TechTeach: Motherboard -Definition, Types, Components, Functions and its working Principles.

Motherboard -Definition, Types, Components, Functions and its working Principles.

A PC MOTHER BOARD

The straight-forward answer to what is a motherboard? " Or what is a computer motherboard, and what does it do? - a circuit board, which is the junction of various components of a computer that gets connected together to perform some complicated process in a systematic way. For example, a hard disc drive, RAM, keyboard, mouse, etc. are connected to some particular ports or slots on a motherboard, and through the processor all the parts work together to transfer and communicate data with each other. On the other hand, it is the place where all these parts are placed or connected. In physical terms, it is a PCB (printed circuit board) that is used to connect other parts of a computer.

What are the key components of a computer motherboard?

A mother board's major components include PCI slots, processor slots, back panel ports, front panel ports, RAM slots, Sata ports, IDE ports, USB ports, and so on. There are also some major components embedded in a mother board, such as the Northbridge chipset, the Southbridge chipset, the graphics chipset, the audio chipset, the BIOS chipset, etc.

How Does a Motherboard Work?

As we mentioned above, the mother board is used to connect various parts in a computer. First of all, the mother board has some power input connectors. Through the connector, it gets power from the SMPS or PSU. The processor processes data from various sources, such as hard discs, keyboards, mice, and so on. For example, suppose you open a software programme. First of all, as directed by the human interface device (keyboard, mouse), the processor took the command and ordered the operating system to load that particular programme. Then the hard disc, where the data is stored, sends the data to the RAM, and from the RAM, the whole process is operated as required by the user. The way that is used to communicate data on the mother board is called the BUS’.

Processor in a CPU Socket

Central Processing Unit (CPU) sockets :

A CPU socket is the particular place where the processor of a computer mother board is located or placed. It may vary depending on the various processor types and sizes. There are mainly two types of computer processors available on the market: AMD and Intel processors Most users in the world suggest the Intel, whereas the AMD is highly popular among users who love to play PC games. AMD uses an AM3 or AM3+ socket, while Intel uses LGA 775, 1155, 1150, 1200, and so on. So when you set your mind to buying a motherboard, always remember to choose the best compatible processor because, in many cases, this may cause a loss of money.

How do I know if my motherboard is compatible with my processor?

The best way to know about the most compatible processor on your mother board is to consult the manual that is available with your board or log in to the company website and take a look at the particular mother board specification. There might be a list of supporting processors in the details.

What are the different types of computer motherboards available? Or, what are the different form factors of motherboards, and how do I choose the right one?

By size, the mother board may be of various sizes or form factors. There are mainly two sizes of mother boards. ATX and Micro ATX .ATX is normally large in size as compared to the micro ATX mother boards and is highly used in a big computer case for some workstation purposes. The microATX is small compared to the ATX.

CONNECTORS IN A MOTHER BOARD:

There are several connectors in a mother. Here are some specifics about the major connectors:

USB PINS

USB PINS: Universal Serial Bus (USB) pins are normally used to connect the front panels

USB PORTS. A connector cable from the front panel is connected with this pin, as shown in the picture above.

FRONT PANEL POWER PINS:Power pins are considered the most essential pins in a computer. Because it is directly connected to the physical power switch and the reset switch allocated in the computer case. With the help of these pins, the PC is powered on.

CMOS PINS: A CMOS jumper pin is usually used to clear the CMOS setting. It is rarely used in a computer.

AUDIO PINS: These pins are connected to the front panel audio jack and microphone jack.

Motherboard Power Connectors: This is the socket where the PSU gets connected. SMPS provides power to the motherboard with the help of this socket. Usually, the standard mother board has 24 pin power connectors.

SATA CONNECTORS: Hard Discs and DVD Drives are Connected in These Connectors Through this port, the computer can read and write data to the computer.

A peripheral slot, or PCI slot, is used to connect various additional components such as graphics cards, sound cards, etc. Though it is widely used to connect a graphics card in a computer.

RAM Slots:- This is the place where the ram is located. We can see various types of RAM slots in a mother board. RAM slots that are commonly used in today's computers include DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4.

M.2 Slots:- This slot is for modern generations of hard discs. M.2 is used to connect a NVME SSD directly to the motherboard. As compared to the Sata ports, it delivered high-speed bus speed to the mother board. Unlike most hard discs,it provides the best performance and reliability for a computer. So always consider a motherboard with a M.2 socket. So that you could take advantage of speed and performance.

Additional Power Connectors: These connectors are usually used to provide additional power to the graphics chipset on the motherboard. It usually comes in a 4-pin Molex type connector.

CPU Sockets: This is the place where the processor is placed on a motherboard. It combines the processor with the mother board.

CPU FAN Socket PINS: Used to power and control the CPU cooling fan.