Difference between revisions of "Motherboard"
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The '''motherboard''' ('''mobo''' for short) is the main (and sometimes only) [[printed circuit board]] in a [[personal computer]]; as much functionality as possible is packed on this board, to save the cost of [[connector]]s to other boards. | The '''motherboard''' ('''mobo''' for short) is the main (and sometimes only) [[printed circuit board]] in a [[personal computer]]; as much functionality as possible is packed on this board, to save the cost of [[connector]]s to other boards. | ||
| − | So the motherboard will contain the [[microprocessor]] [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]], [[Read-only memory|ROM]] used for the [[bootstrap]], the [[ | + | So the motherboard will contain the [[microprocessor]] [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]], [[Read-only memory|ROM]] used for the [[bootstrap]], the [[interface]] to the [[keyboard]], [[device controller]]s for [[secondary storage]] devices, etc. |
| − | It will also often contain connectors for a [[bus]] for optional cards to provide extra functionality. In early PC motherboards, this included cards to connect to [[local area network]]s, etc, but much of this has now been standardized on the motherboard. | + | It will also often contain connectors for a [[bus]] for optional cards to provide extra functionality. In early PC motherboards, this included cards to connect to [[local area network]]s, hold the[[hardware]] to drive the [[display]], etc, but much of this has now been standardized on the motherboard. |
There is sometimes provision for a [[daughter-card]], if all the desired functionality cannot be fitted onto the main card; such cards may be optional, or mandatory. | There is sometimes provision for a [[daughter-card]], if all the desired functionality cannot be fitted onto the main card; such cards may be optional, or mandatory. | ||
Revision as of 19:21, 30 October 2018
The motherboard (mobo for short) is the main (and sometimes only) printed circuit board in a personal computer; as much functionality as possible is packed on this board, to save the cost of connectors to other boards.
So the motherboard will contain the microprocessor CPU, ROM used for the bootstrap, the interface to the keyboard, device controllers for secondary storage devices, etc.
It will also often contain connectors for a bus for optional cards to provide extra functionality. In early PC motherboards, this included cards to connect to local area networks, hold thehardware to drive the display, etc, but much of this has now been standardized on the motherboard.
There is sometimes provision for a daughter-card, if all the desired functionality cannot be fitted onto the main card; such cards may be optional, or mandatory.
Main memory is often contained on small cards that plug into connectors on the motherboard, both to allow easy replacement if there is a failure, but mostly to allow upgraded with more/larger memory cards.
