1) Let's start with the 'Brain'. The Processor:
The Processor sits in a Processor socket on the motherboard.
The socket will match the particular Processor that is used.
On the older computers, the different Processor manufacturers often used the same type of processor socket, for their Processors.
As computer technology evolved, the different processor manufacturers started using a processor socket that only matched their particular Processors.
Now only AMD processors will fit in an AMD processor socket.
Same for Intel, and the same for VIA.
2) Ram Memory:
Ram Memory comes in a Module. Often referred to as 'Stick'
The Ram Memory modules sit down in a ram Slot.
Correct computer speak is Bank. Each slot is a Bank.
Ram Memory modules are specific in the number of contact pins on the bottom of them.
(Gold plated contact pins)
SDR Sdram, often just referred to as Sdram, has 168 contact pins. 82 on each side.
(Single Data Rate Sdram {Sychronous Dynamic Random Access Memory)
The bottom of the ram memory module also has Two Locating Notches.
DDR Sdram has 184 contact pins. 92 on each side. One Locating Notch
DDR2 Sdram has 240 contact pins. 120 on each side. One Locating Notch
DDR3 Sdram has 240 contact pins. 120 on each side. The Locating notch is in a different place than the DDR2 Sdram ram module.
3) Expansion slots:
An add-in card is a small circuit board. This can refer to a,
A) Graphics Card, (Graphics Adapter Card, or also known as Video Adapter Card)
B) A Modem Card (Again, > adapter has been dropped off)
C) A Sound Card (Audio) {Adapter has been dropped off)
D) Ethernet Card
Or a number of other technologies used.
The add-in card is inserted into the appropriate expansion slot.
4) Motherboard Chipset:
Chip and Chipset are slang terms for I.C.
Integrated Circuit.
The motherboard chipset consists of the Northbridge chip, and the Southbridge chip.
[NOTE*
This does not apply to new technology used for the Intel Core i3. i5, i7, and i9 processors ]
The Northbridge chip handles the faster capabilities of the computer
The Northbridge chip supports;
A) What Processor is used.
B) What Ram Memory is used
C) High-speed graphics.
{High-speed graphics is considered to be AGP, or PCI-Express. Not a graphics card inserted into a PCI slot, nor Integrated Graphics }
The Southbridge chip supports the slower capabilities of the computer.
D) Any add-in card inserted into a PCI slot
E) Integrated Graphics
F) IDE (PATA) and SATA harddrives
G) USB ports
H) Data coming from the Super I/O chip, and it's associated hardware connected to it.
(The Northbridge chip is connected to the Southbridge chip by the Front Side Bus. {FSB}
Think of the FSB as an 'Information Highway'.
Data {Information} is transferred to the Northbridge from the Southbridge, and to the Southbridge from the Northbridge, via the FSB.
The Southbridge chip is connected to the Super I/O chip by the Internal Bus.
Motherboard Diagram;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Motherboard_diagram.svg(CPU = Central Processing Unit. Another term used is Microprocessor, or simply Processor for short. It Does Not refer to the computer as a unit)
This shows a typical motherboard, and refers to the different parts of it,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Acer_E360_Socket_939_motherboard_by_Foxconn.svgI invite you to type the following terms in the search box on Wikipedia, and learn more about the parts of the Motherboard, and the technology of the different parts of the motherboard, and the associated hardware that goes on the motherboard,
1) CPU socket
2) Bus (computing)
3) Expansion Card
3) AGP
4) PCI Express
5) BIOS
6) Northbridge (computing)
7) Southbridge (computing)
8) GPU
9) Harddrive
10) Sata
11) Integrated Drive Electronics
12) Motherboard
Also click on any word, or term in blue in the page/s, and click on the links at the bottom.
This may help to understand the different parts of a Motherboard, (Mainboard), also,
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/motherboard.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/
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