Motherboard Components and Slots
CPU socket: where the processor is installed. Socket types are CPU-family specific — an Intel socket is incompatible with an AMD socket. Intel sockets: LGA (Land Grid Array) — pins are on the motherboard socket, contacts on the CPU. AMD sockets: PGA (Pin Grid Array) for AM4 (Ryzen 3000/5000), LGA for AM5 (Ryzen 7000). Verify socket compatibility before purchasing a CPU. Incorrect installation can bend pins and destroy the board.
RAM slots (DIMM): hold DDR (Double Data Rate) memory modules. Color-coded for dual-channel — install matching pairs in matching color slots for dual-channel operation (doubles effective bandwidth). DDR4 and DDR5 have different pin counts and notch positions — physically incompatible. Always check board specifications for supported DDR generation and maximum RAM speed/capacity.
PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slots: the primary expansion slot standard. PCIe x16: longest, highest bandwidth — used for graphics cards. PCIe x8: medium — used for some storage and network cards. PCIe x4, x1: smaller slots for NICs, sound cards, expansion cards. PCIe generations: PCIe 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 — newer generations double bandwidth. Physical size determines maximum lanes, but a x16 slot may only run x8 electrically — check specifications.
Storage connectors on motherboard: SATA ports — connect SATA HDDs and SSDs (6 Gbps max). M.2 slots — connect M.2 NVMe or SATA SSDs directly to the board (check PCIe/SATA support per slot). M.2 is faster than SATA when using NVMe (PCIe 3.0 ×4 = 32 Gbps). Legacy: IDE/PATA connectors — 40-pin connector for older hard drives, rarely seen today.
Chipset, BIOS/UEFI, and Form Factors
Chipset: the motherboard's controller hub that manages communication between the CPU, RAM, storage, and I/O. Intel chipsets (B, H, Z series) and AMD chipsets (A, B, X series) determine: overclocking support, number of USB/SATA/PCIe ports available, which CPUs are compatible. Higher-tier chipsets (Z790, X670) offer more features and overclocking; budget chipsets (B760, B650) fewer features.
BIOS/UEFI: firmware stored in a flash chip that initializes hardware during boot. POST (Power-On Self Test) runs before OS loads — tests CPU, RAM, and connected devices. UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) replaced legacy BIOS: supports drives > 2TB (GPT partition table), graphical interface, Secure Boot (verifies OS hasn't been tampered with), faster boot. Access: press Delete, F2, or F10 during startup (varies by manufacturer). CMOS battery (CR2032 coin cell) maintains BIOS settings and real-time clock when power is off — replacing it resets BIOS settings.
Form factors: ATX — standard desktop, 305×244mm, supports full-size expansion. Micro-ATX (mATX) — smaller, 244×244mm, fewer expansion slots but fits smaller cases. Mini-ITX — very compact, 170×170mm, only 1 PCIe slot, 1–2 RAM slots — for small form-factor PCs. Extended ATX (E-ATX) — larger than ATX, workstation/HEDT use. Form factor determines: case compatibility, number of expansion slots, maximum RAM slots, cooling options.