【 MOTHERBOARD 】What is it and what is it for? + Components ▷ 2022

In recent times, more and more people are dedicated to assembling their own computer. So that, choosing a hardware such as a motherboard is not a simple taskmore when the user needs to have certain technical requirements.

The motherboard is an essential element for the operation of a computer, whether desktop or laptop. This is because all other components are connected to this electronic device that work synchronously so that the user can execute their tasks.

Have you ever wondered how a motherboard works? In this article we will answer that question. In addition, we will show you all the internal components that a board with these characteristics has, as well as which are the best mainboard manufacturers.

What is a motherboard and what is it for in a computer?

The motherboard is an electronic component that is used to connect different devices through expansion slots. For example, the , video card and audio card.

This hardware is also called mainboard, motherboard, motherboard or main board and has its own software, called . This is used to load the operating system and make the keyboard and other hardware work.

It is made up of a printed electronic circuit that is designed with tracks of a conductive material and that allow information to be transported through these buses. In addition, it serves to support different connectors, diffusers, switches, ports and any other hardware that allows the correct operation of this board.

In this way, we can say that a mother board It is inside a PC case and It is used in a computer to unite all the elements that are necessary for the computer to boot and work. according to the user instructions. If you don’t know which motherboard you have, you can check .

What are the main components of a motherboard or motherboard?

Among the most important components that can be found on a motherboard we can mention the following:

: It is a silicon component and is in charge of receiving all the information, interpreting it and executing it according to the operating system and the applications that are installed on the computer. It works in conjunction with RAM memory and its speed is measured in Hertz units.
: This temporary storage device allows you to save all the information that was recently used by the user. It is related to the improvement in the experience of people who use the computer.
Discs: They are storage units that are used to store the data of the operating system and the different programs that are used. They rotate at speeds that can reach 10 thousand RPM.
: Since the motherboard is an electronic device, it needs electricity. So this hardware is in charge of regulating the voltage and serving as a source for the mainboard.
: It is also called a video card and it is an integrated electronic circuit that is used to process all the graphic data so that the microprocessor works more efficiently.

These are not the only components that exist on a motherboard. We can also mention the following ones that have important functions, but that we will detail in another post.

The other components are:

LGA or PGA socket.
Voltage Regulator Module or VRM.
ports of departure. , HDMI, DisplayPort, Jack, USB, etc.
Network and sound chip.
SATAused as a data transfer interface for storage devices.
2 and PCI Express, used as expansion cards.
Various internal connectors. For example, fan, ATX, internal USB, CPU, etc.

Types of motherboards How are these hardware components classified?

Motherboards are classified according to the microprocessor they use as internal components. In this way, we can say that the types of motherboard that you can find are:

With AMD microprocessor: Within this classification are sockets AM2, AM3, AM3+, AM4, FM1 and FM2.
Intended for Intel microprocessors: You can find LGA 1155, LGA 1150 and LGA 1151 sockets as the most recent.

What is the format of a motherboard and what are all the ones that exist?

When we refer to motherboard format, what we are saying is what physical dimensions should a motherboard have to be compatible with the physical space of the pc case. That is, when you know the “form factor” You can define physical characteristics, such as the location of the retaining screw holes, the width and length of the card, and the characteristics of the output connectors.

Currently they are used:

Extended AXT: Its dimensions are 30.5 x 33 cm and are characterized by enough space for the installation of expansion cards. It has 8 slots for RAM memory.
ATX: It measures a little less than the previous 30.5 x 24.4 cm. They are more intended for home work or gaming computers, since they have a fairly acceptable number of expansion slots. They have 7 in slots for RAM.
Micro ATX: As you will already realize, it is much smaller than the previous model, since it has a dimension of 24.4 x 24.4 cm. It is designed for office work and is characterized by the position of the screws, since not all PC cases are compatible with this model.
Mini-ITX: It is one of the youngest. Its dimensions are 17 x 17 cm. It has only one expansion slot for a video card and two for RAM.
Private: Used to maintain a closed scheme according to the characteristics that the manufacturer incorporates into its products. It is very common to find it in Dell equipment

You can also find some that are no longer used as much:

XT: It is the oldest of all and its size is that of an A4 sheet with a single output connector.
AT: It was used until 1995 and its dimensions were 30.5 × 30.5 cm.
ATX: It went on the market in 2001 and was characterized by having a 24-pin connector for the power supply. It has several versions, being the original Intel with 30.5 × 24.4 cm. can also be found FlexATX Y MiniATX.
ITX: It includes hardware that replaces the graphics card. Its surface is 21.5 × 19.5 cm. There are also other models like nanoITX of 12 square centimeters and the PicoITX 10 × 7.2 cm.
BTX: It was characterized by making little noise when the refrigeration process occurs. Its measurements were 32.5 × 26.7 cm and it was manufactured by Intel. There were also smaller models.
DTX: AMD created this board with an area of 24.8 × 20.3 cm. Although there were also models Mini DTX Y Full DTX.

What should I take into account before choosing the ideal main board or mainboard for me?

The first thing you should know is if you will use the computer for work or play. Since, if you need it for gaming, you must have an SLI connection with game paths in 4K quality. Therefore, in order to build a computer that is ideal for you, you must take into account that the processor must be compatible with the socket. That is, you must verify that the motherboard compartment is suitable for AM2, AM3, AM3+ and AM4 (in the case of AMD), or with Ryzen (if you will use an Intel processor).

Also, you must verify that the integrated chip meets the technical specifications you need, especially when you have a high-end processor. This is necessary since you will not be able to count on the full power of the processor if the chip is not adequate.

Another aspect to consider is the frequency that supports for RAM memory. That is to say, if you need a memory that works at 3200 Mhz, you should consider that the motherboard must have at least this feature for the memory to work correctly.

A point that few people take into account is ventilation. The heatsink can be made of a more or less heat-conducting material, which is why it can cause damage to your computer in the medium or long term. You should also take into account if the refrigeration I know Will it produce by liquid or by air and if this is compatible with the expansion slots that the board has.

List of the best manufacturers of motherboards in the market

Motherboard manufacturer are:

Asus: The motherboards of this manufacturer belong to the Z370, X299 and X399 series. They have Intel processors and have more than 540 million motherboards sold worldwide.
Dell: Optiplex TM is the name of the motherboards used by this company. It has series that allow 4 cabinet options and stand out for having Intel microprocessors and slots designed for PCI-Express.
Intel: World leader in technology. It offers motherboards for servers to the market and its HNS2600JF model is one of the most sought after by users.
Lenovo: It provides boards that are compatible with Intel processors and the models of this company are ThinkCentre. It has one slot for PCI Express and 2 for PCI. It is characterized by presenting a security chip that allows the acceptance of digital signatures.
Sapphire Technology: It is a company that manufactures its motherboards with AMD processors. They are ideal for video games and office work. Its external expanders make these hardware a true robust tool.