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If computer PCB is your concern, PCBMay will be your classic choice. PCBMany produces a solid and extraordinary computer PCB. We commit ourselves to produce, exporting, designing, and PCB production. If you need a high-quality computer PCB for your business, you are in the right place.

Our computer PCBs are convenient to use and easy to connect with other components. They come in various sizes and reasonable designs. PCBMay manufactures a hard disk PCB from different materials, including the FR4, aluminum, CEM1, CEM 3, FPC, and other materials.

PCBMay computer PCB truly exceeds various industry standards, including UL, RoHS, SGS, and ISO9001 standards. PCBMay is a certified and equipped manufacturer that can give you an acknowledged solution. We can supply the most fundamental and famous PCBs material.

The Main Advantages of PCBMay Computer PCB

• Lead-free surface
• Customizable
• OEM services are available
• Easy to connect with other components

PCBMay computer PCB is available in different sizes, board thickness, and solder mask colors. Aside from computer PCB, we also produce various PCB products such as sensor PCB, calculator PCB, remote PCB, embedded PCB, Kapton PCB, and many more.

PCBMay engages in producing and fulfilling an exceptional computer PCB. We have more than 10 years of expertise in manufacturing experience. Whether you need a computer for your business, PCBMay is the most reliable partner you have. 

We will give our best effort to render you an extraordinary and desirable computer PCB. We are proud to offer our computer  PCB in different countries. No matter where you are, we can export and deliver our products to support global PCB needs.

Please contact us for more information!

Computer PCB: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Computer PCB, one of the most important has printed circuit boards, changed the whole PCB industry. Hope you know the importance of the computer.

The computer is the greatest invention of the modern era. Everything changed with the use of computers. As expectedly, the computer PCB board plays the most important role in the computer function.

So, today we are going to discuss the different and some important facts about the computer PCB in this article.

What Is A Computer PCB?

A computer PCB is the motherboard or mobo, or the mainboard of a computer. It holds and allows all components of the computers to communicate with each other with a regulated system.

It allows connection among the CPU and memory with other peripherals of the computer system. Unlike other PCBs, CPU attachment significantly differs from other types of PCBs.

A computer PCB is referred to as the motherboard because all components of the computer are attached to it.  And all functionalities happen of each component through the PCB.

A Dedicated Computer PCB

The graphics card, sound card, network card, etc., are operated on a computer motherboard. Also, other components like RAM, SSD, HDD, operate their functionalities with the help of the computer motherboard.

Let’s check more on a computer motherboard:

What Are The Designing Peripherals Of A Computer PCB?

Now we are discussing the designing peripherals of a computer PCB. There are many supporting components included in a PCB that are required to operate the functionality of a PCB.

BIOS and CMOS

All internal and operational information of the computer PCB are stored in the basic input-output system or BIOS. With different BIOS modes, you can access and update the stored information.

A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor battery keeps your saved data to the bios wheel your computer gets off. It also can help you to reset the bios system by removing it from the computer PCB.

I/O Ports

You will find some necessary input and output ports on the back of the computer motherboard. The I/O ports include,

• 5 millimeters microphone and speaker/headphone jacks
• HDMI and VGA monitor ports
• Ethernet network cable port
• USB keyboard and computer mouse PCB ports
• USB 2, USB 3, USB 3.1 ports
• USB C types ports
• USB A  types ports and so on.

IDE and SATA Connectors

IDE refers to the full form of integrated drive electronics that are used to integrate disk drives such as hard disk drives, floppy disks with 40 pins male connectors.

Computer PCBs also feature solid-state drives storage connections which are faster and more efficient than normal HDD storage.

A Computer Motherboard With All Peripherals

Power Connectors

You will find advanced technology eXtended connectors with modern computer PCBs that feature 20 or 24-pin female connectors. This connector directly connects the motherboard with the power supply that keeps the motherboard power on with the help of switched-mode power supply-SMPS technology.

Central Processing Unit Socket

The CPU socket is the place where you place your CPU on the computer motherboard. The CPU is the principal component of your computer system. Another big thing here is that the CPU socket and your CPU must be compatible with each other.

Extended Card Slots

The extended or expansion card slots are where you connect external cards such as video card/ graphics card, network interface card, LAN card slot, sound card slot, and so on.

Random Access Memory Slot

The RAM slot is one of the most important slots in your computer PCB where you place your RAM modules. There are two types of RAM slots with a single in-line memory module and dual in-line memory module support features.

M.2 SSD Slots

M.2 SSD slot is the place where you place your M.2 supported NVME SSD which is at least six times faster than your SATA SSDs.

ROM Chip

ROM is the memory type where your data is saved even after your computer gets off. It is non-volatile whereas the RAM is considered a volatile type.

