What is the function of motherboard to computer system?

Answer 1

The motherboard is where most of the processing takes place. The central Processor chip is nearly always on the motherboard. So too is the memory and supporting circuitry. ROM chips and connectors for the controlling switches are found here.

The motherboard usually has slots, or connectors for daughter boards, for additional i/o devices and other add ons (so the daughter boards work for the mother!). Devices which are made to be easily upgraded (swappable) can be put onto its own sub-board in an expansion slot. For example, video boards can be substantially speedier and more functional than another one, and it is convenient to be able to switch one without requiring swapping the entire motherboard (if the video was built into it). PCI is one type of connection to a daughter board. Other interfaces, like networking or sound or another processor, can be found on a daughter board.

In summary, the motherboard contains some critical components of the system, with connections to other devices to complete the system.

Answer 2

The motherboard is the main printed circuit board and contains the buses, or electrical pathways, found in a computer. These buses allow data to travel between the various components that comprise a computer. A motherboard is also known as the system board, the backplane, or the main board.

The motherboard accommodates the central processing unit (CPU), RAM, expansion slots, heat sink/fan assembly, BIOS chip, chip set, and the embedded wires that interconnect the motherboard components. Sockets, internal and external connectors, and various ports are also placed on the motherboard.

The form factor of motherboards pertains to the size and shape of the board. It also describes the physical layout of the different components and devices on the motherboard. Various form factors exist for motherboards.

An important set of components on the motherboard is the chip set. The chip set is composed of various integrated circuits attached to the motherboard that control how system hardware interacts with the CPU and motherboard. The CPU is installed into a slot or socket on the motherboard. The socket on the motherboard determines the type of CPU that can be installed.

The chip set of a motherboard allows the CPU to communicate and interact with the other components of the computer, and to exchange data with system memory, or RAM, hard disk drives, video cards, and other output devices. The chip set establishes how much memory can be added to a motherboard. The chip set also determines the type of connectors on the motherboard.

Most chip sets are divided into two distinct components, Northbridge and Southbridge. What each component does varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but in general the Northbridge controls access to the RAM, video card, and the speeds at which the CPU can communicate with them. The video card is sometimes integrated into the Northbridge. The Southbridge, in most cases, allows the CPU to communicate with the hard drives, sound card, USB ports, and other I/O ports.