What is a Motherboard?
The other names for a motherboard are mobd, mainboard, circuit board, mobo, system board. For Apple computers, they call it a logic board. What is a Motherboard? It is a printed circuit board (PCB) in personal computers and is an integrated and most important part of them. It helps in communicating with other components of a system such as CPU and memory. You also need it to make connections to other hardware devices. It is the biggest board in the entire chassis of a computer system.
The motherboard is the mother of all computer components, as its name suggests. Some of the hardware components that you can connect with it are the central processing unit, audio/video cards, RAM, ethernet card, adapters, and many other devices.
Motherboards come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate different types of computers. The main purpose of each type of motherboard is to function with certain processors and memory, therefore not all CPUs and memory types are compatible. Hard drives, on the other hand, are usually universal and function with almost all motherboards, regardless of kind or manufacturer.
Where is Motherboard Located?
The majority of the hardware and computer peripherals are connected to the motherboard, which is placed inside the computer chassis. Motherboard, the largest circuit board in tower computers, can be found on the left or right side of the tower. For More Information you Can Visit Wikipedia.
Chipsets in a Motherboard
The chipset is a collection of processors and controllers found on each motherboard. New chipsets are frequently used in the development of new motherboards and are usually more efficient and quicker than their early pioneers. The only drawback of new chipsets is that they frequently do not operate with older components. However, if you intend on upgrading several components, buying a new computer may be more cost-effective.
Major Components of a Motherboard
The most important part of a motherboard, which has been discussed earlier, is the microprocessor’s supporting chipset. It gives you the facility of supporting connectivity between the CPU and other hardware components. To some extent, the motherboard’s characteristics and capabilities are determined by this chipset.
Other components of a motherboard are:
Central Processing Unit Chip
A computer’s CPU is the electrical circuitry that executes the instructions that make up a program. People also call it the main processor or the core processor. The CPU performs the fundamental logic, arithmetic, regulating, and input/output (I/O) functions defined by the desktop programs’ instructions.
Input/Output Ports
External hardware devices are connected to the CPU through I/O ports. Memory-mapped I/O (MMIO) and port-mapped I/O are two complementing approaches for performing input and output activities. You may also employ specialized I/O processors, which are known as channels on mainframe systems, and execute their instructions.
USB Ports
A USB port is a common cable connection mechanism for computers and other consumer products. Universal Serial Bus is a short-distance digital data transfer industry standard. USB ports allow USB devices to be linked to one another and digital data to be transferred using USB cables.
RAM Slots
Random Access Memory (RAM) is computer memory that serves the purpose of reading and writing. it saves the data on the memory of the computer. No matter where data is physically located in the memory, a RAM device allows data to be read or written in about the same amount of time. RAM media is quicker for data reading and writing than direct-access storage systems like as hard drives, CD/DVDs, and magnetic tapes.
Parallel Ports
It is a type of interface used to connect peripheral devices to computers. The name of this type of port comes from the manner data is sent. In other words, parallel ports convey many bits of data at once. Serial interfaces, on the other hand, deliver data bits one by one. The parallel port cables include numerous data lines to achieve parallel data transmission. A parallel port cable is longer than a modern serial port cable, which has only one data line.
Power Connectors
These help to connect a motherboard directly to a power supply. Motherboard receives the power and passes it to all the other components of a computer system like audio/video cards, RAM, etc.
Graphics Card Slots
Some modern graphics cards like Ge Force 8 require more power to operate than what is provided by the motherboard’s power connector. To overcome this problem, Accelerated Graphics Slots were designed as a high-speed point-to-point connection for connecting a computer system to a video card (graphics card). It was primarily utilized to help with the acceleration of 3D computer graphics.
Keyboard and Mouse Ports
Motherboards have the facility of connecting mouse and keyboard directly to them. In older days, these ports were special DIN connectors but now, these are mini-DIN PS/2-style connectors.
Clock Generator
A clock generator is an electrical oscillator (circuit) that generates a clock signal to synchronize the operation of a circuit. The clock signal oscillates between low and high frequencies, resulting in a metronome for action coordination.
