people use computers to keep records, analyze data,
do research, and manage projects. At home, you can use computers to find
information, store pictures and music, track finances, play games, and communicate
with others—and those are just a few of the possibilities.
A computer comprises various physical parts and hardware components
providing support for its major functions. From the tiniest to the largest piece takes
part in the computer processes. From a computer memory chip to the main logic
board.
Do you wonder what’s inside of the system unit? If yes, then this learning
activity sheet will give you a glimpse of those hardware and will introduce you to a
new learning practice about CMOS, a computer memory chip and Motherboard, the
main board of a computer.

II. Learning Competencies

LO 1. Assemble Computer Hardware

• Identify the functions of a CMOS in a computer system. (TLE_IACSS9-12ICCS-

Ia-e-28)
• Determine the signs of CMOS failures during start-up. (TLE_IACSS9-12ICCS-
Ia-e-28)
• Distinguish correctly the parts and functions of a Motherboard (TLE_IACSS9-
12ICCS-Ia-e-28)
• Apply troubleshooting skills in dealing with Motherboard issues (TLE_IACSS9-
12ICCS-Ia-e-28)

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

III. Activities

|The CMOS|

CMOS (short for complementary metal-

oxide-semiconductor) is the term
usually used to describe the small
amount of memory on a
computer motherboard that stores
the BIOS settings. Some of these BIOS
settings include the system time and
date as well as hardware settings.
CMOS is an onboard, battery powered
Figure 1. CMOS Coin Cell Battery semiconductor chip inside computers
Source : Lennox IT BUsiness IT Solutions. (n.d.). Changing a BIOS
that stores information. This
Battery [Photograph]. Lennox IT BUsiness IT Solutions. https://lennox- information ranges from the system time
it.uk/changing-a-bios-battery
and date to system hardware settings
First CMOS chip was used in early IBM for computers.
your computer (Fisher,
This CMOS chip2020).
was two
main components RTC and CMOS RAM. This CMOS also has 64-byte memory where 14
bytes were used system clock RAM and 50 bytes of storage was used for system settings
(Baydan,2019).

 How CMOS and BIOS Work Together  Did You

Know?
BIOS and CMOS work together, but they do different When the computer
things. The BIOS contains programs that the CPU needs first boots up, BIOS
pulls information
to communicate with the various devices on the
from the CMOS chip
motherboard. The BIOS can’t be rewritten. We often refer to understand the
to BIOS as the BIOS chip, but BIOS is not really the chip hardware settings,
itself, it’s the software inside that’s really the BIOS. time, and anything
else that's stored in
The CMOS contains the parameters for programs it. CMOS is used to
in BIOS in order to access certain devices. When we add a store this date/time
new hard drive into the system, it will probably have different configuration.
parameters than the one that was in our PC before (cicnavi,
2010).
As stated by Dan Stone in his article “What Is the Primary Function of the
BIOS & the CMOS?”, he said that CMOS menu is accessed from the BIOS Setup
Utility screen. The CMOS Menu contains the hardware customization options
allowed by the motherboard, uses a simple graphical interface and is controlled by
the keyboard. Customization features include memory handling, expansion port
speed configuration, boot device order and power control”.

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

 Dan Stone also added that the CMOS is a physical Points to Remember ✓
part of the motherboard: it is a memory chip that houses It's important to understand that
setting configurations and is powered by the onboard CMOS and BIOS are not
battery. The CMOS battery is a small battery fitted on the interchangeable terms for the same
motherboard of your computer. It has a life of around five thing. While they work together for a
specific function within the computer,
to ten years. He emphasized that a user needs to use the
they are two entirely different
computer regularly to extend the life of the CMOS battery. components (Fishers, 2020

Source: https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-cmos-2625826
https://www.poftut.com/what-is-cmos-complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor/
https://www.utilizewindows.com/cmos-bios-and-boot-process/
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/primary-function-bios-cmos-68581.html

 Signs of CMOS Failures 

It is a 3V battery. If the voltage drops between certain levels, your computer loses the
memory. The CMOS settings like date and time get changed. In some instances, the date and time
get set to factory default. For example, your computer date will be set to factory settings,
something like 12/01/2008 (Greaves, 2017)
As stated by Wanda Greaves in the website “Rocks Digital”, the following are the Signs of
CMOS Failures.

