Phil Storrs PC Hardware book
Typical Pentium (and 686) Hardware
The modern Pentium system board provides circuitry for:
- Two EIDE interfaces
- A Floppy Disk Drive Interface
- Two high speed Communications (Serial) Ports
- One Enhanced Parallel Port
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![](../images/pent1.jpg) |
The following three images show a typical Pentium System Board of 1997 vintage
In these three images look for:
- PCI and ISA slots
- 72 pin SIMM RAM sockets and RAM modules
- Socket Seven Processor socket
- Voltage regulators to supply the lower Core Voltage required by the processor
- The headers connectors for:
- Two Comm (Serial) Ports
- Parallel I/O Port
- Primary and Secondary EIDE interface channels
- Floppy Disk Drive Interface
- Keyboard sockets, both 5 pin DIN and PS/2 type
- Power connector
The board below is a Pentium Pro system board.
![](../images/ppro1.jpg)
Most Pentium Pro system boards are ATX format, this board is a Baby AT type (conventional) board.
Notice:
- the larger processor socket
- the VRM (voltage regulator module) next to the processor socket
- the BIOS ROM and the "Dallas" clock module above the processor
The board below is an ATX format System Board
![](../images/dpent2.jpg)
This board is a Dual Pentium Pro System Board
Notice
- the two processor sockets
- the six 72 pin SIMM sockets
- five PCI bus slots and three ISA bus slots
- I/O (Input / Output) function sockets on the rear of the board (ATX format)
- the IDE (hard drive interface) and floppy drive interface connectors on the lower right side
The following two pictures show a January 1997 SIS chip set Pentium/686 system board.
- Look for the single chip set chip, the one with the green heat sink
- This board is fitted with an IBM 686 processor, note the clip on heat sink required with this chip.
![](../images/dallas1.jpg)
Note the Processor has a built in fan, and look for the Dallas chip.
The following images show a System Board that can use 72 pin SIMM's and a DIMM
![](../images/dimm3.jpg)
These two images show DIMM and 72pin SIMM RAM fitted to this same board.
The next four images show a modern Pentium II System Board
![](../images/pent202.jpg)
The Pentium II processor is a Slot One processor
![](../images/pent203.jpg)
This is a Baby AT System board but it has Baby AT and ATX power connectors
![](../images/pent204.jpg)
This System Board has three DIMM RAM sockets, two ISA Bus slots, four PCI slots and an AGP port.
Copyright © Phil. Storr, last updated 26th December 1998