VRMs

VRMs act almost the same as the power supply; they cut out the power voltage and supply to the computer motherboard.

What Are The Different Form Factors Of A Computer PCB?

Computer PCBs are manufactured in different sizes and dimensions with the compatibility of their different elements. This is called the form factor of the computer motherboard.

The form factor, chipset, and different types of socket determine the characteristics of the computer motherboard.

Since 2005, most computer motherboards are using the standard form factor of ATX computer PCBs including Sun and Macintosh computers. That means the casing for the ATX motherboard will match the form factor of the motherboard and the power supply.

An ATX Motherboard

The standard size of the ATX motherboard is 13×12 inches. The variation of ATX boards such as microATX, miniATX, etc, are also fitted in the casings of ATX boards.

What Are The Materials A Computer PCB Is Made Of?

The most used materials for building a PCB is epoxy resin. Prepreg is the core material of epoxy resins. FR4 is the most used epoxy resin in building computer PCBs.

FR4 stands for flame retardant, 4 for 4th generation, which is a National Electrical Manufacturing Association grade glass-reinforced epoxy resin. This glass-reinforced epoxy resin is compliant with UL94 V-0 grade polymer flammability.

During the lamination, the epoxy resin will be melted until the prepreg reaches the desired thickness for the PCBs. Prepreg is not also a great heat insulator, but also a non-conductive material that helps motherboards’ other components with non-conductivity of electric current. It protects the components from shock and failure.

Another essential material is copper. Copper makes the conductive traces for passing an electrical current through the motherboard. And the embedded copper with the prepreg forms the computer PCBs.

Copper

Other materials like aluminum and polymers are used to form some of the I/O ports as well.

How Can You Explain A Computer PCB CPU Socket?

A CPU socket is a connector that is used between the CPU and the computer PCB. It only ensures that you correctly insert your CPU into the motherboard that does not get any type of damage.

Its duty is to ensure the security of your CPU either you insert, or remove your CPU from your motherboard.

You will see a locking system with the CPU socket so that the CPU can not move while placed into the motherboard.

CPU Socket

Every desktop PC system uses a CPU socket for CPU insertion, but some laptops use different processor insertion designs instead of a typical socket system.

Generally, the shape of a CPU socket is like a square with modern pin grid array (PGA) architecture. This IC packaging system is laid with a pin spacing of 0.1 inches.

You never can use one type of CPU socket for other types of architectured CPU. For example, Intel uses CPU sockets LGA 2066, LGA 1200, and LGA 1151. You can not use one of them with other types of CPU.

On the other hand, AMD also uses three types of socket design as well: sTRX4, TR4, and AM4 socket design. Threadripper 300 series are able to use sTRX4, TR4 is for Threadripper 2000 and 1000 series, and AM4 is for the Ryzen series.

What Are The Supporting Card Slot Features In A Computer PCB?

There are different types of card support slots in the standard ATX computer PCBs according to the standard of its own form factor.

There are two or three PCI-express x16 connection systems for GPU, one or two legacy PCI card slots are placed on the standard ATX motherboard.

Graphics Card Slot In Computer Motherboard

Also, there are one or two PCI-E x16 connector pins, which is the updated version of PCI. Some boards also have more than two PCI-2×16 slots that ensure the connection of more than two monitors with the graphics card.

There might also be PCI-E 4x card slots depending on the brand and class of the board.

How Does A Computer PCB Controls Temperature?

Heat sinks are placed on the computer PCBs with the air cooling technology, along with the northbridge. If you cannot ensure proper and sufficient cooling facilities to your motherboards, it might cause damage or crash to your computer motherboards, you might need a computer PCB repair.

Until the 1990s, a power supply with a single cooling fan was sufficient for cooling the CPUs. After that, most motherboards need dedicated CPU fans to control the temperature of the CPUs. Because of increasing power consumption, performance, and clock speed, etc, more powerful cooling systems are being introduced to the computer’s PCBs.

Nowadays, most of the motherboards have additional power connectors for adding more cooling fans. Not only cooling fans, but modern computer motherboards are also designed to associate with water cooling systems. Water cooling is generally more expensive than the normal air cooling system.

What Is The Capacitor Reliability Of A Computer PCB?

Electrolytic capacitors are utilized on current computer PCBs to channel the DC power supply. Generally, common capacitors are appraised for 2000 hours of activity at 105 degrees Celsius, their assessed plan life copies for each 10 degrees Celsius beneath that.

A long duration of 3 to 4 years might be envisaged at 65 °C. Nonetheless, several makers deliver poor capacitors, putting the future of the product in jeopardy. The computer PCB components may be kept under 95°C with top fans, thus extending the motherboard’s lifespan.

