Parts of the Motherboard

What is a motherboard?

 A computer motherboard (also known as the mainboard) is one of the most crucial components of a computer.

           Computer  Motherboards are essential to a computer. All the computer components somehow connect to the motherboard. The Power Supply powers up the motherboard and the CPU is laid inside the motherboard. The memory is also put into the motherboard. Hard Drives, Floppy Drives and CD/DVD players all connect to the motherboard using either the IDE Ribbon cable or the later SATA cables. Thus a motherboard is very important for it connects all the computer hardware components together.

Different Motherboard Components

There are many different components on a motherboard. To find out about each different component click on the list below. I will briefly describe each component and then explain what that component does in a motherboard.

• CPU Socket
• CMOS
• BIOS
• Memory Slots
• Power Connectors/ cable
• IDE Connectors
• SATA Connectors
• CMOS Battery
• AGP Graphics Slot
• PCI-Express Graphics Slot
• PCI Slots
• Chipset

A computer motherboard is a complicated component of a computer. Everything in a computer connects to the motherboard and learning about computer motherboards is vital if you want to understand the computer.

Computer CPU

A computer cpu is the brain that runs a computer. CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the core chip to a computer. It is placed in the cpu socket and from here it forms an electrical interface with the motherboard. A CPU is the most important part in a computer.

 CPU Socket

A CPU socket is a connector built into the motherboard where the CPU (central processing unit) goes. Most motherboards use the PGA (Pin Grid Array) architecture which means that there is a grid of holes, in which a particular CPU's pins will fit into.

The majority of CPUs also have a latch. This means that the CPU slides in easily and then it grips the pins tightly when the latch is placed down. Several of the recent LGA (land grid array) motherboards now have pins in the socket while the CPU has contact pads that match the pins.

A computer motherboard connects with the CPU and forms an electrical interface with it. There are many different sockets so it is important when purchasing a motherboard and CPU to make sure that the CPU will fit inside the socket. 

CMOS and BIOS

What is CMOS? The computer term CMOS stands for (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor).

 People sometimes get confused between CMOS and BIOS, even though they sound the same they are different, read on to find out more.

The BIOS contains the details about your drives, their order of booting, the time and date and many other features, and its the CMOS that remembers those settings every time you restart or turn your computer on. It is a little bit of memory that remembers all the BIOS settings, so that your computer won't have to be configured each time you turn your pc on.

In the case of many computers pressing delete or F10 in the booting process will bring you to the BIOS setup. In the BIOS setup you can change many options. To find out what you can do visit my page of the BIOS setup utility.

The CMOS battery powers the CMOS Memory so that all this data won't be lost. So when your computer is off and even when it is unplugged and moved, all the basic settings are saved allowing for a safe fast boot.

Computer Bios

The primary function of the Computer Bios (BasicInput/Output System) is to identify and make sure that the major computer components such as the,CPU, Hard Drive and Optical Drives. This prepares the computer for major functions operated by software, such as the booting of an Operating System from a hard drive, cd/dvd, floppy or USB.

The Bios contains code needed to run the keyboard, screen, disk drives and other functions. It is typically stored on the ROM (Read Only Memory) Bios, which means that if the computer suffers a major catastrophe (such as a broken CPU, or dead hard drive) then the Bios information remains unharmed and the computer will still be able to function after these components are replaced.

CMOS Battery

The CMOS battery (or the motherboard battery) has a unique purpose in a computer. This page will explain what the battery is, how to change the CMOS battery and how to remove the CMOS battery and a range of other things to do with that little computer battery inside your motherboard.

Computer Memory

RAM (Random Access Memory) or Computer Memory is another very important component to a computer. Computer Memory is a volatile storage device meaning that when the computer is switched off everything stored on this temporary storage device will be lost. The more computer memory, the better the computer will run and the better it will handle programs and software. RAM is now generally measured in Mhz, and most commonly seen in the types of SDRAM, DDRRAM, DDR2RAM.

AGP Graphics Slot 

AGP means ‘Accelerated Graphics Port’, which is the commonly used term for describing a specific point to point video card interface that is used to connect the card to your computer’s processor and memory. The AGP Graphics Slot is most commonly used for video games that require their graphics to be sent with a data stream and calculated, as opposed to simply passing through your computer like a TV signal does. 

PCI Slots

The Peripheral Component Interconnect slots, commonly known as the PCI slots, refers to a computer bus. The computer bus is used by the computer to connect to peripheral add-on devices, such as a pci video card, network cards, sound cards, tv tuners, firewire cards, graphics cards and many other types of extension cards.

Video Cards

A video card is another compulsory component in a computer. The information goes into the video card and then is transmitted to the monitor where the information is displayed. Some motherboards have the graphics card built in, but the majority need a separate card that plugs into the motherboard.

Sound Card

A sound card is another extra that can be added to your computer. A sound card translates signals into sounds that can be played back through speakers. Many motherboards have a sound card incorporated in the motherboard, but for those that don't it is possible to get one.

Network Card

A Computer Network Card or a LAN (Local Area Network) card is increasingly becoming more and more necessary in world of broadband internet and home networking. LAN ports are often incorporated on the motherboard and it is used for networking computers together or for connecting through a router to the World Wide Web.

Computer Power Supply

A computer power supply is a compulsory unit to a computer. Without the power supply a computer is useless as it is just a case full of metal and plastic. This page will explain the different power cables and connectors and how they work inside your computer. 

A power cable connects from the power point to the power supply where it supply's the motherboard and other components with power. Often there is a power switch on the back which can be switched off to stop the power current. If this is not switched off and even though the computer is off power will still be drawn out of the power point (very small amount).

Hard Drive Connectors

There are currently three connector cables in a common hard drive. These are the: IDE Ribbon Cable, SCSI Cable and the more recent SATA Cable.

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