Elements of a computer motherboard

There are those who wonder what the changes are for. Others even fear them. However, when it comes to technology, they are always necessary. The incessant search for improvements in the functioning of the motherboard elements of a computer, is an example of it.

Motherboard elements: concept

Like many other things in the tech world, the motherboard goes by various names. In such a way that this part of the computer is also often called: motherboard, logic board or system board. Ultimately, she is the most important part of a computer, as she is the one who connects all its elements and establishes communication between them.

It is then a rectangular flat plate on which different main elements are placed, such as:

• The microprocessor, anchored in an element called a socket.
• Memory, usually in the form of modules.
• The expansion slots where the cards are connected.
• Various control chips.

Later, we will talk in detail about each of these elements. For now, we are going to establish the main types of motherboard that exist, and have been.

Main types

For years, the manufacturers of the parts of the motherboard have been establishing standards, in terms of shapes and arrangement of the elements, in principle to lower investments or expenses and facilitate their exchange. Based on these standards, the following types of motherboards emerged:

Baby AT

It is the classic standard that was maintained for years, from the 286 model to the first Pentium, in mid-1996. It was constantly updated to support the new features that were being developed. This fact, together with how easy it was to replace a motherboard of this type, made it the first upgradeable format in history.

However, with the emergence of sound cards, CD-ROMs and other peripheral elements, their weaknesses became known, such as: poor air circulation in the boxes and excess cables for their operation. Aspects that accelerated its exit from the market.

LP extension

It is a typical design of desktop computers with a narrow box, similar in size to the Baby-AT, developed at the end of 1986. It had a significant success due to the low cost it represented for some companies, but at the same time it presented a series of disadvantages that made it fall into disuse.

First, the format specifications were never fully public, which was an impediment to updating the components. In addition, the different models of LPX boards were not compatible with each other, making it impossible to exchange between them. Finally, due to the location of a card in the middle of the board, heat dissipation was difficult. Fact that was accentuated in 1997, causing its definitive downfall.

ATX

It is the standard par excellence. It was born in 1995, representing a substantial improvement over the two previous models, especially in terms of the ventilation system and the decrease in the amount of cable within it. In addition, its creator published the specifications of the format, which caused it to spread quickly and become the most popular format to this day.

At present, most of its benefits are maintained, such as: the relocation within it of elements such as the CPU, memory and internal connectors. As well as the improvement in the cooling system, apart from the low cost for the manufacturer.

Proprietary designs

They are plates of peculiar sizes and shapes, designed by large computer manufacturers, mainly because the existing designs do not suit their needs. Therefore, they are exclusive models, belonging to a single manufacturer. They are not widely used because the format specifications are not public, and plates of the same model, but from different manufacturers, are not compatible with each other.

The antiquated models (previous to the ATX model), were used by the first computer equipment. They were large in size and were located in a computer tower. They required prominent space to accommodate device cards, such as videos, floppy disk controllers, hard disk controller, serial and parallel ports. As the number of interconnected boards increased, the reliability of the assembly decreased. The maximum speed of the CPU was up to 10 MHz. They had a single external connector, that of the keyboard, type DIN. They had text environments without graphics.

On the contrary, the current ATX model incorporates external ports and generalizes the inclusion of the keyboard, mouse, parallel port, serial port and USB ports in almost all the motherboards. In many cases, it includes the incorporation of network ports, sound and even video. The greater integration and reduction of mechanical connections increases the reliability of the assembly. In general, it presents an advanced power supply with greater possibilities.

General description

Among the main characteristics of a computer motherboard are:

• It is a rectangular plate made of a semiconductor material (synthetic), on which there is a printed electronic circuit.
• Its size is variable, but it is usually one of the most remarkable elements of the motherboard within the tower of a computer.
• It is designed to be able to add new peripherals and expansion cards, such as graphics, sound and network cards.
• PC component connections are standardized and well defined. So that any manufacturer can design components to connect to a motherboard that meets those standards.
• The incorporation of the sound and video card inside the motherboard of a tablet or laptop, prevents these elements from being updated.
• It has a series of connectors that face the outside of the tower, and that allow the exchange of information with other elements that are easily connected and disconnected, including the PS / 2 ports, USB ports and network ports.
• The information is not transmitted by cables, but by buses (special cables), which causes less loss of information.
• Depending on the number of slots available on the motherboard, more or less memory can be installed in the computer.
• In turn, the number of expansion slots to use depends on the number of connectors available on the card. As well as the type of bus that is going to be driven.
• It is not only important to know the specifications of the elements to be incorporated. It is also necessary to delve into the specifications of the type of processor that we are going to acquire. In this way, we avoid incompatibilities with the operating system.
• That a motherboard belongs to one category or another does not alter, at least in theory, in the performance of its functions, or in its quality.
• The cooling system of a motherboard influences the operation of the hardware installed on it.
• Although the motherboard of a PC allows the incorporation of new elements, in a motherboard of a laptop the only thing that can be replaced or updated is the RAM memory.