Different Types Of Capacitors

Strong capacitors are utilized uniquely on mid-reach and very good quality computer PCBs. Their normal life expectancy is about to augment by three for each 10 °C underneath, coming full circle in a 6-crease more prominent lifetime hope at 65 °C. These capacitors have up to a 12000-hour functional time rating.

How Does The Booting System Work In A Computer PCB?

Non-unpredictable memory is commonly used to introduce the working arrangement of a computer PCB. In microcomputers, ROM chips are introduced on the computer motherboards’ sockets.

At the point when the PCs are turned on, the CPU programs are stacked from the boot ROM address and the commands are executed. The commands inspect the system equipment, framework data, RAM execution, and stacked applications from outside peripherals.

In case none were open, the PC would utilize other memory stockpiling or show a blunder text.

BIOS

To boot an operating system, most current computer PCB plans utilize a BIOS put away in an EEPROM chip stuck on the computer PCB. On current IBM PCs, boot programs without operating systems are as yet upheld, however, it is presently expected that the booting will be a complex working framework like Microsoft Windows NT or Linux.

While the computer PCB first encounters the power supply, memory, circuitry, and other interfaces are examined and then set up by the BIOS firmware.

What Are The External Components Used In A Computer PCB?

Besides the integrated and designing peripherals and parts, the computer motherboard also holds some other common components. These are:

• Resistors
• Transistors
• Inductors
• Transformers
• Integrated circuits
• Temperature, distance, and light sensor
• Diodes
• Capacitors
• LEDs

Integrated Circuits

How Does The Computer Memory System Work On The Computer PCB?

The main goal of computer memory is to store data temporarily when you power up your computer. When the memory system keeps data on it after powering up the computer till switching off the computer, it is very easy and fast to access the data for the CPU.

Firstly, the input data goes to the random access memory (RAM). Then the CPU stores data from the RAM in cache, and manages the instructions in the register.

Computer RAM

In the running time, the CPU, OS, and HDD work together to function the functionalities of a computer. The RAM is one of the key players of this group. In this process, the following tasks take place.

• The CPU loads data from ROM and makes sure all functionalities work properly by a POST performance.
• Then the BIOS provides a general I/O system from ROM to the CPU. The information includes storage information, boot lineup, security, and plug & play recognition.
• Now the operating system is loaded to the RAM. RAM is the main memory that stores data in it from the start-up of the computer till the computer is off.
• When any software or program is opened, basically it goes to the RAM and is stored temporarily. This allows the CPU to access the applications and operate them.

Every time you open an application, it goes into the RAM and saves it temporarily until the computer is switched off. This makes the operation fast every time you close and reopen the application for the CPU.

What Are The Designing Procedures Of A Computer PCB?

You have to follow some gradual steps while designing a computer PCB. In the following, the steps are mentioned on how you can design a computer PCB.

Design Your Schematic

Firstly, design a schematic diagram. This diagram shows the dimension of the computer PCB, how and where the components will be placed.

Computer Motherboard Schematic Diagram

Print The Layout

Make the layout of the PCB and print it on the base metallic board of the computer PCB.

Surface Mount Technology-SMT

In the SMT stage, all smaller components are to be placed and soldered on the computer PCB. The PCBs are stacked and moved individually to a high-level printer, which follows a pre-named design prior to welding parts set up.

Dual In-line Package

The first process in this stage is to put the computer PCB into a machine that will place and solder small capacitors. After installing them, the larger components like 24-pin connectors, I/O ports will be mounted by hand.

Testing

After completing the manufacturing steps, now the time is to test the durability and functions of the motherboard. There are several methods of testing computer PCBs. We will discuss them in a later section.

What Are The Different Types Of Computer PCB?

There are different types of computer PCBs or motherboards that vary their capabilities, performance, features according to their form factors. Below are six different types of computer PCBs in the market.

Different Types Of Motherboards

AT Motherboard

With a bigger physical dimension, this motherboard is the biggest computer PCB used and in vogue in the 1980s. Six pin plugs are used to power up the AT motherboard.

ATX Motherboard

Advanced Technology EXtended motherboard is the successor of the AT motherboard. It was developed by Intel in the mid-1990s with advanced technology. Connectors’ aspects are significantly improved here.  Most of the modern computer PCBs are ATX motherboards. The size of the ATX computer PCBs is 12 x 13 inches.

Micro ATX Motherboard

It is the evaluation of the ATX boards with the size of 9.6 x 9.6 inches. It features up to four expansion slots for PCI, ISA/PCI shared. The mountaineering holes are significantly changed here compared to the ATX boards.

Mini ITX Board

Mini-ITX is a low-power motherboard size with measurements of 6.7 x 6.7 inches. The primary distinctive element of this kind of structure factor is its size.

