The Motherboard
A motherboard allocates power to the CPU, RAM, and all other hardware components as well as allowing them to communicate with each other. Within a motherboard, the individual hardware components are connected by "bus lines" which allow for communication.
There are four types of motherboards:
AT motherboards, which is a motherboard with dimensions of several hundred millimetres; it is unable to fit in mini desktops. Due to its size, it is difficult for new drives to be installed. The AT motherboard was produced in the mid 80s and was in use until the mid 90s.
ATX Motherboards were produced by Intel in the mid 90s as an improvement from the previous motherboards such as the AT motherboard. These motherboards were different in that they allowed interchanging of connected parts, as well as that, the smaller dimensions of the ATX allowed more room for proper placement of drive bays.
LPX motherboards were created after the AT boards in the 90s. The main difference between LPX motherboards and the previous motherboards was that the input and output boards were positioned at the back of the system; this idea proved to be advantageous and as such was adopted by the AT Boards in the creation of newer motherboards. Riser cards were also used in the LPX, but due to their height, they reduced air flow, leading to overheating. The LPX motherboard was eventually put into disuse due to its unfavourable aspects.
BTX motherboards were developed to reduce issues that became apparent as newer technologies were released; new technologies use more power and release more heat and the BTX was designed to help reduce and/or avoid these issues. The improvements of the motherboard over previous counterparts were that it was several centimetres smaller than other motherboards, provided a straighter path of airflow, and had a better structural design; the BTX standard specifies distinct locations for hardware mounting and as such optimizes the performance of components by reducing latency.
There are four types of motherboards:
AT motherboards, which is a motherboard with dimensions of several hundred millimetres; it is unable to fit in mini desktops. Due to its size, it is difficult for new drives to be installed. The AT motherboard was produced in the mid 80s and was in use until the mid 90s.
ATX Motherboards were produced by Intel in the mid 90s as an improvement from the previous motherboards such as the AT motherboard. These motherboards were different in that they allowed interchanging of connected parts, as well as that, the smaller dimensions of the ATX allowed more room for proper placement of drive bays.
LPX motherboards were created after the AT boards in the 90s. The main difference between LPX motherboards and the previous motherboards was that the input and output boards were positioned at the back of the system; this idea proved to be advantageous and as such was adopted by the AT Boards in the creation of newer motherboards. Riser cards were also used in the LPX, but due to their height, they reduced air flow, leading to overheating. The LPX motherboard was eventually put into disuse due to its unfavourable aspects.
BTX motherboards were developed to reduce issues that became apparent as newer technologies were released; new technologies use more power and release more heat and the BTX was designed to help reduce and/or avoid these issues. The improvements of the motherboard over previous counterparts were that it was several centimetres smaller than other motherboards, provided a straighter path of airflow, and had a better structural design; the BTX standard specifies distinct locations for hardware mounting and as such optimizes the performance of components by reducing latency.