Why are motherboards called motherboards?

Answer 1

Because all components of the computer are connected to, and through the motherboard. It is called a motherboard because it contains all the other components that makes an electronic function. It is much like the term "mothership." That is a ship (whether a spaceship or a nautical ship) where many other ships are docked.

Computer components are often referenced by gender. Female components can accept inputs. (Connectors, Mini-DINS), male components can plug into other parts. For example a headphone jack would be female. The headphone plug (a TRS connector) would be male.

It's because a motherboard often has addon cards sometimes called children... all things connect to the motherboard, kinda like all people come from a mother.. get it.. it's a play on words.

Answer 2

The reason the motherboard is refereed to as the heart is because much like the heart in our body, it allows everything to function, a sort of gateway in which everything must run through to have life

Answer 3

Its called a motherboard because of its capability to extend its capabilities with the addition of "daughterboards" or add on cards.
see: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_a_motherboard_called_a_motherboard_and_not_a_fatherboard_Why_mother

Answer 4

The term mainboard is archaicly applied to devices with a single board and no additional expansions or capability. In modern terms this would include embedded systems, and controlling boards in telvisions, washing machines etc.

A motherboard specifically refers to a printed circuit with the capability to add/extend its performance/capabailities with the addition of "daughterboards".

Answer 5

Most people don't call a regular PC motherboard "a computer". The motherboard might be the central element of a computer, but it's only one part.

Someone might call a computer's motherboard a computer because that is the main circuit board. It is the part where everything else is attached. If you consider the CPU and memory to be parts of the motherboard, then you can say the motherboard does the most work.

With embedded computers, the motherboard literally is the entire computer, since it has the RAM, BIOS, CPU, chipset, network adapter, USB ports, and even a flash RAM "hard drive" or dedicated firmware. All that is needed is a monitor, keyboard, and a power pack or battery.

In certain special applications besides personal computers, the "computer" is essentially just a small motherboard. An engine computer is a motherboard that connects to the ignition system and to sensors and actuators. It usually has a BIOS, firmware, and nonvolatile memory (or RAM in some cases). A separate power supply is not needed since there is the battery and alternator. A display is not necessary as no information that is of use to end users, and there is no keyboard. An engine computer does have a peripheral bus/port used for attaching diagnostic equipment. The diagnostic machines are computers in their own right.

Answer 6

The motherboard of a computer is sometimes called the computer because that is the main circuit board. It is the part where everything else is attached. If you consider the CPU and memory to be parts of the motherboard, then you can say the motherboard does the most work.

In embedded computers, the motherboard literally is the entire computer, since it has the RAM, BIOS, CPU, chipset, network adapter, USB ports, and even a flash RAM "hard drive" or dedicated firmware. All that is needed is a monitor, keyboard, and a power pack or battery.

In special applications besides personal computers, the "computer" is essentially just a small motherboard. An engine computer is a motherboard that connects to the ignition system and to sensors and actuators. It usually has a BIOS, firmware, and nonvolatile memory (or RAM in some cases). A separate power supply is not needed since there is the battery and alternator. A display is not necessary as no user output is needed, and there is no keyboard. An engine computer does have a peripheral bus/port used for attaching diagnostic equipment which are computers in their own right.

Answer 7

A motherboard is called that because that is the central location for the computer's components, much like a mother ship. In the past, the motherboard components were on separate boards. Then it came clear that manufacturing costs could be reduced if they were all put on a single circuit board. Also, since it can hold peripheral cards, which are sometimes called daughter boards, it would make sense they are plugged into a mother board.

Answer 8

Because the motherboard takes all the inputs like audio, sata, pci express, usb and sends what needs to go to all the outputs ex: video, sound, data, internet, hard drive(input and output).

Answer 9

Because the daughter boards plug into it.

Answer 10

Most people don't call a motherboard "a computer". The motherboard might be the central element of a computer, but it's only one part.