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Building Your Own Computer - Part 1
Building Your Own Computer - Part 2
Building Your Own Computer - Part 3
Building Your Own Computer - Part 4
Building Your Own Computer - Part 5
Building Your Own Computer - Part 6
Building Your Own Computer - Part 7
CD DVD
CPU
Components
Computer Accessories Part 2
Hard Drives - Part 1
Hard Drives - Part 2
Memory
Motherboard - Part 1
Motherboard - Part 2
Sound Cards
Video Cards |
Motherboard - Part 1
Video CardsIn order to interact with a computer (enter information and see the results), we need both an input device and ..... When you open up a computer case, you see a large printed circuit board underneath all the other components, which is called the motherboard. The function of the motherboard is to provide power and connections to all the other components of the computer.
The motherboard (or mobo as it is sometimes called) has various sockets for inserting other cards such as video or audio cards. It also has a socket for the Central Processor Unit (CPU), which determines what kind of CPU can be used in the motherboard.
CPU Socket
Motherboards are usually classified by their CPU socket. When shopping for a motherboard, they will be called different names; Socket A, Socket 478, or Socket 775, for example. The different types of sockets use different pin layouts for accepting the CPU. You cannot fit a Socket A CPU into a Socket 478 motherboard.
When you see a name like Socket 478 or Socket 939, the number refers to the number of contacts that the CPU has. Socket A (also called Socket 462) was the most popular type of layout for AMD processors until recently, but now it is gradually being replaced by Socket 754 and Socket 939.
Hard Drives - Part 1When we talk about computer memory we usually think of RAM (Random Access Memory). Computer memory is not just ..... Socket 478 is a common layout for Intel processors such as the Pentium 4, but Intel is gradually introducing a new socket layout called Socket T (also called Socket 775 or LGA 775).
Chipsets
Chipsets are the intermediary between the CPU and the other components of the computer. Chipsets are divided into two parts called the "Northbridge" and the "Southbridge." The Northbridge is the faster of the two and it connects directly to the CPU through the Front Side Bus (FSB). The Northbridge also connects directly to the memory and the AGP graphics slot.
The Southbridge connects to the PCI cards, the USB ports and the hard drive. Information from the CPU must first pass through the Northbridge, then to the Southbridge and finally to the external components.
Unlike CPUs, chipsets cannot be removed from the motherboard. It is important to consider the chipset when buying a CPU/motherboard combination. CPUs are optimized for certain chipsets, so you should choose a motherboard with a chipset that complements the CPU.
Buses
Computer Accessories Part 1In addition to the essential parts of the computer like the motherboard, the CPU and the hard drive, there are many useful peripherals you can add .....
Another component which enables computer data to travel from one place to another is called a "bus." Buses connect the various parts of the motherboard to the CPU through the chipset. The speed of the bus determines how fast data can reach the CPU and measured in megahertz (MHz). This speed is an important factor in computer performance. The Front Side Bus (FSB) connects the CPU to the Northbridge so the speed of this bus is a very important specification of any motherboard. There is a broad range of bus speeds on current motherboards -- from about 200 MHz all away up to 1600 MHz.
Memory Slots
Most motherboards will have two or three slots for memory chips, but some have up to seven memory slots. These slots are designed to accept memory modules with a certain number of pins, so it is important to buy the correct type of memory module for your motherboard.
Modern motherboards are designed to accept Double Data Rate (DDR) memory, which is twice as fast as regular memory because it can be accessed on both the up and down cycles of the CPU. DDR2 is even faster than DDR, and is quickly becoming the standard for computer memory.
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