Functions of North Bridge

After CPU North Bridge is the core chipset on the computer motherboard that controls data communication between CPU and Motherboard. It runs at full processor speed. It mainly works as Memory controller and System Controller. It incorporates interface between Processor and rest of motherboard components.

Chipset is actually numbered according to the number of North Bridge. Nvidia GeForce 320M is a Northbridge /Southbridge fabrication in a single chip. Following are some major functions that are performed by the North Bridge:

Processor Support: Chipset is the major decider on the motherboard that decides which processor is supported, of what speed and how many processors are supported? Following areas are covered by North Bridge under this:

CPU Interface Socket Type: North Bridge is interfaced with the processor through host processor bus and CPU socket. No. of processor sockets are available in the market for this purpose such as Socket 7,Socket -1, Socket A etc. This socket number is decider that which particular Processor class is supported on that motherboard.

Functions of South Bridge

South Bridge is a chipset that is used for controlling I/O Functions such as USB, disk interfaces, PCI Bus, Super I/O Chip support etc. In other words it works as peripheral controller. The main feature of Southbridge is that same South Bridge can be used with different types of North bridges. It is generally located at the lower edge of the motherboard.

Following are some Major Functions Performed by South Bridge:

I/O Control: South Bridge is the key point that decides which kinds of buses, at what speed, and which features will be supported by the system. South bridge controls PCI and ISA buses and transfers information to them or from them.

USB Ports Control: USB Support on the motherboard is provided by the south bridge and which is the main interface for mostly peripheral devices.

Bus Bridge Support: Two main type of buses ISA and PCI are used in most of the modern computers. Since, there is a great speed mismatch between them. South Bridge provides the feature of connecting these two dissimilar buses. This is achieved by PCI-to-ISA bridge chip.