Dissecting the Modern Motherboard: Connectors, Ports & Chipsets Explained

[mattsafford]

Here is a diagram of major ports, headers, and slots common on today’s motherboards, plus a guide to expansion slots, RAM and form factors.


Dissecting the Modern Motherboard: Connectors, Ports & Chipsets Explained : Read more

 

[WINTERLORD]

and the build up to the release of the z390 intensifies... not that it looks all that great over z370, tomshardware must have a special review in the works.

 

[alisamenna]

Correction needed within the last paragraph under "Expansion Slots"
"Lastly, a note about metal-wrapped PCIe slots: These are increasingly common in high-end and even mainstream boards. The idea is that they provide more support for large memory cards, to keep the plastic slot from cracking or outright breaking under the weight of heavy cards."
*The idea is that they provide more support for large *graphics* cards*

 

[Danilushka]

You cover x299, what happened to AMD x399?

 

[mlee 2500]

You know what's funny? The "PS2 Keyboard/Mouse Port".

It just keeps hanging around...year after year, decade after decade....

 

[1budlite]

This motherboard has an surprising and unusual COM/Serial header. Is this header for any external com/Serial device? Is an adapter included with the motherboard? If not where can one buy the adapter for it? You have done well here, thanks.

 

[CountMike]

"You know what's funny? The "PS2 Keyboard/Mouse Port".
It just keeps hanging around...year after year, decade after decade...."

It's a result of too many custom and/or wireless KBs not completely compatible with BIOS at default. Also indispensable for troubleshooting/installing an OS that doesn't have native chipset or USB drivers.

 

[anbello262]

The ps2 is also still preferred by some fps gamers, since the "less input lag" phrase is still hanging around. I do not knlw if it's true or not, I just nnow it's still common to claim it is.

 

[mypalabok]

the M.2 port cannot clearly be seen.

 

[desertrat76]

I have built my own since DOS, learning from forums like Tom's HW. Thank you for writing a concise yet understandable article with many photographs.