❖ All of the settings like drive type, FDD, NUMs lock, etc., in the computer setup will be changed.
It may be causing booting problems since your computer does not remember information about
the disk drive.
❖ Your computer will show a message such as “Booting Error, unable to detect disk drive.”
❖ The computer may be shutting down and will not allow you to perform any task.
❖ Your computer may be too slow. It may be due to wrong time and date.
❖ Some of the drivers may be missing or may not work properly.
❖ Your mouse may not respond properly.
❖ If you hear a constant beeping sound when working with your computer, it is a sign that you
need to replace the CMOS battery.
❖ The computer will also display CMOS battery failure, CMOS read error, or CMOS checksum
error, etc.
❖ You may not be able to connect to the internet.

Source: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/primary-function-bios-cmos-68581.html
https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-cmos-2625826
https://www.rocksdigital.com/cmos-battery-failure/

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

 |The Motherboard|

The motherboard serves to connect

all of the parts of a computer together.
The CPU, memory, hard drives, and other
ports and expansion cards all connect to
the motherboard directly or via cables.
The motherboard is the piece of
computer hardware that can be thought of
as the "backbone" of the PC, or more
appropriately as the "mother" that holds all
DID(Fisher,
the pieces together YOU KNOW?
2020).
Figure 2. A Gigabyte motherboard
Source : GIGA-BYTE Technology Co., Ltd. (n.d.-a). GA-880GM-USB3 (rev. 1.x) The IBM Personal Computer that was
rev. 3.1 [Photograph]. GIGABYTE. https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-
880GM-USB3-rev-1x#ov released in 1981, is considered to be the
very first computer motherboard and it
was called a "planar". (Fisher, 2020)
 Motherboard Components 

Everything behind the computer case is connected in some way to the

motherboard so that all the pieces can communicate with each other. This
includes video cards, sound cards, hard drives, optical drives, the CPU, RAM
sticks, USB ports, a power supply, etc. On the motherboard are also expansion
slots, jumpers, capacitors, device power and data connections, fans, heat
sinks, and screw holes.(Fisher, 2020)

Figure 3. Typical Parts of Motherboard

Source: Creative Commons. (2005, June 23). File: ASRock K7VT4A Pro Mainboard Labeled English.svg [Photograph]. WIKIMEDIACOMMONS.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ASRock_K7VT4A_Pro_Mainboard.jpg

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

 Take Always check the compatibility of other components connected to your
motherboard. Make sure to meet at least the minimum requirement to avoid any
Note computer issues.
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These are the popular Motherboard Vendors
|ASUS| |AOpen| | Intel| |ABIT| |MSI| |Gigabyte| |Biostar|
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Source: https://www.lifewire.com/motherboards-system-boards-and-mainboards-2618154
-

 Parts and Functions 

At the first glimpse, the parts of a motherboard and its connections can really look
complicated specially for the dummies or beginners like you.

If you've ever taken the case off of a computer, you've seen that one piece of equipment that
ties everything together, it is motherboard. It allows all the parts of your computer to receive power
and communicate with one another. See the table below about the parts of a motherboard and its
functions (Wilson and Johnson, 2020).

