Presented herein are improvement to computer system architecture. In one embodiment, a method includes reconfiguring system interconnect links disposed between a first central processing unit socket and a second central processing unit socket, disposed together on a single motherboard, as peripheral bus links; and transmitting electrical signals, via the peripheral bus links, and via a printed circuit board that bridges the second central processing unit socket, to at least one input/output functional block that is disposed on the single motherboard and that is selectively connectable to the second central processing unit socket.