Different type of motherboards: Types of Motherboard | Six Different Typesand Features of Motherboard

Types of Motherboard | Six Different Typesand Features of Motherboard

The motherboard is also known as logic board, baseboard, system board, mainboard, main circuit board, planar board, and mobo in a short way. It is a nonconductive plastic sheet that has the necessary circuit and place holders like sockets/slots to connect components and provide logistics for all the components to work in a coordinated manner. Thin narrow layers of Aluminum or Copper printed on the plastic sheet of the board acts like a circuit that connects various components. It is a chassis in which all the components are fitted in the designated place and they are all powered and well interfaced with each other.

A typical Motherboard contains the following interfaces and components:

CPU socket
Memory slots
SATA connector (Storage)
Power connector
Chipset
Floppy connector
IO Chip
Rear fan connector
Chassis fan connector
IO connectors
USB ports
Audio connector
IDE connector
CMOS battery header
PCI peripheral component interconnect slots
Nonvolatile memory (ROM) to hold the Boot program
Clock generator to synchronize with components
Expansion card slot

The motherboard is comprehensive in all aspects and it contains provisions to connect any kind of components to meet application requirements. The motherboard is self-sufficient to meet all requirements and it is a single board to manage all the functions, unlike backplane which has provision to connect to multiple extension boards to hold more components. The name mother in the motherboard is attributed to its character as it takes a leadership role to manage all the components connected to it.

Mouse, keypads are connected to USB ports on the motherboard. Apple computers motherboard has minimum provisions to connect to peripheral devices. Many boards have a provision of expansion to connect to additional devices. Heat sinks and fan points are available in the modern motherboard to transfer excess heat.

Types of Motherboard

Motherboards are present in Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, and Smartphone and the components and functionalities are the same. But the size of the components and the way they are accommodated on the board varies due to space availability. In desktops, most of the components are fitted inside the sockets provided on the board and it is easy to replace each of them separately, whereas in Laptops/Smartphones some components are soldered on the board, hence it is difficult to replace/upgrade.

Though different motherboards have varying capabilities, limitations, features, Physical size/shapes (form factor), they are identified/grouped/categorized mostly by their form factors. Each manufacturer has come out with its form factor to suit the design of computers. Motherboard manufactured to suit IBM and its compatible computers fit into other case sizes as well. Motherboards built using ATX form factors were used in most of the computers manufactured in 2005 including IBM and Apple.

Below are the six different types of Motherboards:

1. AT Motherboard

These motherboards have bigger physical dimensions of hundreds of millimeters and hence they are not the right fit for the mini desktop category of computers. Bigger physical size also inhibits installing new drivers. Sockets and six-pin plugs are used as power connectors in these motherboards. These power connectors are not that easily identifiable and hence users face difficulties in connecting and using it.

This type of motherboard was in vogue in the 1980s and it enjoyed a substantial self-life.

2. ATX Motherboard

ATX denotes Advanced technology extended, it was developed by Intel during the 1990s and it was an improved version over an earlier version of AT motherboard. It is smaller in size when compared to AT and it provides interchangeability of the connected components. There is a marked improvement in the connector aspects.

3. LPX Motherboard

This board had two improvements over earlier versions. The first one is Input and Output ports were taken to backside and the second one was the introduction of Riser card to facilitate more slots and easier connection. Some of these features were deployed in the AT motherboard. The main disadvantage in this board is the lack of Accelerated Graphic Port (AGP) slots which led to a direct connection to PCI. Issues in these motherboards were addressed in NLX boards.

4. BTX Motherboard

BTX denotes Balanced Technology Extended, intended to manage demands of new technologies in terms of more power requirements hence generation of more heat. Intel stopped further development of BTX boards during the mid-2000s to concentrate on low power CPU.

5. Pico BTX motherboard

These boards are smaller in size and hence the word Pico. Two expansion slots are supported in spite of being sharing the top half of BTX. Half-height or riser cards are its unique features and it supports the demands of digital applications.

6. Mini ITX motherboard

It’s a miniature version of motherboard over its earlier versions. Designed in the early 2000s and its dimension is 17 x 17 cm. Mainly used in small form factor (SFF) computer due to its lower power consumption and faster cooling ability. This motherboard is the most preferred in the home theater domain due to its lower level of fan noise that will improve the quality of the theatre system.

Conclusion – Types of Motherboard

Form factor plays an important role as the computer takes many shapes due to digital application needs where computers need to be inbuilt in the machines, moving vehicles, and in any equipment on the earth. The nature and size of the motherboard will undergo continuous changes in the days to come.