Table 1: Parts of Motherboard and Their Functions

1. I/O ports It is located in the rear panel of the
PS/2 Ports CPU, this use to connect the
Printer Port outside hardware or peripherals of
Serial Com Port the computer
VGA Port
Source: Supermicro X10SLQ Rear IO Ports. (2013, June 28).
USB 2.0 Ports [Photograph].
LAN Port ServeTheHome.https://www.servethehome.com/supermicro-x10slq-
motherboard-review-q87-vpro/supermicro-x10slq-rear-io-ports/
Audio Port
2. ATX Power It connects to the 4-pin power
connector cable of a power supply unit
(4 pin) which supplies power to the CPU

Source: Is the 4-pin PSU connector required? (Trying to connect a

PSU to a mini case.). (2012, March 6). [Photograph]. Super User.
https://superuser.com/questions/432234/is-the-4-pin-psu-connector-
3. Memory slots required-trying-to-connect-a-psu-to-a-mini-case It is the slot of computer memory
or what we called RAM. The
memory slot depends on the type
of the memory

Source: Fitzpatrick, J. (2014, January 9). How-To Geek What Does

the RAM Slot Color Coding on Motherboards Mean? [Photograph].
How-To-Geek. https://www.howtogeek.com/174482/what-does-the-
ram-slot-color-coding-on-motherboards-mean/

4. ATX Power It provides a DC power output to

connector (24 or 28 the system board (SB) from the
pin) output of the Power Supply Unit

Source: Hussain, B. (2018, May 19). Power Connectors

[Photograph]. M | Computing Technology with IT Fundamentals.
https://medium.com/computing-technology-with-it-
fundamentals/system-hardware-component-motherboard-
8e3d44e29f74

Source: https://computer.howstuffworks.com/motherboard.htm
http://www.buildcomputers.net/motherboard-components.html

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

5. CMOS/BIOS It supplies power to store BIOS
battery settings and keep the real-time
clock running

Source: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (2018, December 7). [Motherboard]

How to replace CMOS battery on motherboard when it runs out power?
[Photograph]. ASUS. https://www.asus.com/nz/support/FAQ/1005740/

6. IDE connector It connects to older hard drive

(Integrated Drive disks and optical drives for data
Electronics) transfer

Source: Tech, P. C. (2013, May 24). Motherboard IDE Connections

[Photograph]. Pctechguide.Com. https://www.pctechguide.com/how-
to-upgrade-your-motherboard/motherboard-ide-connections

7. Front panel It connects the Power LED, HDD

connectors LED, Power Switch, and Reset
(F-Panel) switch of the computer system
unit (CPU)

Source: Ruffell, A. (2013, May 7). Foxconn H67A-S H67 Sandy Bridge
Motherboard Preview 531-12.jpg [Photograph]. ETeknix.
https://www.eteknix.com/foxconn-h67a-s-h67-sandy-bridge-
motherboard-preview/5/

8. Serial Advanced It connects to modern hard disk

Technology drives, solid state and optical
Attachment (SATA) drives for data transfer
connector

Source: Supermicro X10SDV-TLN4F SATA Ports. (n.d.). [Photograph].

ServeTheHome. https://www.servethehome.com/supermicro-x10sdv-
tln4f-review-platform/supermicro-x10sdv-tln4f-sata-ports/

9. USB connectors It connects the USB port of the

(headers) front panel

Source: Ruffell, A. (2013b, May 7). Foxconn H67A-S H67 Sandy

Bridge Motherboard Preview [Photograph]. ETeknix. https://eteknix-
eteknixltd.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/vb/531-11.jpg

10. Floppy Disk Drive It connects the Floppy Disk Drive

connector cable through the system board

Source: Tech, P. C. (2013a, May 24). Floppy Installation Connection

[Photograph]. Pctechguide.Com. https://www.pctechguide.com/how-
to-install-a-front-loading-drive/floppy-installation-connection

Source: http://www.buildcomputers.net/motherboard-components.html

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

 11. PCI slots It connects the I/O cards of the
computer. Such as LAN card,
WIFI card, USB expansion card,
and sound card.

Source: Tj, M. (2018, August 13). How to Check PCI Express (PCIe)
Version Compatibility on Any Motherboard? DESKDECODE.COM.
https://www.deskdecode.com/how-to-check-pci-express-pcie-version-
compatibility-on-any-motherboard/

12. North and South Northbridge: Chipset that allows

Bridge IC the CPU to communicate with the
RAM and graphics card.

