Motherboards are also known as mainboards, or system boards, and are the backbone of a computer. Motherboards provide the electrical connections through which other parts of the computer communicate. They are also home to the central processing unit, or CPU, which is the brain of the computer. All electrical components of a computer including peripheral devices plug in to the motherboards in some manner. Most motherboards produced today are for IBM compatible computers. IBM compatibles account for 90% of computer sales. But, motherboards are not limited to computers. They exist in many electrical devices such as mobile phones, watches, and clocks. The modern motherboard contains a variety of components including: 1. electrical sockets for the CPU 2. sockets for the main memory 3. Chipset 4. non-volatile memory chips 5. clock generator 6. power connectors 7. input device connectors and expansion slots
The motherboard has electrical sockets for the microprocessor. There can be more than one microprocessor on the motherboard. The microprocessor is also referred to as a CPU, or central processing unit. The CPU is where execution of computer programs takes place.
The main memory slots are also present on the motherboard. Today these are usually dual inline memory modules, or DIMM modules. The dynamic random access memory chips, or DRAM chips, are located here.
The motherboard contains slots for the main memory. Dual inline memory, or DIMM, modules are the most used types of memory modules in computers today. This is where the DRAM, direct access memory, chips are located and the type of DRAM chips you use will depend on what your computer can support.
A chipset comprised of integrated circuits, which service to connect the main memory with the peripheral buses, is located on the motherboard. This chipset is often separated into two sections the Northbridge and the Southbridge. The Northbridge is far better known as it controls high-speed devices. The lesser-known Southbridge controls low-speed devices, such as sound chips.
Motherboards contain a clock generator. This clock generator is a circuit with the basic operation of producing a signal for synchronizing the computer. Some people who are well skilled at computers change the clock generator to control speed of the central processing unit and random access memory.
Another component of motherboards is the expansion slots, also called sockets. These expansion slots are where expansion cards can be plugged in to expand the functions of the computer. Graphics cards, sound cards and input/output devices are just a few of the devices that can be added using these expansion slots.
Motherboards contain components known as power connector flickers. These flickers take power from the main supply and dispense power throughout the computer. These flickers provide power to the CPU, chipsets, main memory, and expansion cards.
Like any electrical device, a motherboard can malfunction. A few signs that your computer motherboard has stopped functioning properly include: 1. a locked up computer 2. a computer that makes one long beep followed by 3 short beeps 3. the system clock displaying the wrong time 4. error messages with reference to DMA, CMOS battery, or RAM failure 5. a computer completely failing to boot up, but the power light is on
Craig Stephenson is an expert in computer technology. If you want more information about motherboards or are searching for quality motherboards please visit http://www.ebuyer.com