10 Different Types of Motherboards

Every computer needs a motherboard, but there are many different kinds. Some boards have more ports or support higher frequencies, but some distinctions can be difficult to understand unless you’re an enthusiast.

Your Motherboard is probably the most important component of your computer, but did you know there are 10 different types of motherboards?

This guide explains the differences between all 10 types of motherboards and which one might be right for you.

1. Micro ATX
2. AT Motherboard
3. BTX Motherboard
4. LPX Motherboard
5. ITX Motherboard
6. Pico BTX motherboard
7. FlexATX
8. Mini ITX MB
9. Full ATX
10. Baby AT motherboard

1. Micro ATX

If you’re building a home theater PC, micro ATX is a great choice. Since most home theater PCs don’t have video cards and tend to be housed in smaller cases, they don’t need many expansion slots or drive bays.

Plus, micro ATX boards are great if you have limited space on your desk; they take up much less room than larger models.

As with any motherboard choice, read reviews to ensure that a given model works well with your particular CPU.

This review will help ensure that the processor fits into its socket properly without undue pressure or movement that could damage it over time—especially important if it’s an expensive high-end chip from Intel or AMD.

Micro ATX motherboards were designed with performance-driven users in mind. They have enough expansion slots to run two graphics cards at once, making them great for gaming enthusiasts or anyone who wants the best performance out of their rig.

There are plenty of good choices on this list, including Gigabyte’s GA-Z170N-WIFI, which comes with dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and Intel’s Core i7 6700K Skylake processor—a must-have for any gamer worth his salt!

Micro-ATX: If portability is your priority, use a micro-ATX board instead. These are smaller than full ATX boards but still large enough to support most gaming PC builds.

They’re less expensive, too, often costing around $200-$300 for an entry-level model.

2. AT Motherboard

If you’re looking to build a PC with a large ATX or extended ATX motherboard, you’ll need an ATX computer case. ATX cases are usually slightly wider than Micro-ATX models but smaller than full-sized towers.

In addition to your Motherboard, some ATX cases can hold two or three additional internal drives. which means they’re best suited for mid-range builds where storage space isn’t as important as expansion options.

If you want to build a high-end rig optimized for speed, look at Micro-ATX computer cases instead. These tend to be more spacious without sacrificing too much in terms of performance.

The differences between these different motherboards will affect the type of hardware you can put inside them, and it all depends on what software or hardware you want to run.

3. BTX Motherboard

BTX motherboard refers to a motherboard design that dates back to 2005. They are sometimes available but rarely used since they are incompatible with standard ATX boards.

BTX motherboards feature a different form factor, sockets, ports, and new cooling techniques.

One major benefit of BTX is its ability to support three video cards in SLI or Crossfire mode rather than two in an ATX board.

Even if you don’t need such functionality today, it can pay off in future upgrades by allowing more flexibility when choosing video cards.

For example, let’s say you have decided on the perfect Motherboard for your needs today, but next year a company releases a new generation of video card that fits your needs better.

Well, if your old Motherboard only supported 2 slots, then there would be no way to use the new card without purchasing another motherboard entirely (which may be difficult or impossible depending on where you live).

But on the other hand, let’s say the older model has 3 slots, so upgrading to this newer card is just a matter of getting rid of an old card and adding in the new one – an easy fix!

4. LPX Motherboard

LPX, or Low Profile Extended ATX, is a smaller version of ATX that’s designed to be used in smaller cases. These boards aren’t very common, but if your computer is only small, they’re a great choice.

The layout has changed a bit over time as well; if you see what appears to be a 7-pin connector on older LPX boards, it’s likely actually an S-Video port.

While still present on some boards today, S-Video ports aren’t nearly as important as they were back in 2007 when Windows XP was brand new.

LPX isn’t often seen because so many other choices exist. If you’re planning on using the board in a case with more than one expansion slot, another form factor might work better.

5. ITX Motherboard

ITX motherboard is one of the different motherboard ideals for small PCs or HTPCs (Home Theater Personal Computers).

These boards are often no bigger than a credit card, making them perfect for small rigs. If you want to build a super-small computer that packs big performance into a tiny package, an ITX motherboard will do it.

Remember that these boards don’t support SLI or Crossfire – so if you want to game on your PC, they probably aren’t your best bet.

However, they’re great choices if gaming isn’t your main focus – like if you want to stream TV shows and movies on an HTPC in your bedroom or office.

And, since they’re low-profile, you’ll have plenty of room for other components and won’t need to worry about any heat problems due to tight spacing.

6. Pico BTX motherboard

A pico BTX motherboard uses a mini-ITX or pico-ITX form factor, making it a great option if space is at a premium.

It’s also cheaper than many standard ATX boards, meaning you get more functionality out of your money.

