Frederick Jace
Motherboards are large printed circuit boards that are used as part of PCs. These PCs come with a case, which is a housing structure that contains all of its components. Within the PC case is the motherboard. The components found on the motherboard make up a complete system. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into what you should know about motherboards.
Major Components of Motherboard
The mainboard consists of major components such as RAM which is known as the main memory. It’s a volatile memory that holds data until you switch off the power of the PC. When you’re executing tasks, the data is loaded in the RAM and it remains there. A PC can have more than one RAM slot so you can upgrade the RAM in the future.
Furthermore, the motherboard has a CPU that is known as the processor. It’s responsible for the arithmetic and logical operations of the system. Computations are carried out by the programs here. Then we have the GPU (graphical processing unit) that is responsible for processing graphics. You’ll also find USB ports that let you connect peripheral devices such as a mouse, keyboard etc.
Moreover, the expansion bus is an essential component that allows you to add compatible cards such as network cards, video cards, etc.
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Features You Should Consider In A Motherboard
You should also take into account a number of other features when purchasing a motherboard such as a chipset, size of the motherboard, number of ports and the price of the board. We’ve discussed each of them in detail below:
- Size/Form Factor
Generally, form factors refer to the size of a motherboard. From ATX to Mini-ITX, there is a variation in size, as well as a change in additional slots. Larger motherboards have typically more expansion slots as compared to the mini-ITX. When you’re choosing the motherboard, make sure it’s the same as the PC case you’ve bought.
- Socket
There are two types of sockets available: LGA from Intel and AMP from AMD. It refers to the pins found on a motherboard that are available for attaching integrated circuits or other components. Moreover, it makes sure that the processor is in place. The type of socket you choose will determine the type of processor you can choose. Make sure the processor is compatible with the socket.
- Chipset
Data flow between components of a motherboard using an electronic chipset. Chipsets are either built-in or can be integrated. The type of chipset you choose determines the different types of components that will ultimately affect the performance of the system. So, choose the chipset that best suits your requirements as well as your budget. The common chipsets used are Z370, AMD x570 and Intel Z390. Remember, the socket type should be compatible with the chipset.
- Power Supply
The Power Supply of the motherboard doesn’t come directly from the wall. Rather, an external power supply is used which converts AC to DC power needed by the motherboard components. You must find out if the board you prefer consumes more power than the internal USB ports.
If it does, you will need to purchase additional headers/ports. When you are buying a motherboard, CPU, RAM, and GPU are all important factors to consider. Similarly, you should consider the right power supply since this will give you optimal performance.
- Number of ports
There are many wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi so there’s not a shortage of options when it comes to ports. The number of wired connections determines how many peripherals such as keyboards, mice, printers, etc., it can support both wired and wireless.
Motherboards for Gaming
If you’re planning to buy a motherboard for gaming, there are some features that you should consider such as the number of ports it supports, a Graphics Card, cooling fans and the processor. You’ll find motherboards that are specially designed for gaming purposes. Since gaming requires high overclocking, there needs to be a proper cooling system for air circulation so that the system doesn’t heat up which in turn would affect the performance of the system.
Moreover, you’ll need a decent graphics card and powerful processor that supports multiple cores and has a speed of 3.5 GHz – 4.0 GHz and do not forget the RAM should be at least 8GB and a maximum of 16 GB for a seamless gaming experience.
Bottom line:
By the end of the article, you know that the motherboard is indeed one of the essential components that ensure the PC is working properly and lasts long in the long run. Consider these features when you’re buying a motherboard for simple use or gaming so you won’t have to regret spending too much.
