What is a Motherboard | Definition Uses and Functions

What is a Motherboard : A Computer Motherboard is commonly known as the Main board or MB or System board or logic board that is designed on PCB (Printed Circuit Board).

Motherboard holds or connects all components and parts together on a single sheet.

The Computer Motherboard holds all the circuitry to connect the various components of a computer system. Therefore it is also called the backbone of Personal computer system.

The Mainboard or Motherboard is the main, crucial, and important part of the computer system.

It holds many important components such as Computer memory slots, CPU, SATA IDE slots, expansions slots(PCI, AGP, etc), capacitors, resistors, BIOS chip, etc.

The Computer mainboard is made up of a thin sheet of non-conductive material from plastic. The traces which are present on the motherboard is made up of copper/aluminum foil.

There are many companies that manufacture an excellent quality of logic boards these days such as Intel, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, ASRock, Sapphire technology, Biostar, etc.

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Computer Motherboard Label Diagram

Components and Parts Used in Computer Motherboard

There are various components embedded in MB/PCB (Printed Circuit Board). 

You should know the basic computer functionality and uses of the various component attached to the mainboard to use it and installed in the Computer case.

Today Computer Motherboards come in a number of variety but the basic functionality and uses are pretty much the same? You must be familiar with the use and aware of the basic architecture of PC and Laptop motherboard design

As it is difficult to understand each and every part of MB still you should be aware of some common and important components & parts attached to it.

Useful Video : What is a Motherboard With YT

List of Component Used in Computer Motherboard

• Expansion slots (PCI Express, PCI, and AGP)
• 3-pin case fan connectors
• Back panel connectors
• Heat sink
• 4-Pin (P4) power connector
• CPU Socket
• Screw hole
• Memory slot
• Floppy connection
• ATA (IDE) disk drive primary connection
• 24-pin ATX power supply connector
• Serial ATA connections
• Coin cell battery (CMOS backup battery)
• System panel connectors
• Serial port connector
• USB headers
• Jumpers
• SPDIF
• Game port and MIDI header
• Internal speaker
• Keyboard controller
• Parallel port header
• PS/2 header

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Computer Motherboard Component and Their Features

Component	Features
	·   Ps/2 Mouse Connector. ·   Circular In Shape. ·   6 Pins. ·   Female Type of Connector. ·   Usually Green In color.
	1. PS/2 Keyboard Connector. 2. Circular In Shape. 3. 6 Pins. 4. Female Type of Connector. 5. Usually, Violet in Color.
	1. Serial / Normal Mouse Connector. 2. Shape Connector. 3. 9 Pins. 4. Male Type Connector.
	1. Display /VGA Port. 2. D -Type of Connector. 3. 15 Pins. 4. Female Type of Connector. 5. Usually Blue in Color.
	1. USB Stands for Universal Serial Bus. 2. You can connect any USB Devices to this connector. 3. Ex: Pen drive, Scanner, Printer, Card reader. 4. The motherboard may contain more than 2 USB Slot.
	1. Used to Access Internet. 2. RJ-45 Patch cable Is connected. 3. Used for Networking.
	1. There Are 3 Slots Mainly in Sound Port. 2. 1st Is Light Blue (Input Audio). 3. Middle is Light Green (Output Audio). 4. Last One is Light Pink (Mike).
	1. Parallel Port (LPT1, Line Printer, Printer Port). 2. Serial-Printer are Connected to this Port. 3. 25 Pin. 4. Female-Type Connector. 5. D-Shape Connector
	1. This is CPU socket where processor is Installed.
	1. Ram is connected to this Slot. 2. Slots are mainly named as (DIMM, SIMM). 3. DIMM Stands for (Dual inline memory module). 4. SIMM (Single inline memory module).
	1. SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment). 2. You can attach SATA (Hard Disk ), SATA (DVD -RW).
	1. Floppy Disk Drive is out of date, nobody uses this device nowadays. 2. 34 Pin. 3. Male Connector
	1. IDE (Integrated Device Electronics). 2. 40 Pins Connector.
	1. There are 3 type of SMPS power connector (12 Pins,20 Pins ,24 Pins). 2. SMPS Power Supply is connected here. 3. It’s gives desired voltages to motherboard converts AC volt into DC
	1. Here CMOS Battery is Inserted
	1. AGP (Advanced Graphic Port). 2.  Graphic card is connected in this slot
	1. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) 2. You can connect display card, sound card, LAN card to this slot
	1. Processor fan is connected here
	1. This jumper is used to clear all Bios setting .
	1.  Ground +, Ground – 2.  DT+ ,DT+ 3.  DT-, DT- 4.  VCC+,VCC-
	1. Power Switch 2. Reset Switch 3. HDD Led 4. Power led
	1. Power Switch 2. Reset Switch 3. HDD Led 4. Power Led
	1. You Can Insert Your Audio Pin In front side of computer case to hear sound

