Processor design with improved condition sensing

A computer system comprising:

• a circuit board;
• and
• a VRM coupled to the circuit board, the VRM for providing voltage regulation to a processor, the VRM having a voltage sense line coupled to a contact on the circuit board;
• wherein the contact is isolated from a plurality of contacts on the circuit board, the plurality of contacts for providing a voltage supply to the processor, wherein a connection is established through the processor between the isolated contact and the plurality of contacts to provide improved voltage regulation of the voltage supply.

A motherboard comprising:

• a plurality of sockets electrically coupled to the motherboard;
• at least one processor having at least one plurality of contacts electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of sockets, the at least one plurality of contacts having at least one plurality of ground contacts;
• at least one contact isolated from the at least one plurality of ground contacts;
• and
• at least one signal generating circuit electrically coupled to the at least one isolated ground contact, the at least one signal generating circuit delivering a signal in response to the at least one processor being placed in at least one of the plurality of sockets.

A base comprising:

• a motherboard comprising at least one processor socket electrically coupled to the motherboard, the at least one processor socket having at least one plurality of ground contacts;
• at least one contact isolated from the at least one plurality of ground contacts;
• at least one signal generating circuit electrically coupled to the at least one isolated contact, the at least one signal generating circuit delivering a signal in response to at least one processor being placed in the at least one processor socket;
• at least one drive;
• a power supply;
• and
• at least one input device coupled to the base.

A method for manufacturing a circuit board comprising:

• electrically coupling at least one socket having a plurality of contacts to the circuit board, the plurality of contacts including a plurality of ground contacts;
• isolating one of the plurality of ground contacts from the remaining plurality of ground contacts;
• constructing a signal generating circuit, the signal generating circuit delivering a signal in response to an object being placed in the at least one socket;
• and
• electrically coupling the signal generating circuit to the one of the plurality of ground contacts.

A circuit board that is adapted to have an integrated circuit disposed thereon, the circuit board comprising:

• a ground plane;
• a signal trace that is adapted to become connected to the ground plane through the integrated circuit if the integrated circuit is disposed on the circuit board;
• and
• a signal generator that generates a signal indicating the presence of the integrated circuit if the integrated circuit is disposed on the circuit board.

A computer system comprising:

• a circuit board that is adapted to have a processor disposed thereon, the circuit board comprising:
• a ground plane;
• a signal trace that is adapted to become connected to the ground plane through the integrated circuit if the integrated circuit is disposed on the circuit board;
• and
• a signal generator that generates a signal indicating the presence of the integrated circuit if the integrated circuit is disposed on the circuit board.

A sensing circuit comprising:

• a voltage source;
• a signal trace that is adapted to become connected to the voltage source through an integrated circuit wherein the signal trace senses a level of the voltage source at the integrated circuit;
• and
• a signal generator that generates a signal indicating the presence of the integrated circuit if the integrated circuit is disposed on the circuit board.