OTHERBOARD WORKING-------------------------> A motherboard by itself is useless, but a computer has to have one to
operate. The motherboard's main job is to hold the computer's
microprocessor chip and let everything else connect to it. Everything
that runs the computer or enhances its performance is either part of the
motherboard or plugs into it via a slot or port.
The shape and
layout of a motherboard is called the form factor. The form factor
affects where individual components go and the shape of the computer's
case. There are several specific form factors that most PC motherboards
use so that they can all fit in standard cases. For a comparison of form
factors, past and present, check out Motherboards.org.
The form factor is just one of the many standards that apply to motherboards. Some of the other standards include:
The socket for the microprocessor determines what kind of Central Processing Unit (CPU) the motherboard uses.
The chipset is part of the motherboard's logic system and is usually
made of two parts -- the northbridge and the southbridge. These two
"bridges" connect the CPU to other parts of the computer.
The Basic
Input/Output System (BIOS) chip controls the most basic functions of the
computer and performs a self-test every time you turn it on. Some
systems feature dual BIOS, which provides a backup in case one fails or
in case of error during updating.
The real time clock chip is a battery-operated chip that maintains basic settings and the system time.[/b]
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