Southbridge: Chipset that allows

the CPU to communicate with PCI
Source: Tj, M. (2018, August 13). How to Check PCI Express (PCIe) slots, PCI-Express x 1 slots
Version Compatibility on Any Motherboard? DESKDECODE.COM.
https://www.deskdecode.com/how-to-check-pci-express-pcie-version- (expansion cards), SATA
compatibility-on-any-motherboard/
connectors (hard drives, optical
drives), USB ports (USB devices),
Ethernet ports and on-board audio
13. Fan Headers It supplies power to the CPU heat
sink fan and computer case fans.

Source: Gobor, A. (2019, October 4). 4-pin PWM header

[Photograph]. Ekwb.Com. https://www.ekwb.com/blog/what-is-
pwm-and-how-does-it-work/

Source: https://mokedagoqin.phisigmasigmafiu.com/parts-of-motherboard-28685kl.html
http://hardwareandnetworkingindepth.blogspot.com/partsfunctions-ofmotherboard.html
http://www.buildcomputers.net/motherboard-components.html

 Motherboard Troubleshooting 

Common symptoms of motherboard issues are similar to CPU problems: The system does not
display anything; an error code appears; one or more beeps occur; the system locks; the system reboots;
a Windows BSOD (blue screen of death) appears; or one or more of the ports, expansion slots, or
memory modules fails.

Motherboard problems and power problems are probably the most difficult issues to
troubleshoot. Because various components are located on the motherboard, many things can cause
errors. POST (power-on self-test) is one of the most beneficial aids for troubleshooting a motherboard.
The meaning of any codes that appear on the screen should be researched. If multiple POST error codes
appear, you should troubleshoot them in the order they are presented. The following list helps with
motherboard troubleshooting:

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

• Is the motherboard receiving power? Check the power supply to see if the fan is
turning. If the CPU or motherboard has a fan, see if it is turning. Check voltages
going from the power supply to the motherboard.

• Check the BIOS/UEFI settings for accuracy.

• Check for overheating. Power down the computer and allow the computer to cool.
Power on the computer with the cover off.

• Check the motherboard for distended capacitors. These are small components
that might appear to be bulging. If sighted, replace the motherboard as soon as
possible.

• Reseat the CPU, adapters, and memory chips.

• Remove unnecessary adapters and devices and boot the computer.

• Plug the computer into a different power outlet and circuit, if possible.

• Check to determine whether the motherboard is shorting out on the frame.

• Check the CMOS battery (see Chapter 5 for how to take voltage readings).

• With a motherboard that has diagnostic LEDs, check the output for any error code.
Refer to the motherboard documentation or online documentation for the problem
and possible solution.

A. LET’S PRACTICE

ACTIVITY 1 Stop, Look and Ponder!

Mechanics of the Activity:

Below is a set of pictures showing a major part of a computer. Take a look at each one.
Read the Guide Questions. Write your answers in your data notebook.

Source: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (n.d.). Source: GIGA-BYTE Technology Co., Ltd. (n.d.). GA- Source: HP Development Company, L.P. (n.d.). The
ASUS EX-H310M-V3 [Photograph]. ASUS. P43-ES3G (rev. 1.4) [Photograph]. GIGABYTE. MS-7525 (Boston) motherboard [Photograph]. HP
https://www.asus.com/id/Motherboards/EX- https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-P43- Customer Support - Knowledge Base.
H310M-V3/ ES3G-rev-14#ov https://support.hp.com/id-en/document/c01386897

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

 Guide Questions:
1. What can you understand from these pictures?
2. What could be their functions inside a computer?

B. EVALUATION

Point it Out: The Parts of a Motherboard

In the previous activity, you were asked to identify the pictures and their functions inside a
computer. This time, try to identify and name the parts of a sample motherboard form.
Mechanics of the Activity:

Given here is a picture of a motherboard with its parts.

