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MOTHERBOARD, ITS TYPES AND COMPONENTS

INTRODUCTION

Before the invention of microprocessors, computers were built in mainframes with components which were connected by a back plane that had countless lots for connecting wires. In old designs wires needed to connect card connector pins but soon, they became a thing of the past with the invention of printed Circuit Board (PCB).

Mother is a platform that offers electrical connections through which other components of a computer communicate and it also has the CPU generally referred to as the brains of the computer.  The CPU, memory and peripherals were housed on individual printed circuit boards which are plugged into the back planes. In the late 1980s, motherboards began to include single information communications capable of supporting a set of low speed peripherals; keyboards, mouse, floppy disk drive, serial ports and parallel ports. The pioneers of motherboard manufactures were Micronics, Mylex, Orchid Technology, a number of Taiwan bared manufacturers.

TYPES OF MOTHERBOARD

There are different ways to classify motherboards, which are:
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON ASSEMBLY
INTEGRATED PROCESSORS
Video, graphics, sound... such facilities involve components. Peripheral device slots, serial parallel ports and input output ports are other physical components or parts that are involved in the working of a computer. When such components are provided for by the motherboard, i.e. they are built into the motherboard, the motherboard is called integrated.
For example, to make a computer capable of connecting to networks, a network card is integrated onto the motherboard itself. So you do not need to buy a network card. This sort of motherboard allows for better air flow within the computer's case. Integrated motherboards cost less to make but their downside is that, if even one component on the motherboard fails, the entire board might have to be replaced. Repairing or replacing this sort of motherboard, is expensive.

NON-INTEGRATED PROCESSORS
With non-integrated motherboards, electronic components and parts are fitted individually and as needed. Input output ports, connectors, RAM etc. are fixed to the motherboard using expansion slots. So you can add one or more components as needed. This allows for greater customization and freedom in designing a PC. Gamers, for example, could fix a high-end graphics card of their choice, using the expansion slot, instead of settling for an average video card on an integrated motherboard.
But customizing a motherboard can get expensive and this is the problem with non-integrated motherboards; the initial cost is high as components need to be bought and fixed. Plus, there should be enough expansion slots to accommodate the multiple components. However, if a single component fails, then only it has to be replaced or repaired, which is a cheaper operation as opposed to replacing the entire motherboard.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON PROCESSOR
This way of differentiating computer motherboards is based on motherboard socket types. The CPUs that are available in the current market, are compatible only with specific motherboards.
SOCKET A MOTHERBOARDS
These motherboards are meant for AMD and Durons processors. The Socket A motherboard is also known as Socket 464 motherboard. The CPU socket in the motherboard has 462 pins and it comes in a PGA (Pin Grid Array) packaging. The bus speed of this type of motherboard is 100 to 200 MHz.
SOCKET 370 MOTHERBOARDS
Meant for Intel Pentium III and Celeron processor, this motherboard comes for CPUs with 370 pins. It can also support VIA Cyrix III and VIA C3 processors. The bus speed for this type of motherboard is 66 to 133 MHz and it also comes in a PGA package.
SOCKET 378 MOTHERBOARDS
This is meant for Pentium 4 processors. It also comes in a PGA package and has 478 pins. The bus speed is 100 to 200 MHz. This motherboard can also support Intel Pentium 4EE and Intel Pentium M processor. This type of motherboard is also known as Socket N motherboard.

SOCKET T MOTHERBOARDS
Also known as LGA 775, this motherboard is meant for Intel Core 2 Duo, Intel Core 2 Quad and Intel Xeon processor. Of course, this motherboard can also support other Intel processors such as Celeron, Pentium 4, Pentium D, Celeron D and Pentium XE processor. Its specifications include 775 pins and a very high bus speed of 1600 MHz. It also comes in a PGA package.
SOCKET 939 MOTHERBOARDS
The Socket 939 is meant mainly for the AMD family. It can support AMD processors like the Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Athlon 64 X2 and Opetron. It has 939 pins and can have a bus speed from 200 to 1000 MHz. Just like the types described above, it also comes in a PGA package.
SOCKET AM3 MOTHERBOARDS
Socket AM3 is among the most recently developed motherboards. Introduced in 2009, this motherboard is meant for AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processors. It has 941 pins and a bus speed range of 200 to 3200 MHz. The packaging for Socket AM3 motherboard is PGA.

