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.