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A computer's northbridge directly links the CPU to the primary system memory and several high-speed expansion slots. It also connects to the southbridge, which provides connectivity to other components. Most computers in the 1990s and 2000s used a northbridge chip, but in the 2010s, CPU manufacturers began integrating memory and PCI Express controllers directly into the CPU to reduce latency.","contributor":{"@type":"Person","name":"Brian Pickle","url":"https://techterms.com/authors/brian_pickle"},"image":"https://techterms.com/img/md/northbridge_736.png","url":"https://techterms.com/definition/northbridge"} </script> </head> <body> <div id="full"> <header id="siteheader"> <div class="content"> <a href="#main" class="visuallyhidden">Skip to main content</a> <a href="/" class="logo"><img src="/svg/logo.svg" width="212" height="24" alt="TechTerms.com"></a> <div class="siteheader-middle"> <div class="searchwrapper collapsed"> <form id="search" class="search" action="/search" method="post"> <div class='autocomplete' role='combobox' aria-expanded='false' aria-owns='autocomplete-results'> <input type="text" id="term" name="term" placeholder="Search (e.g. northbridge, ASCII, cache)" aria-label="Search (e.g. psd, docx, exe, jpg, zip)" autocomplete="off" class='autocomplete-input term' aria-autocomplete='both' aria-controls='autocomplete-results'> <button id="searchsubmit" class="searchsubmit"></button> </div> <ul id='autocomplete-results' class='autocomplete-results hidden' aria-label='Search'> </ul> </form> </div> <a href="/random" class="headerbutton random" id="random"><img src="/svg/random.svg" alt="random" width="16" height="16"></a> <button id="searchtoggle"><img src="/svg/search-white.svg" alt="search" width="18" height="18"></button> </div> <div class="siteheader-right"> <button id="menuopen"><img src="/svg/menu.svg" alt="open menu" width="18" height="16"></button> <nav id="sitemenu" class="collapsed"> <button id="menuclose"><img src="/svg/close.svg" alt="close menu" width="14" height="14"></button> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/">Terms</a></li> <li><a href="/quiz/">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/help/">Help Center</a></li> <li class="mobile"><a href="/random">Random Term</a></li> <li class="settings"><button id="settings"><img src="/svg/settings.svg" alt="settings" width="22" height="22"></button> <div class="settingsmenu"> <fieldset> <legend>Theme</legend> <input id="theme-default" value="default" type="radio" name="theme" checked> <label for="theme-default">Light</label> <input id="theme-dark" value="dark" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-dark">Dark</label> <input id="theme-hc" value="hc" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-hc">High Contrast</label> </fieldset> <div class="fontsizewrapper"><label for="fontsize">Font Size<input type="range" id="fontsize" name="fontsize" min="14" max="26" step="2" value="20"></label><span class="currentsize">20</span></div> <button id="resetsettings">Reset</button> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main> <div class="adTopLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589388248615-0'> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="def"> <div id="left"> <div class="card hasheader"> <div class="cardheader"> <div class="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Home</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg><a href="/category/hardware">Hardware Terms</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg>Northbridge Definition</div> </div> <article> <h1>Northbridge</h1> <div class="adDefRect"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589302365809-0'> </div> </div> <p>The northbridge is a <a href="/definition/chip">chip</a> on some computer <a href="/definition/motherboard">motherboards</a> that connects the <a href="/definition/cpu">CPU</a> to other primary system <a href="/definition/component">components</a>. A computer's northbridge directly links the CPU to the primary system <a href="/definition/memory">memory</a> and several high-speed expansion slots. It also connects to the <a href="/definition/southbridge">southbridge</a>, which provides connectivity to other components. Most computers in the 1990s and 2000s used a northbridge chip, but in the 2010s, CPU manufacturers began integrating memory and PCI Express controllers directly into the CPU to reduce <a href="/definition/latency">latency</a>.</p> <p>A computer's northbridge chip connects to the CPU using a high-speed connection called the <a href="/definition/fsb">front-side bus</a>. From the northbridge, data travels between the CPU and the system <a href="/definition/ram">RAM</a> — for this reason, the northbridge is sometimes called the Memory Controller Hub (MCH). It also connects the CPU to high-speed <a href="/definition/pci_express">PCI Express</a> lanes designed for the system's <a href="/definition/gpu">GPU</a>. Finally, it links the CPU to the southbridge chip that provides additional PCI Express lanes and communicates with the system's storage controllers, <a href="/definition/usb">USB</a> ports, <a href="/definition/nic">networking interface</a>, and other <a href="/definition/io">I/O</a> components.</p> <div class="baguetteBox gallery"> <figure class="deffig"> <a href="https://techterms.com/img/xl/northbridge_736.png"> <img src="https://techterms.com/img/il/northbridge_736.png" alt="The northbridge connects the CPU to the RAM and GPU, as well as to the southbridge for other I/O" width="750" height="267" class="defimg"> </a><figcaption class="caption">The northbridge connects the CPU to the RAM and GPU, as well as to the southbridge for other I/O</figcaption> </figure></div> <p>Advances in miniaturization and chip design now allow CPU makers to integrate the northbridge functions directly into the CPU itself. Removing the need for data to travel over the front-side and through the northbridge reduces latency and increases memory <a href="/definition/bandwidth">bandwidth</a>. CPUs also incorporate the connection to several high-speed PCI Express lanes for the <a href="/definition/video_card">video card</a>, or may even include the GPU itself. A separate <a href="/definition/chipset">chipset</a> on the motherboard still provides other I/O connectivity, but the term "southbridge" is no longer used — it is instead called the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) or simply "the chipset."