A Motherboard is the spine of your PC, it is the link between all the different components inside your computer. One of the major functions of a motherboard is to act as the “hub” to which other computer devices connect. A board can come in many formations to fit different needs and budgets.
The Motherboard itself is a printed circuit board that allows the CPU, RAM, and all other computer hardware components to communicate with each other.
There are huge variations in Motherboards from design, cases, power supply, size (Form Factor) and compatibility.
A motherboard from one manufacturer will support a single type of CPU and a few different types of memory. Other peripherals like video cards, hard drives and other components may not be compatible.
This means the choice of your motherboard can regulate your options when selecting components. It can control things such as what type of processor you can use, how much RAM memory it can have and what features it can support. This is why it is important to have a rough idea of what you need when selecting the right motherboard.
Websites like Computer Hope can offer advice on how to identify what the design of your motherboard is and components it will support.
Processors
An important feature to note on your motherboard is the socket used to hold the CPU. Different types of socket connections are found over various boards, each having varied configurations for the processor pins
This socket will determine the physical packaging of the processor that can be installed on it. In addition to this, the motherboards chipset will determine what specific model processors can be used with the motherboard.
Memory
As with processors, the type of motherboard can also impact the amount and format of RAM that users can install. Boards have a limit on the total amount of RAM they can support, but it’s often good practice to buy a board that has more memory room than you initially need, as RAM memory is often updated.
Form Factor
The layout of a motherboard is known as its “form factor”. The form factor affects where individual components can be placed and the shape of the computer’s case. There are several specific form factors that most PC motherboards adhere to, meaning they can fit into a standard cases. For a comparison of form factors check here.
Chipset
A Chipset is basically the middle man in a PC as it transfers data from part to part. The chipset is the spine that connects the microprocessor to the rest of the motherboard, therefore to the rest of the computer. On a PC, you will see two basic parts, the Northbridge and the Southbridge. All the components of the computer communicate with the CPU via the chipset.
Bus
A bus is the word for a circuit that joins one part of the motherboard to another. The speed of the bus is measured in megahertz (MHz) and refers to how much data can move across the bus simultaneously, better quality buses can handle more data at one time, therefore ‘quicker’ calculations.
Expansions Slots and Connectors
Expansion slots are hardwired options to you motherboard for adding additional components. The number and sort of expansion slots/connectors is important for what can be attached to the computer in the future. If you require specific connector or slot types, like USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt, you want to make sure your motherboard supports the connection. It is possible to get an expansion card to add connectors but performance is often much poorer than a direct integration into the motherboard chipset.