handle to release and hold the CPU in place. It’s worth noting that
most manufacturers don’t include installation socket damage in
their warranty cover, so great care must always be taken when
installing the CPU.CHIPSET WHAT IS THE CHIPSET?
The second most important and functional part of a motherboard
is the chipset. There are various chipset types, each with its own
set of support, including PCIe, SATA, USB, and on newer chipsets,
integrated networking PHY or a physical layer. The term chipset
is a far-reaching term and in itself, acts as the adhesive and
communication hub between the CPU and the motherboard’s
componentry, including slots, and input and output.
While the CPU is by far the most influential common
denominator in regards to overall system performance, it drives
the PCIe x16 slot and—using the AMD Ryzen 3950X processor
as an example—includes integrated PCIe 4.0 lanes. The latest
performance chipset from AMD, the X570 chipset, includes PCIe
4.0 lanes within it, which enables users to benefit from PCIe Gen4
M.2 SSDs for trailblazing read and write performance. The most
recent chipset from AMD is the B550 chipset, which is a watered-
down and budget version of the X570 chipset, but instead of PCIe
4.0, it uses PCIe 3.0 in the chipset.
This is important to know. Generally speaking, the top full-
length PCIe slot will always be driven by the PCIe lanes from
the CPU, and on premium models, the second full-length slot
too. This also includes the top M.2 connector, which is generally
powered by the CPU too. Expansion slots, such as additional full-
length PCIe slots outside of the top or top two, and PCIe x1 slots
are all controlled from the chipset. The chipset also controls a
motherboard’s core SATA ports and additional M.2 slots.CHIPSET SUPPORT
BUDGET, PERFORMANCE AND HEDT
Another important thing to note is that some processors will
only work with certain motherboard chipsets, even including
those that feature the same socket type, for example Intel’s
LGA115x platforms. There are budget chipsets that generally
begin with the letter A, B, and H, followed by the series, such
as B360 for Intel’s 9th-generation Coffee Lake processors, orA520 which is designed for AMD’s Ryzen 3000 series and Athlon
processors. Going even further into chipsets, there are the more
premium variants, such as Intel’s latest Z490 chipset for its 10th-
generation Comet Lake, and AMD’s latest X570 chipset, which
generally speaking are both the flagship consumer chipsets for
performance and premium features. These models for the most
part include certain traits, such as four memory slots with support
for dual-channel memory, premium integrated audio, and more t
USB support than most users will ever need.
The crème de la crème of motherboard chipsets are the high-
end desktop models, or as they are commonly known, HEDT.
These chipsets include Intel’s X299 and AMD’s TRX40, which offer
superior memory and connectivity support, and are commonly used
by content creators who demand high core-count processors for
intensive workloads, such as video rendering, image manipulation,
or for just pure E-peen. These typically include support for quad-
channel RAM and support for higher capacity memory, and usually
include up to eight memory slots, compared to four on even the
most high-end consumer-based model.
Choosing the right chipset is important, and it goes hand in hand
with CPU selection, as both need to support each other. Some
chipsets even include active cooling solutions as they can run very
hot, especially AMD’s X570 chipset, which generally comes with a
cooling fan integrated into the chipset heat sink. When buying a new
motherboard, always check which chipset supports which CPU, as
installing the wrong processor into the wrong motherboard can
not only cause damage during installation, but can effectively kill
hardware very quickly if not paired up properly.THE POWER DELIVERY
VRMS AND WHAT THEY DO
In recent years, a lot of focus on selecting a motherboard has
been around the power delivery, or VRM as it’s commonly known.
The term VRM stands for voltage regulation module, and a basic
definition of what it does includes controlling the power to the
CPU as well, as the system on a chip–or SoC—which is commonly
used by processors with integrated graphics. It also converts the
power down from the 12V rail on the motherboard—through the
12V ATX power inputs—to a workable DC voltage, as the VRM also
acts as a buck, which converts DC to DC power. This conversion
is important as it enables the CPU to operate with sustainableThe chipset is an important component, as it handles all the
connectivity that the CPU doesn’t.In a VRM, the cylinders are the capacitors, the rectangles are the
chokes, and the chips next to the chokes are the power stages or phases.maximumpc.com SEP 2020 MAXIMUM PC 37
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