</p> <div class="adBotLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589236206757-0'> </div> </div> <div class="cardfooter"> <div class="upDate"><div class="author">Updated <span class="pdate">December 11, 2023</span> by <a href="/authors/brian_pickle">Brian P.</a></div></div><div id="citations"> <div class="tabs"> <div role="tablist" aria-label="citations"> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="apa" tabindex="-1">APA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="mla" tabindex="-1">MLA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="chicago" tabindex="-1">Chicago</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="html" tabindex="-1">HTML</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="link" tabindex="-1">Link</button> </div> <div class="citationwrap"> <div id="apa" role="tabpanel" class="citation" hidden> </div> <div id="mla" role="tabpanel" class="citation" hidden> </div> <div id="chicago" role="tabpanel" class="citation" hidden> </div> <div id="html" role="tabpanel" class="citation" hidden> </div> <div id="link" role="tabpanel" class="citation" hidden> <div>https://techterms.com/definition/northbridge</div> </div> <button id="citecopy"><span class="visuallyhidden">Copy</span><svg enable-background="new 0 0 488.3 488.3" viewBox="-7.5 -7.5 495.8 503.3" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m314.25 85.4h-227c-21.3 0-38.6 17.3-38.6 38.6v325.7c0 21.3 17.3 38.6 38.6 38.6h227c21.3 0 38.6-17.3 38.6-38.6v-325.7c-.1-21.3-17.4-38.6-38.6-38.6zm11.5 364.2c0 6.4-5.2 11.6-11.6 11.6h-227c-6.4 0-11.6-5.2-11.6-11.6v-325.6c0-6.4 5.2-11.6 11.6-11.6h227c6.4 0 11.6 5.2 11.6 11.6z" stroke-width="15"/><path d="m401.05 0h-227c-21.3 0-38.6 17.3-38.6 38.6 0 7.5 6 13.5 13.5 13.5s13.5-6 13.5-13.5c0-6.4 5.2-11.6 11.6-11.6h227c6.4 0 11.6 5.2 11.6 11.6v325.7c0 6.4-5.2 11.6-11.6 11.6-7.5 0-13.5 6-13.5 13.5s6 13.5 13.5 13.5c21.3 0 38.6-17.3 38.6-38.6v-325.7c0-21.3-17.3-38.6-38.6-38.6z" stroke-width="15"/></svg></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div id="defquiz" class="card"> <h2 class="heading logoheading"><img src="/img/main/quiz.png" alt="quiz" style="width:45px">Test Your Knowledge</h2> <div class="quizBox"> <div class="quizBody"> <p class="quizQuestion">Which of the following statements best describes a chiplet?</p> <div class="quizTable"> <div id="ansButtonA" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Anum" data-date="2024-10-04"><span class="ansLetter">A</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerA" class="quizAnswer">It is a processor that is smaller than one square centimeter.</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarA" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercA" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonB" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Bnum" data-date="2024-10-04"><span class="ansLetter">B</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerB" class="quizAnswer">It is a self-contained block of integrated circuits that performs a specific function.</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarB" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercB" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonC" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Cnum" data-date="2024-10-04"><span class="ansLetter">C</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerC" class="quizAnswer">It is a single circuit that includes a CPU, primary memory, and secondary memory.</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarC" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercC" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonD" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Dnum" data-date="2024-10-04"><span class="ansLetter">D</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerD" class="quizAnswer">It is a CPU socket that allows processors to be removed and replaced.</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarD" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercD" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="quizResult"><div class="qmsg"> <b class="quizPass">Correct!</b> <b class="quizFail">Incorrect!</b>   <span class="customMessage"></span>  View the <a href="/definition/chiplet">Chiplet definition</a>.</div> <a href="/quiz/#morequizzes" class="quizNext btnprimary">More Quizzes →</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="right"> <div class="prevnext"> <a href="non-volatile_memory"><span class="arrow">‹</span>  <span class="linktext">Non-Volatile Memory</span></a><span> | </span><a href="nos"><span class="linktext">NOS</span>  <span class="arrow">›</span></a></div> <div class="tf card"> <h2 class="heading">Tech Factor</h2> <a href="/help/tech_factor" class="info" title="What is the Tech Factor?">?</a> <a href="/techfactor/9"><span class="factor">9</span><span class="denom"> / 10</span></a></div> <div class="listBox card related"> <h2 class="heading">Related Terms</h2> <div class="rlists"> <ol> <li><a href="/definition/southbridge">Southbridge</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/motherboard">Motherboard</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/cpu">CPU</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/ram">RAM</a></li> </ol> <ol start="5"><li><a href="/definition/component">Component</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/controller_card">Controller Card</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/pci_express">PCI Express</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/fsb">FSB</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="adRightSky"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589233879778-0'> </div> </div> </div> <div class="techterms card"> <h2 class="heading">The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary</h2> <p>The definition of Northbridge on this page is an original definition written by the <a href="/authors/">TechTerms.com team</a>. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation links above.</p> <p>The goal of TechTerms.com is to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. 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