SOCKET H MOTHERBOARDS
The Socket H or LGA 1156 is meant for Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7processors. It has 1156 pins and comes in LGA (Large Grid Array) packaging.
CLASSIFICATION BASED ON DIMENSION
The dimensions of a motherboard, also known as the form factor, is another way of distinguishing between different motherboard types.

ATX MOTHERBOARDS
The ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) motherboard has a length of 12 inches and a width of 7.5 inches. The I/O ports and USB ports meant for the motherboard are integrated directly in it. The bus speed in ATX motherboard is 100 MHz. This board is mainly meant for Intel processors.

FULL AT MOTHERBOARDS
This was the first type of motherboard, which was 12 inches wide and 11 inches long. This motherboard suffered from a lot of problems, like cumbersome access to components and overheating.
BABY AT MOTHERBOARDS
With a dimension of 10 by 8.5 inches, this motherboard is meant for classic Pentium processors. The DIN keyboard connector at the top right corner of this motherboard, makes recognizing this motherboard a relatively simple task.
HOW TO DETERMINE A MOTHERBOARD TYPE
Normally, the documentation that accompanies the motherboard, is the best way for determining your computer's motherboard. If in case you do not have access to those documents, you can go to the System Devices tab located in the Device Manager and try to find your motherboard type. You can also run msinfo32 to find information about the installed hardware. There are various other third party programs too, which you can use for determining the motherboard. You can also simply open the cabinet of your CPU and look for a label on the computer's motherboard. It is usually present in the upper left or right corner of the motherboard. Another way of finding out the motherboard is, if you can locate the FCC (Federal Communications Commissions) identification number of the motherboard and perform a search on the type of motherboard using the same.
The type of motherboard used for your computer is also used for determining various other factors. For example, DDR SDRAM is the fastest of all the different types of RAM and only Socket A motherboards can be used for the same. Similarly, SDRAM is compatible with Socket 370 and RD RAM with socket 478. Similarly, the type of motherboard determines various other factors too.

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COMPONENTS OF A MOTHERBOARD

A motherboard is a large printed circuit board with connections for all the other components in the computer. The motherboard allows the components to exchange data. It also houses the power supply and the type of motherboard determines then types of CPU, memory and hard disk and other peripherals that are installed in the computer. The following are the components of a motherboard:

1.  NON-VOLATILE MEMORY

Non-volatile memory (NVM)  is a computer memory that can retain the stored information even when not powered e.g read only memory (ROM), flash memory  and  ferro electric RAM.

2.  CHIPSET

The main work of this is to manage data throughout. This normally consists of two major microchips. They are known as the  north bridge and the south bridge.

• NorthBridge (also called the memory controller) is in charge  of controlling transfers between the processor and the RAM which is why is it is located physically near the processor. It is sometimes called the GMCH, for Graphics and Memory Controller Hub.

• The SouthBridge (also called the input/output controller or expansion controller) handles communication between slower peripherals devices. It is also called the ICH (I/O Controller Hub). The term Bridge is generally used to designate a component which connects two buses.

3.  CLOCK GENERATOR

This a circuit that produces a timing signal (known as a clock signal and behaves as such) for use in synchronizing a circuit’s operation. The signal can range from a simple symmetrical square wave to more complex arrangements. The basic parts that all clock generators share are a resonant circuit and an amplifier. The resonant circuit is  usually a quartz piezo-electric oscillator, although simpler tank circuit and RC circuits may be used.  The clock generator in a motherboard is often changed by computer enthusiasts (computer clients) to control the speed of their CPU, FSB, GPU and RAM. The clock coordinates the activities of the CPU. The unit of time for each movement of data within the CPU is called a cycle. An example of  clock is TsGs (Timing Signal Generators). This  type of  clock that are used throughout service provider networks, frequently as the building integrated timing supply (BITS) for a central office.

THE CPU SOCKET

CPU  in computer science is a microscopic circuit board that serves as the main information  processor in a computer. It is generally a single micro-processor made from a wafer of semiconducting materials, usually silicon, with millions of electrical components of its surface on a higher level. The CPU socket houses the processor chip and connects it to the computer’s main circuit board. Though designs vary, the socket usually consists of hundreds of pins connections, and a plastic or metal cover and latch that hold the CPU in place. The CPU is similar to a calculator, only much more powerful. The main function of the CPU is to perform arithmetic and logical operations on data taken from memory or on information entered through some devices, such as a keyboard, scanner or joystick. The CPU is controlled by a list of software instructions, called a computer program.