Identify the parts being asked using the lines pointing to each one.
Choose from the boxed options to name the parts.
Write your answers in your data notebook.

SATA Port IDE Port CMOS Battery IDE Port Expansion Slots I/O
Ports
Chipset Memory Slot Power Port Front Panel Connectors FDD Port

CPU connector PCI e USB Port CPU Socket CPU Fan Connector

Figure 1: Motherboard

Source: #ANON#. (n.d.). Motherboard Lab [Photograph]. ImageQuiz Beta. http://www.imagequiz.co.uk/quizzes/316539001

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

IV. Answer Key

Activity 1: Stop, Look and Ponder!

Probable Answers:

1. These are pictures of motherboard make/ models.

2. The functions of a motherboard are as follows:

• Connects all the parts of the computer to hold them together

• Establishes vital electronic connections between these various hardware units to ensure
that tasks undertaken by the user are completed successfully and efficiently.

Evaluation: Point it Out: The Parts of a Motherboard

A. CPU Socket J. CMOS battery

B. Memory Slot K. SATA ports
C. Power Port L. CPU fan connector
D. IDE Port M. Front Panel Connector
E. PCI e N. USB Ports
F. Chipset O. CPU connector
G. PCI e P. CPU Fan connector
H. Expansion Slot Q. FDD Port
I. I/O ports

V. References

Fisher, T. (2020c, February 28). What Is CMOS and What Is It For?

Retrieved June 22, 2020, from https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-cmos-
2625826
Computer Hope. (2019, August 2). What is CMOS? Retrieved from
https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/cmos.htm
Baydan, İ. (2019, June 2). What Is CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-
Semiconductor)?
Retrieved from https://www.poftut.com/what-is-cmos-complementary-metal-
oxide-semiconductor/
What Is the Primary Function of the BIOS & the CMOS? (n.d.). Chron.
Retrieved from: https://smallbusiness.chron.com/primary-function-bios-
cmos-68581.html
Greaves, W. (n.d.). How to Detect CMOS Battery Failure of Your Computer. Rocks
Digital.
Retrieved from https://www.rocksdigital.com/cmos-battery-failure/
Baydan, İ. (2019, June 2). What Is CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-
Semiconductor)?

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”

 Retrieved from https://www.poftut.com/what-is-cmos-complementary-metal-oxide-
semiconductor/
Johnson, R. &. W. T. V. (2020, May 29). How Motherboards Work.
Retrieved from https://computer.howstuffworks.com/motherboard.htm
Parts Of Motherboard. (n.d.). Parts of Motherboard. Retrieved from
https://mokedagoqin.phisigmasigmafiu.com/parts-of-motherboard-28685kl.html

PARTS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MOTHERBOARD. (n.d.). Hardware and

Networking.
Retrieved from
http://hardwareandnetworkingindepth.blogspot.com/2014/03/parts- and-
functions-of-motherboard.html

Hoffman, C. (2018, October 12). What Does a PC’s BIOS Do, and When Should I Use
It?
Retrieved from https://www.howtogeek.com/179789/htg-explains-what-is-bios-
and-when-should-i-use-it/

C. (2015, November 30). CMOS, BIOS and Boot Process. Utilize Windows.
Retrieved from: https://www.utilizewindows.com/cmos-bios-and-boot-
process/
Byte Definition. (n.d.). Techterms.Com. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from
https://techterms.com/definition/byte

Wikipedia contributors. (2020b, July 13). Capacitor. Wikipedia. Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor

Rodelas, Shailac. "Module 4: CMOS and Motherboard." Department of Education,

2020.

Pearson Education, Pearson IT Certification. (2017, March 2017). Motherboard

Troubleshooting. Retrieved from
https://www.pearsonitcertification.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2731934&seqNum
=28

Prepared by: Evaluated by:

EDHELLYN B. LITERAL. T-I ROSE ANN R. MIRANDILLA

Dinapa NHS San Rafael NHS

“Practice personal hygiene protocols at all times.”