Now, knowing the main characteristics of a computer motherboard, we will proceed to delve into the details of each of the parts that compose it separately.

Elements

Without there being a special reason to start the description of the motherboard elements for one or the other specifically, we will do it in the following order:

Socket for the microprocessor

Element soldered to the motherboard, inside which is the microprocessor. The microprocessor is an electronic component, chip type, which has hundreds of transistors inside it, which when combined allow the chip to do its job. Due to the importance of its function, it is common to say that the microprocessor is the brain of the computer.

Control chipset

As its name indicates, it is a group or set of chips, responsible for regulating the interaction between the microprocessor and memory or cache, and between the microprocessor and the port control. It acts, then, as controller of the transfer of information.

As a result of said regulation, a lower or higher performance of the microprocessor is obtained, regarding the memory and the operation of the peripheral elements.

North Bridge

It is part of the control chipset. Its main function is to exchange data between the microprocessor, the RAM and the graphics card.

It is located between the CPU and RAM, inside the microprocessor. Due to the high-speed work it does with the RAM, it is forced to dissipate heat, by incorporating the radiator.

South Bridge (Southbridge)

It is the other part that complements the control chipset. Unlike the north door, it is responsible for the connection between peripheral devices and the storage elements of the computer.

Its main function is to provide the chipset, buses and storage devices, among others, Physically, it is located between the CPU and the expansion slots.

BIOS memory (Basic Input / Output System)

It is the first program to run on the computer. It focuses on low-level routines, which allow it to be booted through the operating system. Due to its operating characteristics, it is a read-only memory, that is, it does not depend on any other device installed on the computer.

Another of its essential functions is the ability to install a new operating system on the computer. As well as, repair one that is damaged.

CMOS memory (RAM CMOS)

Chip, battery type, used to store all the data of the PC configuration, as well as the date and time. It allows that once the PC is turned off, the data and parameters that had already been established, and that it needs to function, are not lost. This type of battery recharges automatically every time the computer is turned on. Depletion of the battery causes clock / calendar mismatch and loss of recorded Setup parameters.

Cache

It is the fastest memory within all those that make up the motherboard. In this way, it optimizes the performance of the computer in the search for the most used information. It is considered a bridge between the microprocessor and the main memory RAM.

As for its physical location, it depends on the manufacturer. In some cases it can be seen soldered to the motherboard or a socket, and in other cases it can be found inside the microprocessor.

RAM or main memory slots

Grouping of several chips where the main memory modules of the computer are connected, which serve as temporary storage for dynamic data, in such a way that it does not need to be recovered from the hard disk. Over time, these modules have varied in size, capacity and way of connecting, eliminating the problems of memory expansion and space within the motherboard that were presented in ancient times.

Expansion slots

Slots where any type of expansion card is inserted, regardless of whether it is video, sound or network cards. They are intended to serve as a means of adding extra components to the computer. Most of them are standardized, but there are some that are exclusive to manufacturers. The main expansion slots are named below, according to their appearance on the market:

• ISA: Enough to connect a modem or a sound card, but not a video card. Has high compatibility
• Micro Channel MCA: It emerged seeking to solve the limitations of ISA, and ended up being incompatible with it. It did not prosper.
• EISA: It was created to fill the MCA gap. It had a reduced validity and was only incorporated by teams of a certain level. Its specifications were not public.
• Vesa Local Bus: It was a fast version of ISA. It lacked the advantages of MCA and EISA (software configuration and bus mastering). It provided direct access to memory, at the speed of the processor. It disappeared with the arrival of the Pentium processors.
• PCMCIA: They lacked slots and represented memory cards, exclusive to each manufacturer. Low consumption, especially for green PCs.
• PCI / PCI-64: Enough to add various internal elements, except for some video cards. They are separate from the system bus, but have access to memory. A bridge is used to communicate with the CPU. Allow shared interruptions. It has been the longest to date. It is being replaced by PCI Express.
• Mini PCI: It is an adaptation of PCI for laptops or for small motherboards. Examples of this type of card include: Wi-Fi, modem, SCSI and SATA controllers.
• AGP: Used as a complement to the PCI slots, since they only serve to connect 3D video cards. It was created to increase the level of transfer to the graphics subsystem. It had its own data bus.
• AMR: Used only by so-called softmodems, to lower costs by eliminating some components. Released in 1998 for audio devices such as sound cards or modems. It is part of the AC97 audio standard, still in force today. It was designed for inexpensive audio or communications devices, as these would make use of machine resources such as the microprocessor and RAM. It had little success since it was launched at a time when the power of the machines was not adequate to support this load. It disappeared in motherboards for Pentium IV and from AMD in Socket A.
• CNR: Similar to AMR slots, but with a greater evolution. It emerged for communication devices such as modems, Lan or USB cards. In 2000 it was introduced on Pentium processor boards. It was a proprietary design so it did not extend beyond the boards that included the chipsets of the manufacturing company. It suffered from the same resource problems as devices designed for AMR slot. It is not currently included on motherboards.
• PCI Express slots: Evolution of AGP slots. Its main advantage is that any of its models can be adapted to different types of cards. Current boards tend to have the maximum possible PCI connectors using an AGP slot for video.

Electric connector

It is used to connect the cables that will give the adequate power to the motherboard, through the source. On ATX boards, there is only one.

Internal connectors

Connectors for internal devices, such as: the hard disk, the CD-ROM or the internal speaker.

• Power connections: Responsible for bringing power to the motherboard from the power source.
• Fan outputs: Its main function is to alleviate the level of heat produced by the high speed with which the microprocessors work.
• EIDE or FDD ports: In older computers, the connection of hard drives and floppy drives depended on them. However, in today's computers, these are embedded in the computer's chipset. The EIDE ports are responsible for connecting hard drives and optical drives, such as CDs and DVDs, while the FDD ports, do the same with floppy disks. The latter are already in total disuse.
• SATA ports: They represent a new communication technology to storage devices, which improves performance in terms of bandwidth.
• Front connections: As the name implies, they are connections located on the front of the computer.
  • Power On: Connection for the start / stop button.
  • Power Led: Indicator of equipment on, connects to LED.
  • HD LED: Led that indicates hard disk activity.
  • Reset: Connects to the front reset button if the box incorporates it. Restart the computer.
  • Speaker: Generates status and control signals. It is different from the audio output of the equipment.
  • KeyLock: Locks the equipment, allows locking the keyboard. Of little use in recent boxes.
• Jumpers and switches: In charge of configuring the computer hardware options.
  • Jumpers are usually treated as open and closed (open and closed).
  • The dip-switches are treated as on / off. The. ON position is usually indicated on the component's silkscreen.

External connectors

Classic connectors for peripheral elements, such as: keyboard, mouse, printer, among others. Little by little they have been replaced by other types of connections, easier to connect and disconnect. Among the main external connectors are:

• PS / 2 keyboard and mouse connectors: Due to the rise of graphics applications, the use of the mouse in conjunction with the keyboard became widespread. The mouse stopped connecting via the serial port and started using a specialized serial connection, similar to that of the keyboard (the PS / 2 connection). PS / 2 keyboard and mouse connections are present on all motherboards via two Mini-DIN connectors. To distinguish one from the other, they have different colors, purple being reserved for the keyboard and green for the mouse. If they are changed by mistake, there is no problem of breakdowns since the pins are compatible with each other, although the operation would not be as desired.
• USB bus: With the growth in the number of peripherals applied to computer equipment, the need to connect more than one to a single central system was created. The USB connection makes daisy-chaining of up to 127 devices possible. In addition to this, this connection is fast and can be made immediately. The operating system recognizes the USB connection, but it needs to have suitable drivers. All modern motherboards incorporate USB connections. Currently, some platforms only use USB connectors for keyboard and mouse.
• FireWire Bus: Establishes digital video connections, using video cameras and video equipment in general. It allows the transfer of a large volume of information, at high speed.
• Ethernet Network Connection: With the growing Internet connection, even in home computers, this connection is very useful, since in many homes this service is carried out with ADSL routers that incorporate an Ethernet connection. In such a way that many motherboards incorporate it integrated. The equipment usually incorporates a single connection / card, but in some cases it is possible to find equipment with more than one connection of this type. This occurs especially in server computers that are going to use the network intensively in their applications.