Motherboard Form Factor
Desktop computer motherboards follow form factor standards so that computer makers know precisely what size casing to create, what sort of CPU to utilize, and what kind of peripheral components they’ll need to produce a computer with specified specifications. This allows motherboards with the same form factor to be swapped out, even if they are made by different firms. Other devices, like laptops, have proprietary motherboards that are rarely upgradeable, unlike desktop motherboards. Laptop motherboards are much more integrated, sophisticated, and customized, that is why they are much more difficult to repair and upgrade.
Some of the motherboard form factors are:
- ATX
- BTX
- DTX
- Micro ATX
- Full ATX
- AT
- Full AT
- Baby AT
ATX: is the most common of all these. In the mid-1990s, Intel introduced ATX motherboards as an upgrade to the AT motherboards that had previously been utilized. This type of motherboard differs from AT motherboards in that it allows the attached components to be swapped out. Furthermore, because this motherboard’s dimensions are smaller than AT motherboards, there is enough area for the drive bays. The board’s connecting system was also upgraded. Additional slots for different add-ons were supplied on the backplates of AT motherboards.
This is the most common motherboard of all time and was the foundation for many other form factors. Many PCs still use this in the present time.
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Baby AT Motherboard: was another variant of the AT motherboard. It was measuring 8.5 by 13 inches, but the dimensions varied somewhat across manufacturers. This is why it is called as “baby”. Because there was more room within the casing due to the reduced size of this motherboard, technicians were able to operate on it more easily. Aside from that, it offered many of the same characteristics as a normal AT motherboard.
AT Motherboard had a considerably more compact design that resembled the motherboards we’re used to seeing. In the 1980s, it was the most prevalent computer form factor. Full-AT is another name for this motherboard.
The AT motherboard measured roughly 12-by-38 inches; thus, it won’t fit in a mini-desktop, which should be no more than 8-by-8 inches.
Some Popular Motherboard Manufacturers
Following is the list of top motherboard manufacturers in the world.
- ASUS
- Gigabyte
- Intel
- ASRock
- MSI
- Biostar
Who made the First Motherboard?
In 1981, IBM was the first company who designed the very first motherboard for its PC. It was called ‘planar’.
How to Choose the Right Motherboard for Your PC?
You will have to consider the following questions before deciding on your motherboard choice:
- The type of processor you desire
- Number of hardware drives you want to connect
- The overall size of your computer
- Type of expansion you are going to make
For AMD processors, your choice can be an AMD-compatible motherboard. Similarly, to add more components to your system, you will require a board will more expansion slots available on it.
If you want something really small, mini-ATX boards are the way to go, but they’re also constrained in terms of what you can put on them. There are fewer expansion slots and, in some cases, fewer backports on these machines.
Do Laptops, Tablets, and Smartphones also Have Motherboards?
The simple answer is “Yes”. But these are called logic boards instead of motherboards. The logic board resembles and functions similarly to a motherboard. Components like the CPU and RAM (in tablets and smartphones) are soldered onto the board due to space constraints with most logic boards. There are also no slots or sockets available because many of these devices do not offer upgrading possibilities.
How Can You Replace a Motherboard?
If you want to replace your motherboard on your own, you are required to have proper knowledge of the specific model number as well as appropriate replacement models. Because motherboards are difficult to access or disassemble, they can be exceedingly difficult to replace in laptops.
When purchasing a new motherboard, most users discover that the CPU, graphics card, and even the power supply must all be replaced. This isn’t a low-cost fix. Make sure you’ve ruled out all other options before budgeting for what might be a pricey DIY fix.
Is There a Specific Lifespan of a Motherboard?
Just like any other electronic device, motherboards are designed to serve for a specific time after that, they become unusable or we can say ‘they die’. Many factors lead to the failure of motherboards like:
- Unnatural or abrupt power cut off
- External damage (fire, chemical, etc.)
- Devices that take too long to start
