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Motherboard is glue which binds all the components of a Computer. Every component directly or
indirectly attached/installed/connected to a system has a connection to motherboard, because it is the
base on which system & its components/peripheral devices stand and perform. Technically speaking
motherboard is a PCB- Printed Circuit Board that provides connection to almost every component
present in a PC. It is also known as system/main board.
Memory Controller Hub or the Northbridge: The northbridge typically handles communications among
the CPU, in some cases RAM, and PCI Express (or AGP) video cards, and the southbridge. Some
northbridges also contain integrated video controllers, also known as a Graphics and Memory
Controller Hub (GMCH) in Intel systems.
PCI Slots: These are expansion slots where various cards plug in. These may include modems, network
cards and others that add features to the computer.
Processor or CPU Socket: This is where the brains of the computer, the CPU, Central Processing Unit
plugs in.
Integrated Audio Connection: Most motherboards have integrated sound audio.
Integrated Video Chip: The video system can also be integrated into the motherboard. This is usually
the case on most computers that are not specifically designed for games and other intensive video
requirements.
RAM Modules or Memory: DDR2 or DDR3 Most motherboards support dual-channel architecture,
either DDR, DDR2 or DDR3. By installing memory modules into matching banks, it is possible to
double the speed that data moves from RAM to the CPU.
Power Connector or ATX Power: This is where ATX power is connected to the power supply with
20+4 pins.
Primary/Secondary IDE or EIDE: This is where ATA100/133 hard drives and CD and DVD optical
drives connect if they are the EIDE type.
CMOS Battery: This battery is used to maintain the memory of the CMOS chip which contains things
like the time, date, type of hardware and other settings specific to this computer.
AGP Slot: The Accelerated Graphics Port is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a
graphics card primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics. Since 2004, AGP is being
phased out in favor of PCI Express (PCIe).
I/O Controller Hub or Southbridge: The southbridge is one of the two chips in the core logic chipset on
a personal computer (PC) motherboard, the other being the northbridge. The southbridge typically
implements the slower capabilities of the motherboard in a northbridge/southbridge chipset computer
architecture. In systems with Intel chipsets, the southbridge is named I/O Controller Hub (ICH), while
AMD has named its southbridge Fusion Controller Hub (FCH) since the introduction of its Fusion
APUs.