A CPU socket is an integral mount utilized exclusively for the CPU on your computer motherboard to make correct electrical connection among CPU and other devices. It facilitates CPU access, prevents thermal damage caused by thermal interfaces and also helps in protection of heat when a device is removed or inserted. A CPU Socket also has a locking mechanism to prevent CPU movement, plus its very design helps to secure heat sink location above the CPU. There are various varieties of CPU sockets made by different manufacturers, with their own features and specifications.
Generally speaking, there are three kinds of motherboards that you can choose from: slots in built into a system board, or sockets which are hidden in a part of the motherboard, or removable and accessible via a PCI-E or USB cable. The kind of system board or motherboard socket that you will need will depend on the type of motherboard that you have as well as its intended use. For example, slot-in-built motherboards and sockets enable direct CPU access; however, they are limited in terms of expansion possibilities. Hidden and PCI-E cards that attach to the motherboard using a PCI-E or USB cable are ideal for high performance computers.
Now that you know what is motherboard socket, let us see what these various kinds of motherboards can do for you. Some of them offer extended CPU support, which means that one motherboard can support more than one CPU at a time. Some of them allow dual graphics cards, dual processors, setup for dual booting and setup for multiple devices. You have to check your motherboard manual to know what kind of motherboard it supports so that you can get the right one.
USB ports and other peripheral device ports also fall under the realm of what is motherboard socket. USB ports let you use devices such as printers, scanners, cameras and other peripheral devices without connecting them to your computer directly. These allow you to use external devices even when your computer is not turned on. Check the specifications of your computer or peripheral device to know what kind of USB port it supports.
Most motherboards will also have PCI slots and AGP slots, which are required if you want to plug in additional hardware during booting up. PCI slots can carry extended PCI addresses that identify PCI bus based devices. AGP slots hold the AGP pin, which carries the speed and format for the interface speeds for devices. Motherboard sockets enable the easy attachment or removal of these devices during future upgrades.
If you need a computer with several different slots for various purposes, then you should look at what is motherboard socket. You can buy a motherboard from a computer store or online without any difficulty. The only problem with this is that the number of possible slots depends on what your CPU needs. In other words, a Celeron processor has only one possible PCI slot, while a dual core Intel Pentium has two. You can overcome this limitation by purchasing an upgrade chip from a chip store. These allow you to add two or more possible slots to your existing motherboard.
The question of what is motherboard socket? also poses a security issue, because you need to ensure that only you have the correct component in your PC. If you were to buy a non-compatible chip for your CPU, then you run the risk of having your system crash or having data lost. Therefore, it is important that you only buy components that you need in your computer.
So, if you were to ask “what is motherboard socket?” today, you would have a clear idea about what each component does and why it is present in your computer. If you are still in doubt, then it is advisable to read over some manuals about the motherboard before making a purchase. The benefits that you will reap from a compatible motherboard will be immense.