SWITCHES AND JUMPERS

DIP(Dual In-Line Pachage)  swiches are small electronic swiches found on the circuit board that can be turned on or off just like a normal switch. They are very small and so are usually flipped with a pointed object such as the tip of a screwdriver, bent paper clip or pen top. Care should be taken when cleaning near DIP switches as some solvent may destroy them. Dip switches are obsolete as you will not find them in modern systems.

JUMPER PINS

jumpers are small protruding pins on the motherboard. A jumper cap or bridge is used to interconnect or short a pair of the jumper pins. When the bridge is connected to any two pins via a shorting link, it completes the circuit and a certain configuration has been achieved.

JUMPER CAP

A metal bridge that closes are electrical circuit. Typically, a jumper consists of  a plastic plug that fits over a pair of protruding pins. Jumpers are sometimes used to configure expansion boards. By placing a jumper plug over a different set of pins, you can change a board’s parameters.

BIOS-Basic Input Output System

Bios is a term that stands for Basic Input/Output System. Bios is a Read Only Memory which consist of low-loevel software that controls the stsstem hardware and acts as an interface between the operating system and the hardware. Most people know the term BIOS by another name-device drivers or just driver. BIOS is essentially the link between the computer hardware and software in a system.

All motherboards include a small block os Read Only Memory (ROM) which is separate from the main system memory used for laoding and running software. On PCs, the BIOS contain all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communication, and a number of miscellaneous functions.

The system BIOS is a ROM chip on the motherboard used by the computer during the startup routine (boot process) to check out the system and prepare to run the hardware. The BIOS is stored on a ROM chip because ROM retains information even when no power is being supplied to the computer..

BIOS Chip

COMPLIMENTERY METAL OXIDE SEMI-CONDUCTOR (CMOS)

Motherboards also include a small separate block of memory made from CMOS RAM chips which is kept alive by a battery (known from CMOS battery) even when the PC’s power iis off. This prevents reconfiguration when the PC is powered on. CMOS devices require very little power to operator.  CMOS  RAM is used to store basic information about the PC’s configuration. Example:

·      Floppy disk and hard disk types

·      CPU

·      RAM size

·      Date and Time

·      Serial and parallel port information.

·      Plug and play information

·      Power saving settings

The other important data kept in CMOS memory is the time and date which is updated by a Real Time Clock (RTC).there are other components of motherboard such as slots and others. 

CACHE MEMORY

It is a small block of high-speed memory (RAM) that enhances PC performance by pre-loading information from the relatively slow main memory and passing  it to the processor on demand..

Most CPUs have an internal cache memory (in-built in the processor) which is referred to as Level 1 cache memory or primary cache memory. This can be supplemented by external cache memory fitted on the motherboard. This is the Level 2 cache memory or secondary cache.

L2 Cache on an old Motherboard

PCI Slots

Expansion Bus

this is an input/output pathway from the CPU to peripheral devices typically mad up of a series of slots on the motherboard. Expansion boards (cards) plug into the bus. PCI is the common expansion bus in PC and other hardware platforms. Buses carry signals such as data, memory addresses, power, and control signals from component to component.

Expansion nuses enhance the PCs capabilities by allowing users to add missing features in their computers in form of adapter cards that are slotted in expansion slots.

The different types of buses include PCI,ISAA and EISA expansion bus among others.

CONCLUSION

A motherboard (sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, planar board or logic board,^[1] or colloquially, a mobo) is the main printed circuit board (PCB) found in computer and other technological systems. It holds many of the crucial electronic components of the system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals. Unlike a backplane, a motherboard contains significant sub-systems such as the CPU.

Motherboard  specifically refers to a PCB with expansion capability - the board is the "mother" of all components attached to it, which often include sound cards, videos, network card, hard drives or other forms of persistent storage, TV tuner card, cards providing extra USB or firewire slots, and a variety of other custom components. (The term mainboard is applied to devices with a single board and no additional expansions or capability - in modern terms this would include controlling boards in televisions, washing machines and other embedded system, which are not true motherboards.)

 In personal computer, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the main board, system board, planar board, on apple computers, logic board.

      

REFERENCES

Carey holzman (2003). The healthy pc: preventive care and remedies for your computer

en. Wikipedia.org/wiki/motherboard

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