IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT A MOTHERBOARD

  FACTS

Desktop motherboards, cases and power supplies all come in different sizes called form factors. All three must be compatible to work properly together.

Motherboards vary greatly with respect to the types of components they support. For example, each motherboard supports a single type of CPU and a short list of memory types. Additionally, some video cards, hard drives, and other peripherals may not be compatible. The motherboard manufacturer should provide clear guidance on the compatibility of components.

In laptops and tablets, and increasingly even in desktops, the motherboard often incorporates the functions of the video card and sound card. This helps keep these types of computers small in size. However, it also prevents those built-in components from being upgraded.

Poor cooling mechanisms in place for the motherboard can damage the hardware attached to it. This is why high performance devices like the CPU and high-end video cards are usually cooled with heat sinks, and integrated sensors are often used to detect the temperature and communicate with the BIOS or operating system to regular the fan speed.