Nano-ITX Board

One more kind of computer PCB structure factor is the Nano-ITX, which measures 4.7 x 4.7 in. Nano-ITX is totally coordinated sheets with exceptionally low force utilization.

Pico-ITX

In this rundown, the Pico-ITX is the smallest kind of computer PCB. Its measurements are 3.9 x 2.8 in, making it 75% more modest than the Mini-ITX. Through imagined and fostered this motherboard to take into consideration the advancement of more modest and more astute IoT gadgets.

There are different types of CPU architectures used in different types of computer PCBs for different purposes. 8-bit computer PCB, 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bits are common architectures of CPUs that are integrated with different PCBs.

What Are The Surface Finishes For A Computer PCB?

Surface finishes protect the base material of the computer PCB from corrosion and oxidation. It is important to employ the appropriate surface finish for the computer PCBs in terms of their needs.

There are different types of surface finishes available for computer PCBs.

Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold

It is one of the most used and popular surface finishes used in computer PCB surface finish. The gold layer protects the nickel from corrosion, and the nickel protects the copper.

Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold

HASL

It is the most cost-effective surface finish used for computer PCBs. It is vastly used and reliable among the other surface finishes. It allows excellent solderability, and a processing window. There are two types of HASL: standard HASL, and lead-free HASL.

Immersion Tin

Immersion Tin is used directly to the computer PCB with chemical distortions. A flat layer of metal is deposited on the copper traces. The flatness of the coating makes it ideal for small components.

Immersion Silver

It’s also a widely used surface finish that has lead-free RoHS compliance. It has tighter tolerance, low loss signal integrity. It is directly applied by chemical distortion.

How To Test The Durability And Functionalities Of A Computer PCB?

A unit of fault PCBs can destroy the whole production line as well as your capitals.

There are different methods of testing computer PCBs which is to ensure the performance and durability of the PCBs. Testing is important because, if there is any fault in the PCB, it could be recovered during the manufacturing.

In-circuit testing

It is the most common computer PCB testing method. This method tests the individual circuitry on the board. In-circuit testing can measure about 85-90% of accurate testing results of PCBs.

Flying Probe Testing

It is a less expensive PCb testing method than the In-circuit Testing that covers opens, shorts, resistance, capacitance, inductance, and diodes issues.

Flying Probe Testing

Automated Optical Inspection

AOI uses a 2D or two 3D cameras to test and ensure the features that the PCB has in the schematic diagram.

Burn-in testing

In the Burn-in testing, a computer UPS PCB board, and other boards are under thermal pressure testing. It might be a 168 hours continuous testing that ensures the durability of the PCBs.

Functional Testing

It is a test where you will test the computer PCBs for a real function test. It will demonstrate the required functionality either wor or not.

What Is The Importance Of A VRM Of A Computer Motherboard?

VRM

Voltage Regulator Module is a crucial part of the computer PCBs that ensures the voltage supply to the CPUs. The VRM takes a typical 12-volt current from the power supply which might come from the AC or DC current of the UPS PCB board and converts them to the usable voltage to the CPUs.

Computer Motherboard VRM

The better a computer PCB’s VRM is, the better it can supply consistent force and stay cool under pressure. It also permits it to endure all the more remarkable CPUs and additionally overclocking.

The importance of the quality of the VRM is crucial for CPU performance and PCB’s durability. If you want to overclock your computer PCB components, CPU.

Or, if you want to use a high-performance CPU such as i7, Ryzen 5, or over, you have to ensure a motherboard that has a good enough VRM.

How Can You Verify The Computer Motherboard And CPU Compatibility?

The only way to ensure the compatibility between your CPU and your computer PCB, you have to ensure that your CPU and the motherboard socket use the same socket.

For example, modern AMD CPUs are using AM4 type sockets. You have to make sure that your motherboard chipset supports the same socket types.

On the other hand, Intel 9th and 10th generation CPUs are using LGA 1151, and LGA 1200 types respectively. So you have to ensure that your Intel computer PCBs’ chipset are supporting the same types of socket.

How Can You Determine A Computer PCB As A Good Motherboard?

You need to check certain things that ensure good quality so that a computer PCB can meet its performance criteria. When a PCB can ensure the expected performance, it would be considered a good motherboard.

Things to check:

• Good VRM: Ensure a motherboard with good VRM which is made of good metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors and chokes.
• Design: A good motherboard should have a well thought and well-planned design.
• Chipset: You need to pay attention to the chipset with compatibility. Because the chipset must be compatible with certain types of processors.

Final Words

The computer PCBs are the most essential part of making a good computer. Well, concentration must be paid when you are manufacturing a computer PCB. PCBMay produces industry-standard PCBs. You might make quick contact with us for your required production of PCBs.