Different types of motherboards

Motherboards, also known as motherboards or mainboards, are the backbone of any computer or notebook. They are responsible for connecting and enabling communication between all the different hardware components in a computer system. There are several different types of motherboards, each with its own characteristics and specifications. In this article, we are going to explore the different types of motherboards and their characteristics.

AT motherboard

The AT motherboard, which stands for Advanced Technology, is a motherboard that was introduced by IBM in 1984. It is the predecessor of the ATX motherboard and was widely used in personal computers until the early 1990s. AT motherboards are significantly larger than modern motherboards, which can make installation and maintenance challenging. Additionally, they lack many of the features found on modern motherboards, such as PCI Express expansion slots and USB 3.0 connectors.

ATX motherboard

The ATX motherboard, which stands for Advanced Technology Extended, is the most commonly used motherboard in today's computers. It was introduced by Intel in 1995 and is significantly smaller and more versatile than the AT motherboard. ATX motherboards have a variety of expansion slots, including PCI Express, PCI, and AGP. They also have a variety of connectors including USB, SATA and IDE. In addition, ATX motherboards have a more efficient component layout, which makes installation and maintenance easier.

Micro-ATX Motherboard

The Micro-ATX motherboard is a smaller version of the ATX motherboard. It was introduced in 1997 and is commonly used in small computers such as office computers and home theaters. Despite their smaller size, Micro-ATX motherboards still have a variety of expansion slots and connectors. However, due to their smaller size, they may have fewer expansion slots and connectors than a full-size ATX motherboard.

Mini-ITX Motherboard

The Mini-ITX motherboard is one of the smallest motherboards available. It was introduced in 2001 and is commonly used in small computers and embedded devices. Mini-ITX motherboards have a PCI Express expansion slot and several connectors, including USB and SATA. However, due to their extremely small size, they have fewer expansion slots and connectors than ATX and Micro-ATX motherboards.

E-ATX Motherboard

The E-ATX motherboard, which stands for Extended ATX, is a larger version of the ATX motherboard. It is commonly used in high-performance servers and workstations. E-ATX motherboards have a large amount of expansion slots and connectors, which makes them ideal for systems that require a large amount of hardware. However, due to their larger size, they may not fit in all computer cases.

In summary, the choice of motherboard depends on the intended use of the computer. If you're building a high-performance computer, you might want to consider an ATX or E-ATX motherboard. If you're building a small computer or an embedded device, you might consider a Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX motherboard. Regardless of the type of motherboard you choose, make sure it has the expansion slots and connectors you need for your hardware.

Next page of the Free Ebook:

9Understanding the hard drive (HDD)

3 minutes