Chipsatzes

Chipsatzes, the plural form of the German word Chipsatz (chipset), refers to the set of integrated circuits on a computer motherboard that coordinates data flow between the central processing unit, memory, and peripheral devices. In a PC, the chipset defines how the CPU communicates with RAM, storage interfaces, PCIe expansion, and various I/O controllers, and it largely determines the platform's capabilities.

Historically, chipsets were described as northbridge and southbridge components. The northbridge managed high-speed functions such as the CPU, memory, and graphics, while the southbridge handled lower-speed I/O like USB, SATA, and networking. In modern designs the CPU often includes the memory controller and an increasing portion of processing power, while a platform controller hub (PCH) on the motherboard handles I/O duties. Some functions are implemented by additional controllers on the board.

Chipset features include CPU socket compatibility, supported memory types and speeds, PCIe lanes and generations, number of SATA ports, USB ports, networking options, and sometimes overclocking support. The chipset thus constrains which CPUs and memory modules can be used and determines the available expansion and I/O features, as well as BIOS/firmware integration.

Examples of prominent chipsets include Intel's desktop series such as the 2000s-era P35/P45 and contemporary Z-series like Z690/Z790 representing high-end platforms; AMD's X470, X570, and the newer X670/B650 families. Nvidia previously produced chipsets for Intel platforms (NForce) but no longer does so in mainstream desktop markets.