Pico BTX cases are also compact; it might be your best option if you want to build a Hackintosh (desktop Mac) computer.

And while they typically don’t have the same number of expansion slots as a larger board, some offer built-in WiFi and Bluetooth so that you can use wireless peripherals without any cables.

7. FlexATX

FlexATX is a motherboard form factor standard designed to be a power-efficient alternative to ATX, microATX, and mini-ITX.

FlexATX’s small size allows it to be used in small form factor PCs like HTPCs. A typical FlexATX motherboard fits into a case that can hold an optical drive with plenty of room to spare.

FlexATX boards often have audio I/O connectors but don’t have as many PCI slots as their larger counterparts.

You can find out more about FlexATX at their official website. If you’re looking for smaller than microATX, then FlexATX is what you want.

8. Mini ITX MB

Mini ITX motherboards are best suited for small form factor cases or if you’re building a media center.

It’s impossible to overclock a Mini ITX motherboard due to space limitations, but they still pack all of the features you might need in a home computer.

The only downside is that there isn’t much room in Mini ITX cases, so installing aftermarket CPU coolers or power supplies can be difficult.

However, if the size is your biggest concern, these boards will work well in many scenarios. Mini ITX cases offer more expansion slots than their larger counterparts.

These boards are great for those who have limited space and want maximum versatility.

9. Full ATX

Full ATX motherboards are designed to hold more expansion cards and a larger power supply, so they’re larger than micro-ATX boards.

Most gaming PCs (though not all) will have a full ATX motherboard inside. Full ATX is also commonly used in workstations or servers because it can fit more components than micro-ATX or mini-ITX.

The downside is that full ATX boards aren’t very portable—they can be difficult to mount in small cases because they take up so much space. They’re also heavy and expensive, costing models $500 or more.

10. Baby AT motherboard

As their name suggests, Baby AT boards is smaller versions of AT motherboards. Motherboard form factors are a big deal since your case needs to have compatible mounting brackets.

Baby ATs have the same basic design as standard (AT) boards, but they’re generally more compact to fit into mini-tower cases with fewer expansion slots.

If you’re using a Mini-ITX motherboard, there’s no choice–you’ll need a Baby AT board.

And if you want to build an HTPC or media center PC from scratch using Intel’s Next Unit of Computing kits, it’s also worth noting that these boards use the Baby AT form factor.

Factors to Consider in Buying These Different Types of Motherboard

Functionality, price, availability, case design, power requirements, format. These things vary with each board.

You must decide whether your budget allows it and what kind of PC setup (desktop or laptop) you have.

You must also consider if you have special requirements, such as a mini-ITX motherboard. Be sure to find out what acronyms stand for ports, so you don’t get confused when shopping around.

The form factor doesn’t matter as much as all your other needs combined in a single purchase decision.

Conclusion

There are many motherboards on offer in today’s world. With such a wide range to choose, it cannot be easy to decide which is best for your needs.

Doing your research beforehand is important, as a poor motherboard choice can have devastating consequences for other parts of your computer (the video card or memory, particularly)

Types of computer motherboards: what are they?

Don’t worry, there aren’t as many as you thought.

Published on 06/20/2018, 19:07 Comments:15

In this article we will consider only modern and popular types of motherboards. In general, knowing this information will be useful if you want to build your own computer, or to replace certain components.
There are three main types of motherboards, each differs in a set of connectors and in the size itself.

Content:

Which one to buy?
Three types of motherboards
Basic types
Features of types

Which motherboard to buy?

Motherboard — the basis of personal computers. Before you buy and choose, find out
type of processor that will be supported, how much memory can be put into operation, what peripheral devices are possible
connect and what features are supported. It is important to know what you need with the right choice.

We distinguish three types of motherboards

Modern — new and popular technologies
Obsolete — old style motherboards losing demand
Others — servers, domestic and industrial

«Other» and «outdated» will not be considered here, we will analyze only «modern» solutions for home and advanced
desktop computer.

Processor (CPU) support

There is always a processor socket type on the motherboard. This socket will define the physical packaging
an AMD or Intel processor that can be installed. In addition to this, the chipset will determine
what specific processor models work with the motherboard.

Despite this, it is better to get
an idea of what processor you are going to use in a desktop computer before proceeding with the selection
motherboard.

What is the size or form factor?

Want to build a fully functional desktop machine? Or do you prefer
compactness? There are five traditional sizes: ATX, micro-ATX (mATX), mini-ATX, Flex-ATX, and NLX. Each of them
determined by the specific board sizes. Physical size also affects the number of built-in onboard ports and slots.

Main board types:

ATX

This type is suitable for beginners and advanced computer users. ATX often includes about five PCI-Express and/or PCI slots. Size ~
30×25 cm.

