A motherboard also known as mainboard, mobo, main circuit board, system board, logic board, mb is the foundation of your PC as well as the first building block. Due to its necessity for operating a PC, it gets its name from the phrase “Mothership.”
It is the main circuit board of a PC and a computer won’t be able to run without it. Originally, when there was no motherboard in the 1980s there were backplanes that were passive circuit boards with no onboard controllers.
Back planes didn’t have anything on board they just formed a relay of sorts between the different PC components but as the field of technology progressed onboard controllers and components became a necessity and that is how the motherboard was invented.
How Does a Motherboard Work
The motherboard is responsible for forming communication lanes between the different subsystems of a PC and it does exactly that by connecting the CPU, RAM, HDD, SSD, and GPUs so they can work in perfect synergy to give you the PC experience that depends on how much you have spent on it.
It is the nervous system of the PC as it is responsible for delivering messages to and fro between the different subsystems of the computer. There are various types of motherboards that you can find in the market depending on what you will be doing with your PC but more on that later.
A thing to note is that each motherboard is designed to support a specific set of PC components such as the CPU RAM and GPU. For instance, An Intel processor will not work on every motherboard out there and the same goes for the AMD processor. Nonetheless, Hard drives and data storage devices are not limited to motherboard designs and work with the majority of motherboards.
Moreover, many motherboards also come with future-proof technologies that will save you the need to buy a newer motherboard when upgrading your PC components as well.
Components of Motherboard
For it to work correctly, a conventional motherboard needs a number of components. We have simplified it for you and listed all the key elements along with their links.
- CPU Socket
- Chipset
- Northbridge
- Southbridge
- Expansion Slots
- Voltage Regulator Modules
- USB Headers
- Fan Headers
- 1394 Headers
- Serial ATA Connectors
- RAID
- Memory Slots
- Screw Holes
- 24-Pins ATX Power Connector
- 4-pin Power Connector
- 3-pin Case Fan Connector
- Coin Cell Battery
Motherboard Form Factors
The motherboard comes in all shapes and sizes. The bigger the motherboard, the more space you have for components, and vice versa. The different form factors are starting from the smallest:
- ATX
- Micro-ATX
- ITX
- E-ATX
Motherboard Ports and Slots Explained
The modern motherboard has no set standard on the number of ports, slots, and connections that will be present onboard. A rule of thumb is that expensive motherboards tend to have a greater number of these present as compared to cheaper ones.
However, if you want to know how many ports, slots, and connections are there on a specific board, you will have to check the manual and online specs which can be found on the manufacturer’s website.
Finding it difficult to remember the motherboard model? Don’t worry; we have the guide you need to determine which model you have.
Color-coded slots
There is a sequence, and the specifics can be found in your motherboard manual, which almost typically includes thorough instructions for what sequence the memory slots should be filled and which combinations will function, so you can just put it in once and have it operate.:
A motherboard’s slots, ports, and connectors may be color-coded to make it easier to recognize the kind of slot, port, or connector. In order to benefit from the dual channel set represented by the colored pair, you need to install your RAM in pairs.
Install two identical sticks as a matched pair in the slots of the same color, followed by another two identical sticks in the remaining two slots. A system’s memory should ideally all be similar to avoid having part of it possibly downclocked (or voltage/multiplied) to the lowest common denominator.
Answer
To know more about the color codes on a computer motherboard you can check out this detailed guide
Is There a Fatherboard in Computer?
No there isn’t any father board and it’s only motherboards. Although, as I mentioned earlier the expansion slots can host different circuits and they are known as daughterboards.
Daughterboard Definition
A daughterboard, also known as a daughtercard or mezzanine board, is a component of a computer’s internal circuitry that is often designed to increase or improve the device’s overall performance, most notably when it comes to memory capacity and processing speed.
This component is typically installed post-purchase as an enhancement or upgrade and is rarely necessary for the computer to function. The daughter component often latches onto the motherboard, which is an important component of most operating systems, and either enhances it or gives it additional capabilities.
It is typically rather tiny and gets its name from its closeness to the bigger and more important motherboard.
Motherboard Brands
- We have got Asus, who thrive in delivering motherboards that are perfectly balanced between price and features.
- We have MSI who are experienced in delivering the best high-end motherboards.
- Gigabyte is another leading motherboard manufacturer that gives you motherboards with the best thermals.
- EVGA has cemented itself in the market with its outstanding customer support.
- ASRock has become a household name for people looking for productive motherboards.
- If you’re looking for Mining motherboards then BIOSTAR products are the way to go.
How much does a motherboard cost?
Motherboards come with exclusive features and they’re priced accordingly. The price ranges from $50 to $1500. With the $50 motherboards being used for general work such as writing, internet surfing, etc.
While the $150-$400 are the sweet spot for motherboards which are used in budget gaming PCs, photo editing, etc. The $400-$1000 are the high-range motherboard for rendering, video editing, etc. Meanwhile, the $1000-1500 is the spot that the enthusiast class buys as they are overclockers, extreme gamers, etc.
Nonetheless, if you are on a limited budget, there will be a board that is just the right combination of price and features for you out there that you have to find.
Can you repair a motherboard?
Depending on the damage done most motherboards can be repaired. The majority of the motherboards come with warranties that you can claim from the manufacturers. These warranties usually range from 2-6 years which is more than enough time for running a PC until you need to upgrade to the newest technology since newer technologies are being introduced to the market with a gap of 2-3 years between them.
What Usually Comes with A Motherboard?
Yes, it is the primary circuit board found in laptops and smart watches. In essence, it consists of a motherboard, a logic chip, and a logic gate. Copper and fiberglass are the main components of these printed circuit boards. Fiberglass acts as insulation in this situation, and copper creates conductive paths.
Due to space limitations with most logic boards, the CPU and RAM (in tablets and smartphones) are soldered onto the board. But because we cannot install RAMs or any other component after the manufacturing process, logic boards lack slots and sockets.
Conclusion
I hope that the information I have given above has made things clear for you regarding motherboards and their various components along with their internal working mechanisms.
There is a plethora of motherboards that you will find in the market, and while it can be quite the hassle for a person to choose the motherboard that is right for them, fret not as you can usually make a checklist for yourself that you can use to get the right one for yourself.
If you want a buying guide for specific PC components such as the best motherboard for or gaming around choosing a motherboard we have got comprehensive guides on those as well.
