Concept in Definition ABC

In a computer, the microprocessor (the "chip", as some call it) does not work alone, and must be surrounded by a set of chips of lesser entity, size and power, dedicated to more or less specific tasks. It is what is called chipset, chipset.

We define the chipset as the set of chips built according to the architecture of the main chip (microprocessor) and the computer, which act as a bridge between the micro and the rest of the components.

In older computers and 8-bit microcomputers, the different functionalities were much more patented and tied to a much larger chipset.

As technology progresses, microprocessors increase their functionalities in the same, slightly higher, or even smaller size, thereby decreasing the set of auxiliary chips required and thus the volume of the chipset.

Some of the functionalities that the chipset components take care of or can take care of are the input and output (I / O or I / O as abbreviated in Spanish or English), the sound, the connection with the RAM memory, or the section graphic.

A characteristic of the chips that make up the chipset is that each of them must have the appropriate interface to perform its task, as well as an interface to exchange data with the microprocessor and, eventually, the interfaces necessary to interact with other elements of the computer (such as other components of the chipset).

It is also common for the chipset to be tailor-made for a specific microprocessor or family of microprocessors, and placed on a motherboard specifically designed for these elements.

It is the motherboard that works, as its name implies, as the glue that facilitates the union between all the components: the microprocessor, the various elements that make up the chipset, the expansion boards (card graph, sound card; by the way, all of them with their own controller that is part of the chipset), and the connectors for the peripherals.

In the architecture current x86 (and x86-64) PCs can distinguish two parts of the chipset: the northbridge and the southbridge.

The northbridge is in charge of controlling access to the RAM and to the graphics card through the corresponding bus (AGP, PCIe ...), while the southbridge It includes the chips in charge of controlling the I / O ports to devices, storage and expansion cards.

In this way, the distribution of work results in greater efficiency of the system.

Not many companies currently make chipsets for computers and electronic devices, including Intel, NVIDIA, SiS, and VIA.

The SoCs (System-on-a-Chip), which are the microchips that are integrated into mobile devices such as smartphones Y tablets they incorporate several of these functions without the need for separate chips, thus diminishing the importance of the chipset and the number of components present on the device's motherboard.

This is done out of necessity, for a double reason: saving space and saving money, otherwise creating devices small enough to fit in a pocket would be very difficult.

Photos: Fotolia - Reenya / Mikael Miro