Everyone hears the term motherboard and wonders exactly what it is? This term is so loosely defined that it gets confusing very quickly to the average computer user. A motherboard is the information transfer hub of your computer system. It could be called the chassis of your computer.
The motherboard will contain connection points for your CPU (Central Processing Unit), Hard drive, RAM (Random Access Memory), Video Card, and Power Supply as a general rule of thumb. Motherboards come from a variety of Manufacturers such as ABIT, ASUS, Foxconn, Asrock, MSI, Intel, and Tyan. Each of these suppliers provides a slightly tweaked board for your computer use.
Without these boards you would have nothing but components and a non-functioning computer. The motherboard is to the computer what the frame is to your car. It is the main infrastructure that makes your computer function.
So the question is asked why are there so many suppliers for such a simple concept as a motherboard. Board manufacturers offer different designs and functionality for your boards. Foxconn motherboards may offer a better price, ASUS can offer you better performance, Asrock will offer you a middle of the range board, and then MSI motherboards may offer you something different again. It is all about looking at each manufacturers motherboards and comparing the functionality that each of their motherboards have, and then deciding which one suits your needs best.
Each motherboard is specific to its uses. Companies offer motherboards that are designed for continuous use and that are relatively impervious to heat generation. Other companies design motherboards that are geared for the computer gamers to use. These motherboards will be equipped with liquid cooling and designed to keep the CPU from overheating. The motherboards operate at a high rate of data transfer but sacrifice longevity of life to achieve this performance.
Motherboards are designed for specific CPU chip-sets. The AMD chipset requires a different motherboard mounting than the Intel chipset. While Intel builds motherboards they do not build motherboards for competing CPU manufacturers.
With all of these design concerns and options available where does the consumer go? You want a computer with a properly designed chassis but what is that design to be. Good research into the different manufacturers will shed light onto your dilemma.
Considerations that you make when purchasing a motherboard are many. However many of the motherboard manufacturers help you with the decisions that you need to make by pre-mounting your board with Video and Sound Cards. These cards may or may not be adequate for your specific application. They are also typically not top of the line components, but components from secondary manufacturers. If you can live with the specifications of the pre-mounted cards then this will save you money in purchasing your motherboard.
However if you have a custom application that requires a certain type of Video or Sound card, you will need to avoid the pre-mounted motherboards. The pre-mounted devices will only take up valuable motherboard space. The main considerations with the non-pre-mounted motherboards are whether or not they are capable of handling the Video and Sound cards that you are choosing. To find out simply log onto the motherboard manufacturers site and check for the specifications of the boards. The site will list compatible devices so make sure that your Video and Sound cards are listed prior to purchasing the board.
Also be aware of the speed of the processing unit you plan on placing on your motherboard. If the CPU you want is a top end model, be sure that the motherboard you are purchasing is rated for the CPU unit you are planning on running. Don't purchase an AMD CPU and expect it to snap into an Intel motherboard, also don't purchase a motherboard designed for an AMD chip and expect your Intel CPU to function properly.
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More About Chris Hall: Chris Hall is the owner of Australian-based StoneBridge Computing dealing in sales of Computers, Laptops, Hardware and Software. www.stonebridgecomputing.com.au |
