Specifications

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Motherboard Types and Features
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SETUP DATA STORED BY JUMPERS
Older motherboards can also retain setup or installation information in different settings of
jumpers on the board. Jumpers are considered open or closed based on whether a jumper
cover is present on two small posts or metal pins that stick up off the motherboard (see
Figure 3-28). On these older boards, a group of jumpers might be used to tell the system at
what speed the CPU is running, or to turn a power-saving feature on or off. Look at the
jumper cover in Figure 3-29(b) that is “parked,” meaning it is hanging on a single pin for
safekeeping, but is not being used to turn a jumper setting on.
Most motherboards today allow you to set a supervisor password or user password to
control access to the system. For example, you can set two passwords in BIOS setup: one
to control access to BIOS setup (supervisor password) and the other to lock access to the
computer (user password). If both passwords are forgotten, you cannot use the computer.
Figure 3-27 DIP switches used to store setup data on older motherboards
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
Bank of jumpers
Jumper cover
Figure 3-28 Setup information about the motherboard can be stored by setting a jumper on
(closed) or off (open). A jumper is closed if the cover is in place, connecting the
two pins that make up the jumper; a jumper is open if the cover is not in place
Courtesy: Course Technology/Cengage Learning
A+ 220-701
A+
220-701
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