northbridge
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Encyclopedic overview
A typical north/southbridge layout (2015) A typical north/southbridge layout (2007)
In computing, a northbridge (also host bridge, or memory controller hub) is a microchip that comprises the core logic chipset architecture on motherboards to handle high-performance tasks, especially for older personal computers. It is connected directly to a CPU via the front-side bus (FSB), and is usually used in conjunction with a slower southbridge to manage communication between the CPU and other parts of the motherboard.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “northbridge” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.