AT motherboard

Synonyms

Logic board, main-board, and system board.

Motherboard Overview

A motherboard is printed circuit board (PCB) and is elementary platform required to develop complex integrated circuits. The computer contains the motherboard with integrated microprocessor and memory as basic components. To attach other components such as audio / video support, peripheral devices, external storage devices, CD ROMs or hard disks, there are cables and connectors attached to the motherboard. Typically motherboards are referred to the electronics circuits not the electrical circuits. For example PDAs and computers are associated with motherboards but not the TVs or other home appliances.

Motherboard Form Factors

Depending upon various technologies a number of form factors for motherboards are available. PC/XT was the first motherboard standard by IBM. AT form factor was the next standard based on advanced technology (AT). ATX was its advancement and is quite popular. Min ATX, Micro ATX and FlexATX were advancements of ATX with smaller sizes and flexibility. LPX, miniLPX and NLX were of smaller case and never gained any popularity.

BTX standard were the famous standards after ATX. MicroBTX and picoBTX were its small form factor standards. Next was the Mini-ITX standard. This was a very highly integrated motherboard. It was used in set-top bixes and thin clients. WTX-workstation technology extended was the larger form factor standard for workstations.