What is Motherboard ? (click to see more info)

Computer Expert
12 sty 2021
3 minut(y) czytania

Zaktualizowano: 31 sty 2021

The motherboard connects all the components of the computer and enables them to function. It is responsible for many processes and creates a single system from all devices.

A computer motherboard is an extremely important element in the design of a desktop computer. This is where various components are mounted: CPU, memory, expansion cards, hard drives, optical drives or slots that allow you to connect them. The stand model depends on how efficient your computer is, because it will decide what modules you install in it. You always have to choose a variant that will guarantee the achievement of effective and reliable work that will meet your expectations.

Types of motherboards

ATX format - a new, innovative type of design fully patented by Intel. There are micro and mini versions for smaller computers.

NLX format - a standard that facilitates assembly and disassembly of computer components. Access to individual elements is easier, so you can easily replace the equipment yourself.

WTX Format - Introduced by Intel. It has been used in servers with multiple processors or in professional workstations.

BTX format - a proposition from Intel. It was intended to be the successor to the ATX motherboard, but was not well received by motherboard and component manufacturers and has been discontinued.

How it works ?

One of the most important elements of the motherboard is the BIOS or UEFI, which is designed to guide the course of devices until the operating system is loaded, these bones mounted on the board, most often in the form of flash, have the ability to save the clock settings of individual computer components, their voltages and operating modes. The motherboard is the basis of most computer components. Some of them are integrated with the board ( Chipset and battery), others are embedded in slots (eg CPU, RAM and expansion cards). The paths on the motherboard act as communication channels between the various systems and are also used to transmit electricity. The element responsible for the synchronized operation of all components is the chipset. The motherboard has a chipset commonly known as North and South bridges. The Northbridge is usually located on the top of the motherboard, between the CPU socket and the AGP / PCIe socket. Its task is to supervise the exchange of information between the RAM memory, processor and graphics card. The Northbridge is connected to the processor via the FSB bus or Hyper Transport links, this chip contains a basic PCIe or AGP controller (in older versions) used to connect the most common graphics cards or devices exchanging with the processor or RAM, sending large amounts of Information. Southbridge has control over disk interfaces, all connectors, and some controllers such as USB. The performance of the entire system depends on the stability and quality of the motherboard.

The configuration of the operating parameters of individual components on the motherboard is changed by the BIOS and stored in the computer's CMOS memory. These settings can be verified using the BIOS utility.

CMOS - Battery backed memory that stores information about the configuration of the computer, such as the type of hard drives mounted, the amount of RAM, etc. With CMOS the computer's BIOS can read them and start the computer.

BIOS - program stored in the ROM of each computer. Tests the hardware after turning on the computer, starts the operating system.