Motherboards

The Main Printed Circuit Board

Inside The PC That Contains and
Controls The Components That Are
Responsible For Processing Data.
 Motherboard is

 Multi-layered printed circuit board

 Copper circuit paths called traces carry
signals and voltages across the
motherboard
 Some layers carry data for input/output
while other layers carry voltage and
ground returns
Think of a Motherboard as:

 Futuristic City with many modular plug-in

buildings, using power from a common
electrical system
 Multiple-lane highways of various widths
transporting data between buildings
 Data and power infrastructure for the
entire computer
 Motherboard

 Holds The Processor

 Memory
 Expansion Slots
 Connects Directly or Indirectly to
Every Part of The PC
Basic Motherboard
Motherboard Made Up Of:

 A Chipset (known as the “glue logic”)

 Some Code in ROM
 Various Interconnections or Buses
Basic Input/Output System

All motherboards include a small block of Read

Only Memory (ROM) which is separate from
the main system memory used for loading and
running software. The ROM contains the PC’s
BIOS.
 CMOS RAM

Motherboards include a separate block of

memory made for low power consumption
CMOS RAM chips, which is kept alive by a
battery even when the PC’s power is off.
Motherboard Determines:
 CPU type and speed  Number of memory
 Chipset sockets and
 Secondary cache type maximum memory
 Type of case
 Types of slots
 ROM
 Number of slots
 Plug & Play
 Type of memory
compatibility
 Type of keyboard
 Form Factors

 Form factor means the size and shape of

the actual motherboard
 3 most common Form Factor
classifications:
 Baby AT
 ATX
 Slimline NLX
 Advice on Buying
Motherboards
 Deal with reputable  Verify the form factor
manufacturer of your computer
 Ensure that it has case matches the
same form factor as form factor of any
current case motherboard you plan
 Check the power to buy
supply requirements  Avoid tweaking
and AMD processors voltages and timings