Motherboards, Processors, and Memory
Quentin Docter, Jon Buhagiar · 2019
This chapter discusses how to identify, install, and configure the big three (motherboards, processors, and memory), which are critical to computer functionality. The spine of the computer is the motherboard, otherwise known as the system board or mainboard. This is the printed circuit board (PCB), which is a conductive series of pathways laminated to a nonconductive substrate that lines the bottom of the computer and is often of a uniform color, such as green, brown, blue, black, or red. It is the most important component in the computer because it connects all the other components together. System boards are classified by their form factor (design), such as ATX, micro ATX, and ITX. Exercise care and vigilance when acquiring a motherboard and case separately. Some cases are less accommodating than others, and they might not be physically compatible with the motherboard you choose. The Information Technology eXtended (ITX) line of motherboard form factors was developed by VIA as a low-power, small form factor (SFF) board for specialty uses, including home-theater systems, compact desktop systems, gaming systems, and embedded components.