The motherboard contains all the important components of a computer system. Many of these components are microscopic and nearly invisible to the human eye. Even though technology continues to evolve, the basic components that make up the motherboard have stayed the same over the years.
CPU
The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, can be likened to the brain of the computer. All complex calculations are performed inside the CPU.
Chipset
The chipset is comprised of two parts: the north bridge and the south bridge. These two chips control the flow of data into and out of the CPU.
Ram Slots
The RAM slots hold the Random Access Memory cards. The CPU stores data and other computing instructions in RAM.
Expansion Slots
The expansion card slots allow you to add additional devices to the motherboard. Commonly added devices include wireless, video and sound cards.
CMOS Battery
The CMOS battery powers the computer chip responsible for initiating the first few sets of instructions when the computer is turned on. The CMOS battery also keeps the system clock synchronized while the computer is turned off.
Interface Ports
The motherboard also contains the ports for the keyboard and mouse, as well as serial, parallel, firewire and USB interfaces.
Tags: CMOS battery, computer turned