MICRO-ATX (mATX)

Micro ATX

Suitable for basic tasks in home use. Up to six expansion cards can be installed. Size ~ 24×24 cm.

MINI-ITX

Mini ITX

MINI-ITX is a shortened and compact version of ATX. It is used in the same areas as ATX. On board mITX 3 motherboard
expansion slot. Size ~ 17×17 cm.

Flex-ATX

Flex ATX

Used in computers where high performance is not required. Due to the low productivity, the prices are low.
Built-in 3-4 expansion slots, depending on the manufacturer. Size ~ 22×19 cm.

NLX

A rare type used in vertical system units. Suitable for home computer. Contains 3 expansion slots +
it is possible to bind an expander card for additional expansion slots. SATA connectors are added by expansion cards.
Size is 40x40x10 cm.

Disk space

As mentioned above, the chipset plays a direct role in choosing which processor to use with the motherboard.
The chipset also determines the model and speed of the installed memory. Motherboard size and number of slots
memory will also determine the total amount of memory installed. Think about how much memory you need
computer, and if you want to add more later.

RAM

The number and type of expansion slots and connectors are important to what will be placed in the computer. If there are peripheral
devices that require a specific connector or connector type, such as USB 3.0, eSATA, Thunderbolt, HDMI, or
PCI Express. Make sure you have a motherboard that supports this connection. It is possible to install
expansion cards to add some connectors, but remember that the connectors built into the motherboard chipset work best.

USB 3.0
ESATA
HDMI
DisplayPort
Thunderbolt
PCI Express
What is M.2?

Features of motherboard types

Type features are additional components that are built-in but are not required for operation, but are useful.
This includes functions: on-board and wireless, audio or RAID controller, Wi-Fi adapter. When your motherboard type has more functions,
than you need, this is not a problem, since their work is disabled in the BIOS. Optionally buy without additional features:

BIOS settings
What is RAID?
Virtual Graphics
SSD caching
Different types of graphics cards

Component overclocking (Overclocking).

If you plan to overclock the processor, make sure that the board supports it. For example, the chipset must be able to
support multiplier and CPU voltage adjustments that not all chipsets will allow. In addition, maternal
boards that offer improved power management and robust features provide a high level of
stability.

Finally, when overclocking, the temperature of the component rises, so consider additional cooling if
serious acceleration of the chip is planned. You can read more about cooling here: Which cooling is better water or air?

What types of motherboards are there?

Iron

06/14/2012 kompik Leave a comment

Motherboards installed in computers play a major role in computing systems. The motherboard is the large board to which all other computer components are connected. It provides interaction between devices using different technologies and communication protocols. Since many devices with different interfaces and technologies have been developed in the world today, different types of motherboards have been created to work together.

Form factor

Motherboard form factor is a specification that affects the dimensions of the printed circuit board, the placement of mounting holes and connectors on it. There are two global form factor classes that are used in different industries. The first form factor complies with the ATX specification and is divided into several subclasses — mini-ATX, ATX, Extended ATX and other derivatives. This form factor is mainly used to build home and office use computer systems such as desktops and laptops. The second form factor class follows the SSI specification, which is subdivided into SSI CEB and SSI EEB subclasses. This type of motherboard is used for industrial purposes to create high-performance computing systems such as data center servers, workstations and rack servers.

Processor socket type

The next factor in dividing motherboards by type is the type of socket used to install the processor. Each processor model is designed for a certain type of socket, which is designed specifically for a certain family (or generation) of CPUs. Thus, the type of motherboard depends on which processor it was created for. The processor socket (socket) standard is developed by the same company as the processor. The most advanced boards used in servers support the simultaneous installation of 2 to 8 processors in the appropriate sockets. If you have no idea how to replace the processor in your computer, read our special article.

Chipset Type — Chipset Type

The performance of motherboards depends very much on the chipset on which it is based. The chipset built into the motherboard is a set of controllers responsible for interacting with system components and interfaces such as PCIe, SATA, EIDE, and RAM devices. Traditionally, two chipset chips are installed on conventional motherboards, which are called the north and south bridges. Their functionality is highly dependent on the specific architecture and can be individually developed for specific tasks. For example, you can install multiple network cards. Whether the motherboard will be able to cope with specific tasks depends very much on the capabilities of the chipset.

Additional differences

As we have already noted, motherboards can be designed to communicate with many devices. The current communication capabilities of modern systems are designed to connect devices such as expansion cards, hard drives, processors, system memory, and dozens of peripherals that connect via USB, Firewire, and eSATA ports. The type of motherboards also depends on the support of different ports and standards.