Your computer's motherboard has a wide variety of internal ports and ready-made slots that can accommodate specific components. Let's go meet them.
See more articles from iGuRu.gr when you search for news on Google.
All of your computer's components are connected to your system's motherboard in one way or another. Some are directly connected to it, such as the CPU, memories, etc., and some others are connected via cables, such as DVD players, 3.5″ hard drives, external devices, etc.
Of course the most basic components, namely the CPU and RAM, are directly mounted on the motherboard. They require no wiring and are secured in place with latches or screws or retaining brackets.
There are also other ports, such as expansion slots (PCI) that can accommodate GPUs, SSDs, Wi-Fi, RAID, and other add-on cards. Today, most motherboards incorporate PCIe and M.2.
More generally, the English terms "slot" and "socket" are used which have different meanings and where slot is the ports of RAM and expansion cards, while socket (socket in free translation) is the base of the CPU.
However, some manufacturers use both terms to refer to their socket. However, don't be surprised if you hear both terms for the CPU slot.
Whatever we call them, let's see below which slots and sockets you will find on a motherboard (PCB) and what each one does.
CPU Socket / Slot
The CPU, which is the brain of your computer, is not attached to the motherboard. Instead, it is placed on a base from which it can be easily removed when needed. The socket type varies from machine to machine as it is different for Intel and AMD.
Modern Intel processors use the LGA ( Land Grid Array ) standard. This means that you will find male pins in the CPU socket that is soldered onto the motherboard and small contact wires on the underside of the processor (something like pads).
On the other hand, most AMD processors use Pin Grid Array (PGA). This means that there are female holes in the socket, while the CPU has pins. It's like the socket being the wall outlet in your house and the CPU being the male plug in a lamp.
However, there are still exceptions. AMD socket variants (F, C32, G34, SP3, TR4, sTRX4 and AM5) use the LGA standard. Likewise, some older Intel CPUs that called them “Socket” used PGA (such as Socket 370, Socket 423, Socket 495, etc.).
In addition to LGA and PGA, older motherboards also had DIP (like today's integrated circuits), PLCC , and edge connector/slot. All of these are now obsolete and you won't see them.
If you see a number after LGA, such as LGA 1700 or Intel 1700, then you will have a motherboard with a CPU socket that will have 1700 pins. These types of sockets tell you if the CPU generation is compatible with the motherboard. For example, the Intel 1700 socket supports Alder Lake and Raptor Lake processors. So testing any other CPU (say, Kaby Lake) won't work.
Back to installation, CPU sockets often have a retaining bracket that secures the CPU. Some other boards may have a metal loading plate with multiple screws.
The general idea is to place the processor and secure it with the retaining bracket or screw it in tightly. Make sure not to apply pressure, otherwise you may bend the pins. Finally, don't forget to install a cooling system along with the appropriate amount of paste , otherwise the CPU will overheat.
Because the exact installation steps differ from motherboard to motherboard, we recommend that you read your motherboard's manual carefully before starting an installation.
DIMM slot or memory slot
These are the slots for the RAM modules. Modern boards come with four slots, but you may find 8 or more!
Smaller class and volume computers, such as mini-ITX and micro-ATX only have two.
When you have 4 memory slots you can insert one, or two or four memory cards (avoid three).
If you only get one memory you can use any of the DIMM slots, but we would recommend using the one furthest from the processor. This will provide extra space if you plan to install bulky coolers to the RAM.
If you get two memories it is necessary to choose two alternate slots, for example position 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. Along with this, it is recommended to use memory modules of the same version (same brand) for better compatibility and optimal performance.
Some motherboards may ask you to install the two memory sticks in specific positions, such as A1 and A3 only.
Modern computers are equipped with DDR4 SDRAM DIMM slots. From June 2020, DDR5 began to be released, which you will only find on the newest high-tech motherboards.
Older computers had DDR3 which as a socket was not the same as the newer DDR4 and DDR5.
