20 Major Motherboard Components

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1. CPU (Central Processing Unit) chip
2. RAM (Random Access Memory) slots
3. Southbridge/northbridge
4. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
5. I/O port
6. USB (Universal Serial Bus)
7. CPU slot
8. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot
9. AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) slot
10. ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slot
11. Parallel port
12. FDC (Floppy-Disk Controller)
13. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller
14. CMOS (Complementary Metal-oxide-semiconductor) battery
15. Power supply connector
16. Mouse and keyboard ports
17. DIP (Dual In-line Package) switch
18. Jumper
19. Heat sink/heatsink (cooling system)
20. Clock generator
1. CPU (Central Processing Unit) chip
CPU is the electronic circuitry in a computer that executes instructions that make up a
program. It is also known as a central processor or the main processor. The CPU
executes the basic logic, arithmetic, controlling as well as input/output (I/O) operations
specified by the instructions in the desktop programs.

2. RAM (Random Access Memory) slots

RAM is a kind of computer memory that can be read and written. It is mainly used to
save data and machine code. A RAM device permits data to be read or written in nearly
the same amount of time no matter where the data’s physical location is in the memory.
Compared to the direct-access storage devices like hard drives, CD/DVD and magnetic
tapes, RAM media is much faster for data reading and writing.
3. Southbridge/northbridge
They are the two chips in the core logic chipset on the motherboard. Typically, the
southbridge implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard in a
northbridge/southbridge chipset computer architecture.
The northbridge, also known as host bridge or Memory Controller Hub, is connected
directly to the CPU via the front-side bus (FSB). It is responsible for tasks requiring the
highest performance. Together with the southbridge, they manage communications
between the CPU and other motherboard components.
4. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
BIOS, also called system BIOS, PC BIOS or ROM BIOS, is firmware that is used to
perform hardware initialization during the booting process; and to provide runtime
services for operating system and programs. The BIOS firmware is the first software to
run when powered on; it is re-installed on a PC’s system board.
5. I/O port
Input/output ports are the connections between the CPU and peripheral devices on a
motherboard. There are two complementary methods to perform input and output
processes: memory-mapped I/O (MMIO) and port-mapped I/O (PMIO). Alternatively,
you can use dedicated I/O processors, called channels on mainframe computers, which
execute their own instructions.
6. USB (Universal Serial Bus)
USB is an industry standard that creates specifications for connectors, cables and
protocols for connection; power supply (interfacing) and communication among
computers, computer peripherals as well as other desktops. There are a great many
USB hardware including several different connectors, of which USB-C is the latest kind.
7. CPU slot
A CPU slot, also called a CPU socket or Processor socket, contains one or more
mechanical components that provide mechanical and electrical connections between
the PCB and a microprocessor (CPU). Therefore, you can install a CPU on a
motherboard without soldering.

8. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot

Peripheral Component Interconnect is a local computer bus for connecting hardware to
a computer. It supports all the functions of a processor bus. PCI is usually been called
Conventional PCI to distinguish it from its successor PCI Express (PCIe, PCI-e or PCI-
E).
PCI Express is a high-speed serial computer expansion bus standard designed to
replace the older PCI, PCI-X and AGP bus standard. It is a general-use motherboard
interface for the graphics card, SSDs, hard drives, Wi-Fi as well as Ethernet hardware
connections.
9. AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) slot
AGP was designed as a high-speed point-to-point channel for connecting a video card
(graphics card) to a computer system. Primarily, it was used to assist in the acceleration
of 3D computer graphics. AGP is originally designed to be a descendant of the PCI
series of connections for video cards. Yet, it was replaced by the PCIe slots.
10. ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slot
ISA is the 16-bit internal bus of IMB PC/AT and similar computers that are based on
Intel 80286 and its immediate successors during the 1980s. It was backward compatible
with the 8-bit bus of the 8088-based IBM PC largely.
There once was an attempt to extend ISA into a 32-bit bus, called Extended Industry
Standard Architecture (EISA). The attempt wasn’t very successful and the EISA was
largely replaced by the later VESA Local Bus and the PCI bus.
11. Parallel port
A parallel port is a kind of interface for attaching peripherals on desktops. The name of
this kind of port is derived from the way the data is sent. That is, the parallel ports send
multiple bits of data at the same time. Serial interfaces, on the contrary, send bits one
data at once. To achieve parallel data transfer, there are multiple data lines in the
parallel port cables. The parallel port cable is larger than the cable of a contemporary
serial port, which only has one data line within.

12. FDC (Floppy-Disk Controller)

FDC is a special-purpose chip and associated disk controller circuitry. It controls and
directs reading from and writing to a computer’s floppy disk drive (FDD).
13. IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller
The devices used for connecting IDE, Ethernet, FireWire, USB and other systems can
be called host adapter. So, the IDE controller refers to the host adapter. A host adapter,
also called a host controller or a host bus adapter (HBA), connects a computer (acting
as the host system) to other network and storage devices.
Tip: Host adapter is usually used to indicate devices connecting SCSI, Fibre Channel
and SATA devices.
14. CMOS (Complementary Metal-oxide-semiconductor) battery
CMOS battery, also called memory battery, clock battery or real-time clock (RTC), is
generally a CR2032 lithium coin cell. The lifespan of the CMOS battery is estimated to
be three years when the power supply unit (PSU) is unplugged or switch off.
15. Power supply connector
A power supply provides the necessary electrical power to let the computer to work. It
takes standard 110-Volt AC (Alternative Current) power to DC (Direct Current) power of
12 Volt, 5 Volt, 3.3 Volt, etc.
16. Mouse and keyboard ports
All computers have a keyboard port connected directly to the motherboard. There are
two types of connectors. The oldest one is a special DIN (Deutsches Institut für
Normung) connector while the newest one is the mini DIN PS/2-style connector. Many
PCs use the PS/2-style connectors for both keyboard and mouse; and the connectors
are marked clearly for different usage.
17. DIP (Dual In-line Package) switch
A DIP switch is a manual electric switch packaged with others in a standard dual in-line
package. The term may refer to an individual switch or the whole unit. The DIP switch is
designed to be used on a printed circuit board (motherboard) together with other
electronic motherboard components. It is usually used to customize the behavior of
an electronic device for specific situations.
18. Jumper
A jumper is a short length of conductor that is used to close, open or bypass part of an
electronic circuit. Typically, jumpers are used to set up or configure printed circuit
boards like the motherboard.
19. Heat sink/heatsink (cooling system)
A heat sink is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by parts
of motherboard into a fluid medium like liquid or air. The fluid medium will dissipate
away from the device. Thus, the temperature of the device is kept within a tolerable
range. On the motherboard, the heatsink is usually used to cool CPU, GPU (graphics
processing unit), chipsets and RAM modules.
20. Clock generator
A clock generator is an electronic oscillator (circuit) that produces a clock signal for
usage in synchronizing a circuit’s operation. The clock signal ranges between high and
low frequencies, thus creating a metronome for the coordination of actions.