Motherboards are the main printed circuit boards in computers, and are in many other electronics devices including mobile phones, stop-watches, and clocks. They are also called main boards, system boards, or logic boards, and are shortened to Mobo in casual technical reference. They are made by connecting various electrical parts and components, usually with wiring and soldering, to create communications and processing pathways.
The motherboard in a computer provides the electrical connections for other components to communicate, and holds the central processing unit. It is common for computers to have the microprocessor and memory on the motherboard, with other components like external storage, controllers, and peripheral devices attached as plug-in cards or cables. Some of these peripherals are on the motherboard itself.
The motherboard interfaces between the CPU and the buses and external components. The motherboard determines the computer's capabilities and houses the motherboard chipset, sockets with microprocessors and memory, memory chips, the system's BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), clocks to synchronize the various components, slots for expansion cards, power connectors to distribute electricity to components, and heat sinks and fans to cool the system during operation.
The motherboard is the key component of the computer. It is the printed circuit board that provides all the connections between the different components in the computer. It houses the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the BIOS chip. The CPU and the BIOS chip are the two main components that operate a computer. The BIOS starts first when the computer is turned on, and it powers up the CPU which controls everything else, like the hard drive, operating system, audio and video. The CPU is an assembly of transistors and devices (Pentium IV has more than 4 million transistors) which perform a multitude of programmed actions.
Most motherboards will last eight to ten years, although some are defective right out of the box and some fail soon after initial use. Manufacturers will replace them if they fail while under warranty. If out of warranty, or for the purposes of upgrades, motherboards can be costly and difficult to replace.
Many things damage motherboards in computers making replacement necessary. Lightning, hard impact or dropping the computer, spilling liquids on the computer, strong magnetic or electrical charges, and fan or heat sink failure can all break and damage the delicate wiring and electrical components in the motherboard. A common sign of motherboard failure is if the computer will not boot up, but diagnostic testing is needed to determine if the motherboard is damaged. Replacing a damaged motherboard involves the cost of a new board plus installation.
Motherboards are essential parts of computers, similar to the engines in automobiles. Computers will not run without them or if they are damaged. Motherboards are comprised of many different electrical components. The newest motherboards have many more components wired onto them than older motherboards, for faster and more efficient and powerful processing. They are delicate and complicated technological components that are essential to computing.
Author Resource:
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in consumer electronics. If you would like further information about motherboards or are looking for a trusted motherboard company please visit http://www.ebuyer.com
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