A motherboard in a PC is the main hub that allows all the other components in the computer to communicate and process information. All the components of the computer connect to the motherboard, and boards can differ based on size, the number of components supported, and the types of components.
Facts
The computer motherboard is the central hub that allows all the different components of a computer to communicate together. The motherboard has different interfaces to match hard drives, processors and RAM, so that it can allow all the parts to effectively work together. The motherboard does not necessarily do any processing itself, but rather, facilitates the means by which the computer is able to run.
Types
Motherboards vary depending on size. Motherboards are most commonly either ATX or micro-ATX in size. There are two smaller size boards as well: the flex-atx and the mini-ITX boards. The difference, from a practicality standpoint, is that with a larger ATX board, there is more space for the different components to both live (as in be installed) and be cooled.
The motherboards can be as big as 30.5 cm (width) and 24.4 cm (depth) for ATX boards to as small as 17 cm (width) and 17 cm (depth) for mini-ITX boards.
Features
Motherboards are expanding the types of features they offer. Whereas, before it was necessary to purchase different PCI cards (such as video and sound cards) and controllers (such as RAID controllers), many modern motherboards handle all of those processes "on board," eliminating the need for space consuming components.
Many onboard sound cards have advanced to where most would not require a separate sound card. The onboard video cards are adequate for most computer use, though for graphics intensive processes such as gaming or video editing, a separate video card with a dedicated graphics processor is recommended.
Motherboards allow for the connection of many hard drives at once. Some manufacturers allow onboard RAID, which is a method of combining several drives together to mimic a single large drive. This is especially useful for video editing.
Considerations
Some components of a computer need to be compatible with the motherboard in order for the computer to run properly. Processors have a specific socket type, and motherboards are made to accommodate each type. In addition, motherboards are specified to work with certain types and speeds of RAM, and problems can arise when incompatible RAM is installed.
In addition, it is necessary to make sure hard drives, disc drives and graphics cards use the same interface as what is available on the motherboard. Also, the motherboard should be compatible with the computer case dimensions.
Warnings
Motherboards are especially affected by static shock. It is possible to burn a board out through a single static shock, rendering it useless. The best way to avoid this is to be grounded before touching the motherboard. This can be done by touching a piece of metal, which dissipates any static build up your body may have.
Tags: components computer, hard drives, compatible with, components computer communicate, computer communicate