A data bus transfers data between computer components or between two computers. The amount of data it can handle is called bandwidth, with newer buses handling more bits. A bus controller separates the CPU and memory from peripherals, allowing for faster data transfer. Modern computers use both parallel and serial data buses, with internal and external buses connecting components and peripherals.
A data bus is a computer subsystem that allows data to be transferred from one component to another on a motherboard or system board or between two computers. This may include transferring data to and from memory or from the central processing unit (CPU) to other components. Each is designed to handle many bits of data at a time. The amount of data that a data bus can handle is called bandwidth.
A typical data bus is 32 bits wide. This means that up to 32 bits of data can travel across a data bus every second. Newer computers are creating data buses that can handle 64-bit and even 96-bit data paths. At the same time they’re building data buses to handle more bits, they’re also building devices that can handle those higher bitrates.
Controller bus
In the early days of personal computers, manufacturers created motherboards with data buses directly connected to the computer’s memory and peripherals. These electric buses were designed to run parallel to each other and had multiple connections. This direct connection was problematic for a variety of reasons, but mostly because all devices were forced to run at the same speed.
To eliminate this problem, developers used a bus controller to separate the CPU and memory from peripheral devices, allowing the CPU to speed up without requiring the same speed increase from the peripherals. This system also allowed expansion cards to communicate with each other without going through the CPU, leading to faster data transfer. However, all devices still need to talk to each other at the same speed, so slow bus speeds can slow down an entire computer system.
Parallel and serial data buses
Modern computers use both parallel and serial data buses. Parallel data buses carry data over multiple wires simultaneously. Each wire, or path as it is sometimes called, carries one bit of data. The most common parallel buses found in computers today are ATA, which stands for Advanced Technology Attachment; the PC card, which stands for personal computer and is used in laptops, and the SCSI, or Small Computer System Interface. A serial data bus has one wire or path and carries all the bits, one after the other. Common serial data buses include USB, also known as the Universal Serial Bus; FireWire; serial ATA; and SCSI serial attachment.
Internal and external data bus
Almost every computer contains internal and external data buses. The internal data bus, also known as the local bus, connects all the components found on the motherboard, such as the CPU and memory. The external data bus connects all peripheral devices to the motherboard. There are several external data buses available; the appropriate type of data bus depends on the device connected to the computer.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
