Introduction to Computer

Motherboard (Main board)

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The physical parts of a computer are called hardware. We divide the different types of hardware into four groups: the system unit, input devices, output devices, and storage devices

Hardware

Hardware groups

Input devices

System Unit

Output devices

Storage devices

The system unit contains the main components of the computer, such as the motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card, hard disk, disk drives, and the power supply

System Unit

Chassis

The chassis is the metal and plastic box that contains the system unit. Most people don’t think that the chassis is an important part of the computer. However, it is not just the shell of your computer, it supports all the internal parts. It also protects your system from the outside world and helps to keep the system unit components cool.

The mainboard (also called the motherboard, or system board) is the biggest board inside your system unit. All the main components of your computer connect to the mainboard.

What is a motherboard

PCI Express x16 Slotsfor Graphic Cards

PCI Slotsfor Sound card, Network

card etc.

PCI Express x1 Slotsfor New Sound card,

Network card etc.

RAM Slots

CPU Slot

SATA connector

The ROM-BIOS (Read Only Memory-Basic Input Output System) chip is a special microchip on your computer’s mainboard. It contains software that allows your computer to work with your operating system.

Buses are data paths on the motherboard that connect the CPU to the different parts of the mother board, such as the chips and cable connections

Basic Terminology

Expansion slots are sockets on the mainboard which allow you to extend the computer’s features and capabilities. Expansion slots hold expansion cards (such as a video card, sound card, or network card)

PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports are used to connect a keyboard and mouse to the mainboard

USB ports are located at the back of the system unit. They allow you to plug in devices designed for the USB such as scanners, digital cameras, and printers.

The bus arbitrator (chipset) is an integrated circuit on the motherboard. It controls how the mainboard buses are used. If two different devices try to use the same bus at the same time, there can be a problem. The bus arbitrator prevents this problem.