Although you can put a DDR4 memory in a DDR5 slot we would not recommend it, as between the two "generations" the clock speed, data transfer rate, voltage, power management and many other things change.
RAM modules can only be inserted into the ports in one direction. To do this, open the retaining clips well, check the alignment of the notch to fall into the correct position, then push the memory vertically until the clips snap into place.
You should hear a "click" sound to confirm that you did it correctly.
Pay attention to ECC memory and no-ECC memory. It depends on your motherboard and processor whether they support one or the other or both.
If you install ECC memory in a system that does not support ECC, you may experience boot problems.
PCIe expansion slots
PCIe expansion slots are meant to expand your system with internal peripherals, such as a dedicated GPU, sound cards, NICs, Wi-Fi cards, RAID controllers, etc.
While PCIe (PCI-Express) is the standard expansion slot, other types used to exist, such as PCI, AGP, AMR, and more.
Presented in 2004 by the manufacturing company Intel, to replace the previous PCI and AGP buses in computer equipment, PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) slots have prevailed today.
PCIe is the high-speed expansion bus standard that, based on size, is categorized into four types – x1, x4, x8 and x16. The higher the number, the higher the data transmission speed.
Generally, modern motherboards are equipped with at least one x1 slot and multiple x16 slots. The latter on some systems may only offer support for x4 and x8 modes. Therefore, these expansion slots are not the same on every motherboard.
The PCIe standard also has versions. We are currently on version 5 (5.0), with a transfer rate per lane at 16 GT/s. PCIe 6.0 was already introduced in 2022, but so far there is no compatible device yet. And 7.0 is just around the corner, with its release date set for 2025.
Most mid-range and even high-end boards still offer PCIe 2.0 and 3.0. The previous versions are almost obsolete, but there are chances to find them in older models.
Versions are backwards and forwards compatible. So you can use the higher version PCIe device even if your processor and motherboard support a lower version and vice versa.
M.2 storage slots
Although most users still rely on SATA ports to connect a storage drive, M.2 SSDs have been on the rise in recent years.
They offer relatively higher speed as they use the PCIe bus, in size x4, ensuring SSD disks high speed.
On most models, the last two SATA ports share their bandwidth with the M.2 slots. To ensure there is no conflict, your motherboard will block them. On other boards, the PCIe x16 slot will be forced to work as x8, i.e. at reduced speed.
Although there is M.2 SATA on the market, there is no difference in speed and performance as these interfaces still use SATA technology. Most modern motherboards today integrate the NVMe transfer protocol , offering data transfer speeds of up to 20 Gbps.
To install an M.2 SSD drive don't forget to put the relevant screw on one end. We also recommend installing the heatsink on top of the SSD, which usually comes installed on the motherboard itself.
This not only removes heat from the SSD, but even helps improve its performance and extend its lifespan.
The number of M.2 slots may vary depending on the motherboard. Some older ones may only offer one, while others may offer 4, even 5.
M.2 NVMe drives and even NVMe drives come in different lengths (2242, 2260 and 2280). But there is no reason to panic as most motherboards in the market support the installation of all three.
Finally, the M.2 slots have not undergone any revision. The performance improvement depends entirely on the PCIe version supported by your motherboard. These include versions 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0.
CMOS Battery Socket/Holder
On all motherboards there is a slot for the CMOS battery, which is responsible for powering the BIOS chip. Since all boards have the battery pre-installed, no special attention is needed.
This battery ensures that your motherboard maintains system configurations at all times, even after the computer is turned off.
You will deal with it when you face any kind of startup related problems. Simply removing the battery should reset the BIOS parameters. When reinstalling, make sure the positive side is facing up. Push the battery in and you will hear a clicking sound.
Do not do all the above procedure with your bare hands as you will definitely touch the positive and negative pole of the battery and short circuit it. Better to use plastic surgical gloves.
The rest of the ports you will find on a motherboard are for powering the motherboard, CPU lighting as if you were at a disco, fans and other components, USB ports and various connections for controlling the computer (on/off button, reset, lights, etc.)
Dimitris hates Mondays...
