Board Anatomy
PCH, EC, BIOS chip, connectors, layers, vias and the physical parts of a motherboard.
- Board CodeA board code is the designer's identifier printed on a motherboard, such as LA-D312P, NM-A841 or DA0R63MB6F1. Schematics and boardviews are filed under it.
- Board RevisionThe board revision marks which version of a motherboard design you have, such as REV 1.0, MB-A02 or the letter F in a Quanta number. Files should match it.
- ODM (Original Design Manufacturer)An ODM designs and builds products that another company sells under its own brand. Compal, Quanta, Wistron, Inventec and LCFC design most laptop motherboards.
- PCH (Platform Controller Hub)The PCH is Intel's chipset: it handles USB, storage, audio, the BIOS flash and power sequencing. On many recent laptops it sits inside the CPU package.
- Reference DesignatorA reference designator is a part's unique label, like R512 or PU301. It is the same in the schematic, the boardview and on the silkscreen, linking all three.
- Test PointA test point is an exposed pad left on a board for factory testing. For repairers it is the safest place to probe a rail or signal without touching chip pins.
Guides on this topic
- How to Use a Schematic and a Boardview TogetherReading Schematics · 6 min
- Unpopulated Components (NC, DNI, @) in Laptop SchematicsReading Schematics · 6 min
- Inductors on Laptop Boards: How to Test ThemComponents · 6 min
- Test Points in Laptop Schematics and How to Use ThemReading Schematics · 6 min
- SMD Component Marking Codes: How to Identify Unknown PartsComponents · 6 min
- Signs of PCH (Chipset) Failure in LaptopsComponents · 6 min