greatbody
/
freeCodeCamp
mirror of https://github.com/freeCodeCamp/freeCodeCamp.git
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Projects Releases Wiki Activity

Minor grammer changes and rewording (#29071) 

Changed wording comparing desktops and laptops in final sentence of first paragraph. Edited wording listing manufacturers of motherboards. Add "t" to must in line 21, reworded sentence, and added "brands" to examples. Added "from the power supply." Rewording to connectors description.
pull/34820/head^2
Eric Pfister 2019-02-05 14:25:37 -05:00 committed by Christopher McCormack
parent 47ccf0ff8e
commit 3c85bb9a41
1 changed files with 5 additions and 5 deletions
Show Stats Download Patch File Download Diff File Expand all files Collapse all files

10
guide/english/computer-hardware/motherboard/index.md
View File

@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ title: Motherboard
---
## Motherboard
The motherboard is the connecting layer that allows a computer's components to interact with each other. The motherboard typically has connections for random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a central processing unit (CPU). In desktops, the motherboard is a physical board to which all of these components are connected. However, in laptops, the motherboard typically has some of these components integrated due to the space constraints of laptops. As a result, laptops parts are often more difficult to replace and service while on a desktop, it is possible to install expansion cards and upgrade parts since they are not intergrated onto the motherboard.
The motherboard is the connecting layer that allows a computer's components to interact with each other. The motherboard typically has connections for random access memory (RAM), a hard drive, a graphics processing unit (GPU), and a central processing unit (CPU). In desktops, the motherboard is a physical board to which all of these components are connected. However, in laptops, the motherboard typically has some of these components integrated due to the space constraints of laptops. As a result, laptops parts are often more difficult to replace and service while desktop components can be expanded with cards and upgraded parts since they are not generally intregrated onto the motherboard.
A motherboard provides power and connectivity to the computer's components, and acts as the switchboard for all inter-component communications. If the CPU needs to process information that is stored in RAM, for example, the motherboard provides a connection between the CPU and RAM, called the memory bus, to allow for data access. A motherboard includes buses for expansion cards (including the GPU), RAM, and hard drives.
Top manufacturers of motherboards are INTEL, ASUS, ACER, GIGABYTE, IBM, SIMMTRONICS and many more.
Motherboards are manufactured by companies such as INTEL, ASUS, ACER, GIGABYTE, IBM, SIMMTRONICS and many more.
## Parts of a Motherboard
@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ If you were to open up your computer and take out the motherboard, you would pro
To understand how computers work, you don't need to know every single part of the motherboard. However, it is good to know some of the more important parts and how the motherboard connects the various parts of a computer system together. Here are some of the typical parts:
- A CPU socket - the actual CPU is directly soldered onto the socket. Since high speed CPUs generate a lot of heat, there are heat sinks and mounting points for fans right next to the CPU socket.
Take note that CPUs only support a single socket type so it must match with the motherboards socket to work. Socket types usually change every few generations and it also varies per label(consumer-grade CPUs, HEDT, server CPUs)
- A power connector to distribute power to the CPU and other components.
- Take note that a CPU socket type must match with the motherboards socket to work. Socket types usually change every few generations and it also varies per label (consumer-grade CPUs, brands, HEDT, server CPUs)
- A power connector to distribute power to the CPU and other components from the power supply.
- Slots for the system's main memory, typically in the form of DRAM chips.
- A chip forms an interface between the CPU, the main memory and other components. On many types of motherboards, this is referred to as the Northbridge. This chip also contains a large heat sink. In recent years, features of the Northbridge have been increasingly integrated into the CPU itself.
- A second chip controls the input and output (I/O) functions. It is not connected directly to the CPU but to the Northbridge. This I/O controller is referred to as the Southbridge. The Northbridge and Southbridge combined are referred to as the chipset.
- Several connectors, which provide the physical interface between input and output devices and the motherboard. The Southbridge handles these connections.
- Several connectors provide the physical interface between input and output devices and the motherboard. The Southbridge handles these connections.
- Slots for one or more hard drives to store files. The most common types of connections are Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) and Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA).
- A read-only memory (ROM) chip, which contains the firmware, or startup instructions for the computer system. This was previously a system known as BIOS but has been replaced on more modern machines by UEFI
- A slot for a video or graphics card. There are a number of different types of slots, including the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe).