Motherboard
Introduction
The motherboard is an extremely important part of a computer system. Not only does it determine what you can and can't have in your system, it also has a big impact on performance. So, choose carefully, and get the best motherboard you can afford.
What Does a Motherboard Do All Day?
All the other devices in your PC such as the microprocessor, memory, drives, multimedia cards, printer, and monitor all "plug" into the motherboard in one way or another. Once connected to the motherboard, each device is able to send data to the main memory. Main memory is a holding ground for the data and instructions the CPU needs in order to complete tasks. When the CPU requests data, the memory locates it, then sends it over to the CPU via a pathway on the motherboard called the system bus. When the processor finishes processing the data, it sends the result back to the memory, which in turn sends it back to the device that needs it. The motherboard's chipset coordinates and controls the speed and timing of those interactions.
The chipset is the most important part of a motherboard; it is largely responsible for the stability and performance of the board, and it determines which features are supported and which are not. Some well known motherboard
chipset manufacturers include Intel, Via, SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems Corp.), AMD, and Nvidia. ATI has recently entered the core logic market as well.
The BIOS (basic input/output system) is responsible for booting up the computer when you first turn it on. It also helps control the flow of data between the operating system and hardware devices. Traditionally, the BIOS was on a ROM (read only memory) chip to ensure that its instructions would never be erased. However, all modern motherboards now have the BIOS on flash memory, which enables the BIOS to be "flashed" (updated) if desired. Further, most modern motherboards even have dual BIOS, which is described in more detail in "Special Features" below.
What CPU Will You Be Using?
If you already know what CPU you'll be using, great. If not, start there.
Think about what type of computer you want. Are you a gamer or someone
who does a lot of image editing? If so, you may want a higher-end CPU
such as an Intel P4, or an AMD AthlonXP. If you primarily use your PC
for Microsoft Office and surfing the Internet, you may want an Intel Celeron
or an AMD Duron. If you're not sure what you need, take a look at the
Buyer's Guide chapter on CPUs.
Deciding on a CPU will help you narrow down your motherboard choices quite a bit. A motherboard will only support specific types and speeds of processors. For instance, a motherboard designed for an Intel P4 will not support an Intel PIII, and a motherboard designed for an Athlon processor up to 900MHz, will not support a 1400MHz Athlon. Also, it's important to understand that a motherboard will support either an Intel processor or an AMD processor, but not both. Intel and AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) are the two major manufacturers of processors.
In addition, you must purchase a motherboard that your CPU can physically connect to. The motherboard's slot or socket is where you will "plug in" your CPU. (See the CPU socket on the diagram.) Different CPUs come in different types of packaging, which only fit into certain slots or sockets. Therefore, if you know what type of slot or socket you need, you can eliminate all the boards that don't have it.
Before you purchase a motherboard, we urge you to contact the board's manufacturer and double check that it is definitely compatible with your CPU. Accidentally purchasing a board that doesn't support your CPU will put a major damper on your project.
The following are some of the latest CPUs and the socket types they require.
Note that the latest processors use sockets rather than slots.
CPU | Compatible Socket type
Intel | Celeron Socket 370 (old) or Socket 478 (new)
Intel | P4 Socket 478
AMD | Duron Socket A
AMD | Athlon Socket A