• Serial and parallel ports: These connections are perhaps the oldest of today's computer systems. Inherited from previous systems, they are less and less used. Previously, serial ports were used for connection of mice, modems, scanners, etc. It is currently relegated to professional applications (electronics, equipment configuration, industry, etc.). The parallel port has had a practically limited use for printer connection, although it has also been used for connection to scanner and some other devices. The use of both ports is being replaced by USB. In fact, more and more laptops are not incorporating them. In some cases they are supported by the motherboard although they do not have an external connector.
• Sound and Gamepad: It is increasingly common for the motherboard to incorporate the hardware that enables the system to generate and receive (digitize) sounds.
  • Sound: Refers to sound connections, both generic, such as headphones and microphone. Each of which are identified with different colors to facilitate their use by the user. Today some audio outputs can be configured as digital outputs so that we can take advantage of special features. You can also find outputs of the type SP / DIF (digital audio), optical and surround systems.
  • Gamepad or Joystick is an old connection of the PC for games. It is designed as analog position inputs. It is rarely used today, as most gamepads are more complex and use the USB connection.
• Video / TV: Refers to connectors, both analog and digital, that allow viewing of content on the television, such as: television channels or video reproductions and video consoles.
• SCSI (high-end): This type of external connectors can be found, above all, on server-oriented motherboards. In these cases, the motherboard has a SCSI connector for external devices in addition to the internal connector.
• Docking / Backplane: The downsizing of equipment led to the elimination of low-use ports and outdated storage drives. However, as a solution, laptops were provided with a connector, which allows connection to a unit called docking station, which incorporates these extras. This connector is called the docking connector (ports).

Criteria for selecting a computer motherboard

As we have already seen, the motherboard is the most important component of a computer, since the processor, the number and type of devices to be connected and, of course, the overall performance of the system depends on it. Unfortunately, most people think that it is the processor that determines the overall performance of the computer, and so they spend more time when considering the purchase of a new computer.

However, here in the elements of the motherboard we will point out which are the main aspects that must be considered in order to choose the motherboard model that best suits our needs, if what we want is the most upgradeable, complete and functional system possible.

Importance of dimensions

Without a doubt, dimensions is one of the first things to look at. There are different sizes and, depending on the type of computer we need, a full-size (ATX), medium-size (micro ATX) or reduced-size (mini ATX) form factor will be more appropriate. We must consider the same criteria for the choice of other components, such as the PC case or RAM.

The format between the elements of the motherboard determines the size of the case for the PC, and the number of slots and expansion connectors that can be counted on. The larger the motherboard, the greater the possibility of connecting and expanding the connectors. Conversely, the smaller the footprint, the greater the need for low-profile cooling and heat dissipation solutions.

Another important factor is the socket. This represents the place that the processor occupies on the motherboard and, therefore, is closely related to the chip that is chosen. The choice of both affects the compatibility of all components.

For its part, the quality of the circuits has to do with the use that is going to be given to the motherboard, and we must not forget that, in addition, it is directly related to the price.

Choice of chipset

If the motherboard is the heart of the computer, you have to consider that the chipset is the heart between the elements of the motherboard. Therefore, your choice greatly affects the operation of it and, consequently, that of the entire system. Before deciding on a particular chipset, we must have decided how we will use the PC.

Deciding on one or two graphics cards is also very important for the performance of the computer. Not all motherboards support the simultaneous installation of two or more graphics cards. In this regard, again, we have to be clear about the use that we are going to give our PC.

On the other hand, that our motherboard has the number and type of connections we need, it will guarantee that we can have all the connectors we want, such as the audio and video connectors. In the same way, we have to verify that it has integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and bluetooth, among others.

Additionally, depending on the manufacturer, we will find motherboards with improvements and unique functions that other models do not have. Such is the case of the new M.2 connectors, which allow the installation of next-generation solid-state disks (SSD), high-quality sound cards integrated into the motherboard, overclock systems to increase the performance of the computer, and other elements. of great innovation.

We must also choose a good cooling system, either passive (without fans), with a fan or with a liquid cooling combo. Passive cooling is generally the smartest. You can cite the article type of buses in computing.