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Complete Description & Definition of Computer Motherboard

The desktop or PC motherboard is mounted inside the computer case with the help of small screws which are used to tighten the system board into the computer case.

The computer case possesses some pre-drilled holes so that the screws can be easily fit into it.

The system or Mainboard consists of a single CPU socket that is pre-soldered into it.

There are various types of CPU socket which are used to determine the computer motherboard and the CPU which is compatible with it.

You can determine which processor is compatible or suited to the motherboard as there is a number printed on the CPU socket which determines which CPU to be installed on it.

There are memory slots commonly called DIMM or SIMM which allow users to install memory (RAM) into them.

The number of memory slots depends entirely upon the manufacturer of the motherboard.

Expansion slots are used in the motherboard so that you can install additional video cards, sound cards, and graphic cards into it.

These expansion slots are pre-install. Some of the expansion slots are:: PCI, AGP, ISA, etc

Front panel connectors on motherboards have a Power switch, Reset, Power led, HDD led connectors which are connected by wires.

Jumpers are used for specific purposes such as CMOS clear jumper is used to reset bios password.

On the left side of the motherboard, there are number of ports that are used to connect to other peripherals of computer system such as monitors, USB drives, printers, keyboard, mouse, LAN , modem etc.

There is a small coin-shaped cell commonly called a CMOS battery which is inserted into a battery connector present on the motherboard.

SATA and IDE slots are available to connect to other devices such as hard drives and DVD-RW with the help of cables.

24 pins power connector is available to connect the power supply(SMPS) and an additional 4 pins p4 power connector is also available.

What are the 3 Functions of Motherboard?

1. Computer motherboard supplies power to other components and devices.
2. Other important devices can be installed on computer motherboard.
3. Motherboards provides expansion slots for better connectivity and functionality.

Different Types of Motherboards in Computer System?

What are the 6 Main Parts of a Motherboard?

Importance of Motherboard in Computer

The computer motherboard is the core and most vital component of any computer system. All the other devices and components can be easily installed on the motherboard.

Some of the devices that are installed on computer motherboard are as mentioned below.

1. Central Processing Unit.
2. Random Access Memory [RAM].
3. Hard Disk Drives [HDD].
4. Solid State Drives [SSD].
5. DVD RW.
6. Mouse.
7. Keyboard.
8. Printer.

The computer motherboards are compact in shape and size, and hence they can be fitted in small size cabinet usually called “Chassis”.

The size of motherboard defines how many components can be installed on it.

Therefore, motherboard is called as foundation of any computer system.

The computer motherboard is responsible to distribute and supply power to other components and devices received by power supply [SMPS].

They are usually damaged by electric surge and spikes in voltage disturbance.

Motherboard not only connects other devices together; it also acts as a central hub between system and user.

9 Uses of Motherboard in a Computer System

1. All the parts and components are attached to motherboard.
2. Motherboard acts as a bridge between user and other computer devices.
3. Motherboard consumes less power.
4. Motherboard supports high end processor and memory.
5. Motherboard helps in better communication between devices.
6. Data and information can be share with amazing speed and accuracy.
7. CPU is the brain of computer that is connected to motherboard.
8. Computer motherboards consists expansions slots and ports that enables devices to connect.
9. They are inexpensive and hence widely used in desktops, and laptops.

Top Computer Motherboard Manufacturing Companies.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs] on What is A Computer Motherboard

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