The motherboard is the primary device by which you connect all the internal components (like RAM, CPU, internal hard drives, etc.) together.
Motherboards are typically made out of fiberglass with a mesh of copper lines, called traces. Power, data, and control signals travel along the traces. A group of these wires assigned to a set of functions is called a bus.
When selecting a motherboard, you’ll need to take into consideration the size of your case. The case must fit the size of the motherboard. You’ll need to consider how many expansion and memory slots you’ll need.
There are over 40 different motherboard types but only the ones listed below are required for the A+ certification.
Focus on which motherboard would be the best choice in a given scenario. For example which would be best for a media center, video editing, thin client, etc.
A motherboard form factor defines the type and location of components on the motherboard, power supply compatibility, size of the motherboard, and PC case compatibility.
ATX
The largest of the Comptia listed form factors is Intel’s ATX, which stands for Advanced Technology Extended. Since it is a larger form factor, you’re able to fit more components on the motherboard. The dimensions for an ATX motherboard is 12 inches by 9.6 inches.
On ATX motherboards, the processor socket is located near the power supply so as not to interfere with full length expansion boards. The hard drive and disk connectors are located near the drive bays.
mATX
The microATX is smaller than the ATX motherboard. Consequently, it will have fewer expansion slots than the ATX. The microATX is backward compatible with ATX. For example, if you have an ATX case you can use a microATX motherboard because microATX uses similar mounting points and use similar power connectors. A mATX motherboard is 9.6 inches by 9.6 inches.
ITX
ITX was developed by chipset company VIA. ITX is a series of motherboards that are low-power. The ITX is larger version of the mITX. ITX is not that common.
mITX
The mini-ITX is the smallest of the listed form factors. It is screw compatible with ATX and microATX. This means you can use a mini-ITX in ATX or microATX cases. The smaller form factor is used for single purpose computing devices, for example just to stream media or for a point of sale device.