The mainboard or mobo is like your computer’s central nervous system. It is the main circuit board of your system unit. Thus, it is an essential part of your computer. Without the mainboard or system board, your computer is like a body without a brain to tell it what to do. In this article, we compare and contrast a motherboard vs a logic board.
The mainboard houses your PC’s central processing unit or the CPU, RAM, and connector for output and input devices. It also has your computer’s internal clock attached to it. This internal clock is essential to help your computer show the correct time and date even after you unplug your PC. Furthermore, it has RAM slots, which means that the more RAM slots your mainboard has, the more efficient your computer will work.
It’s also home to the processor and heatsinks. It is essential that your computer has heatsinks so that there is no overheating. This is very important because if your computer overheats, its processing speed decreases sufficiently, which in turn causes a lag in your computer’s working, reducing its efficiency.
Moreover, the mainboard also has expansion slots. You can use these slots to plug in cards like video cards, network cards into your computer. Everything and every part of your computer’s hard drive plug-in and connects with the mainboard. Even your computer’s fan, power supply, in and out cords like USBs, audio plug-in, etc., all attach or plug into the motherboard.
We all know and understand the importance and significance of the main or system board. The main or system board usually referred to as the motherboard of your computer, is the computer’s hard drive, without which your computer will be a box. You must have heard the term motherboard when talking about computers or laptops, but it might not be very clear to hear about logic boards.
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Logic Board Vs Motherboard [Difference]
How Does Motherboard Work?
The motherboard, usually abbreviated to mobo, is also called the mainboard, system board, or logic board. This term is a generic or general term used for this piece of hardware. This hardware is used in the build of many devices ranging from laptops to computers to even televisions.
The motherboard has a non-conducting plastic base, usually of green color. This base has several aluminum and copper wire circuits on it. These circuits connect everything with everything, so there is smooth communication between the different hardware. In addition to that, it also has sockets. These sockets allow for more devices to be connected to the motherboard if the need arises.
It is easy to replace old and defective hardware with new and improved ones. This gives you the benefit of having a properly working computer without having to buy a new one. This is easy, simple, and cost-efficient as all you have to do is remove the faulty part with the new and improved one.
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How Does Logic Board Work?
The main difference between a logic board and the motherboard is that It is the same type of equipment under a different manufacturer’s name. The logic board is a term that Apple first coined at the beginning of the 1980s. Apple used this term specifically for their Macintosh’s motherboard. Thus, it is a term used exclusively and specifically for the motherboards of Apple’s computer.
In the beginning, this distinction was made because the Intel processors would not work in Apple’s constructed logic boards. But, in today’s day and age, technology is built as such that most parts are constructed for the general market, and thus hardware is interchangeable. The difference that was present between the general motherboard and Apple’s logic board is no more.
Still, the system board of Apple computers is referred to as the logic board. It has more to do with branding as compared to functioning. The function of the motherboard and the logic board is the same. Likewise, both are equipped with the same RAM, CPU, graphic cards, hard drives, optical drives, etc.
Yet, it’s called the logic board because it’s Apple. This is similar to how the laptops of all other brands are referred to as “laptops” while Apple laptops are called “MacBooks.” Even though fundamentally they are the same thing performing the same function.
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FAQs
What Is The Difference Between a Motherboard And a Logic Board?
Your computer cannot function without its motherboard. The motherboard is the computer component where everything connects, like the CPU, RAM, optical drives, graphics cards, and hard drives. Many devices connect to the motherboard, while some are already built into it. The logic board is just another term used specifically for the motherboard in Apple’s computer.
What Is a Logic Board?
A logic board is the main system board of Apple’s computer products. It has all the hard drives, RAM, CPU, heat sinks, and the computer’s internal clock attached to it. In other words, a logic board is another expression used for the motherboard. But this is only exclusive to the motherboards in Apple’s computer products.
Why do MacBook logic boards fail?
Failure of logic boards is caused by aging, physical damage, and overheating. If one component malfunctions, the whole motherboard does too. A faulty part needs to be identified before it can be replaced.
What is the difference between a logic board and a motherboard?
A logic board is the main printed circuit board found in Apple computers and devices. A motherboard is the main PCB in a non-Apple desktop computer. The terms are often used interchangeably, but technically a logic board is an Apple-specific motherboard.
Do logic boards and motherboards serve the same function?
Yes, both logic boards and motherboards provide the core functionality in a computer by allowing components like the CPU, memory, expansion cards, and storage to connect and interact. They provide power delivery, data paths, and structural support.
What makes Apple’s logic boards unique?
Apple’s logic boards use custom chipsets and form factors to fit Macintosh computer designs. They also utilize proprietary connections for things like I/O ports. Logic boards are made to work seamlessly with macOS and Apple chips like the M1.
Can a standard motherboard be used in a Mac computer?
No, a normal ATX or micro-ATX motherboard cannot be installed in a Mac computer. Logic boards use different power connectors, mountings, and ports tailored specifically to Apple’s machines. A standard motherboard would not be electrically or physically compatible.
Do logic boards support standard CPU sockets and RAM?
It depends. In older Macs, standard DDR RAM and sockets like LGA775 were used to allow some cross-compatibility with PC components. But newer Apple Silicon Macs use completely custom non-upgradeable chips and memory. So contemporary logic boards do not support standard components.
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To Put It Short
The motherboard, or mobo for short, is like the central nervous system of the computer. If you remove the motherboard from your computer, all you are left with is an empty box made of metal. Moreover, the mobo is home to many of your computer’s essential hardware, like the CPU, which is your computer’s brain, and the RAM, which is important in determining your computer’s performance.
The hard drives, optical drives, graphic and video cards also plug into the motherboard. Moreover, the board has your computer’s internal clock, so you don’t have to constantly adjust and correct the time and date after logging in to your computer every time. The heat sinks present in the motherboard help keep your computer cool to optimize efficiency.
It is generally considered to be a necessary part of your computer, and that is why it is called the motherboard. All PCs and TVs have a motherboard, which is a generic term for the system boards. On the other hand, a logic board is a specific name used for the motherboard for Apple’s computer products. Feel free to contact us if you need further information about the logic board vs motherboard.
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