Chipsett

Chipsett, a term commonly used as a misspelling of chipset, refers to the collection of integrated circuits on a computer motherboard that coordinates data flow between the central processing unit, memory, and peripheral devices. The chipset defines the features and bandwidth available to the system, shaping how components such as storage, graphics, networking, and expansion cards connect to the CPU.

Traditionally, the chipset was split into a northbridge and a southbridge. The northbridge connected the CPU to high-speed devices such as RAM and graphics, while the southbridge handled slower I/O such as USB, storage, and peripheral interfaces. In modern designs, memory controllers and other core functions are often integrated into the CPU itself, and the remaining I/O controller responsibilities are handled by a platform controller hub or similar chipset component. As a result, the chipset mainly provides input/output interfaces and platform features rather than performing the central processing tasks.

Chipsets determine the motherboard's capabilities: the number and type of PCIe lanes, USB ports, SATA ports, networking options, and support for features like overclocking, RAID, Thunderbolt, or integrated graphics deactivation. Different chipsets are offered for a given CPU socket and generation (for example, Intel's higher-end Z or X series versus more budget H or B series; AMD's X and B lineups).

System builders choose a chipset based on required I/O, expansion, and stability. Compatibility depends on the CPU socket and motherboard form factor. Chipset drivers are installed in the operating system to enable full functionality of the I/O controllers and features.