All About The Memory Bus
The memory bus is utilized to transfer the data between the central processing unit (CPU) and core memory RAM in your computer system. This bus is generally attached to the motherboard chipset North Bridge or Memory Controller Hub chip. Based on the type of memory your chipset (and consequently motherboard) is produced to manage, the North Bridge operates the memory bus at different speeds. The most optimal solution is if the memory operates at the exact same speed as the processor bus. Certain systems that use PC133 SDRAM possess a memory bandwidth of 1066MBps that is similar to the 133MHz CPU bus. Based on another example, Athlon systems operating a 266MHz processor bus also operate PC2100 DDR-SDRAM that has a bandwidth of 2133MBps and is exactly equal as the processor bus located in those systems. Also, computer systems operating a Pentium 4 with its 400MHz processor bus implements dual-channel RDRAM memory that operates 1600MBps for every channel or a united bandwidth (both memory channels operates at the same time) of 3200MBps that is quite similar as the Pentium 4 CPU bus. Pentium 4 systems possessing the 533MHz bus operates dual-channel DDR PC2100 or PC2700 modules that equal or surpass the throughput of the 4266MBps processor bus.
The Requirement for Expansion Slots
Basically, the I/O bus or expansion slots allow your central processing unit to communicate with other peripheral tools. The bus and its related expansion slots are required since the standard systems cannot suit all the needs of everyone who purchases them. The I/O bus allows you to add tools and devices to your computer in order to enhance its capabilities. The very standard computer components like video cards and sound cards may be plugged into these expansion slots; it also allows you to plug in more specific tools and devices like SCSI host adapters, network interface cards and others.
Note
In almost all recent PC systems, arrays of standard peripheral devices are manufactured in to the motherboard. A majority of systems now possess at least dual (primary and secondary) IDE interfaces, a floppy controller, four USB ports, a parallel port, two serial ports, keyboard, and mouse controller manufactured exactly into the motherboard. These tools and devices are generally dispersed between the Super I/O chip and the motherboard chipset South Bridge.
Several manufacturers insert even more items, like a video adapter, built-in sound card, SCSI host adapter, network interface or IEEE 1394a port, that are also manufactured in to the motherboard. These items, though, may not be manufactured in to the motherboard chipset or Super I/O chip; they are at times configured as extra chips installed on the board. However, these built-in controllers and ports still utilize the I/O bus to communicate with the central processing unit. In conclusion, although they are manufactured in, they operate as if they were cards plugged into the system’s bus slots, as well as utilizing system resources in a similar manner.