Parts of Motherboard

A socket is the part of the motherboard where you put the microprocessor. Most motherboards have one socket for a processor but you should not be surprised when you see motherboards with two or more sockets for a processor. The motherboard clock is the part of the motherboard which synchronizes the various components attached to the motherboard. The memory slots are used to attach the optional RAM chips or Random Access Memory chips. Aside from the optional memory slots, the motherboard also has mandatory memory for the system BIOS. There is a chipset on the motherboard that manages the buses. These buses are used for memory management. A motherboard also supplies power to the components attached to it. Modern motherboards have pre-installed heat sinks that will prevent overheating.

www.asus.com, shown above is the cooling fan for an Intel Core Duo 2 processor attached to an Asus motherboard. Having a cooling fan installed on your computer is certainly a good idea. You wouldn't want to keep changing your processor every now and then, right?  

There are more slots on the motherboard that are meant for integrated peripherals. You can install a CD-ROM drive or a DVD drive if you want. You can attach a 5.1 Sound Surround or a Dolby Digital sound card to your computer. You can attach a 64-bit video card if you want. There are also USB ports for flash drives and other plug and play devices. Motherboards usually have four USB ports but do not be surprised if you see six or more. There are slots on the motherboard for infrared devices. Finally, there are slots for network adaptors. You can attach a modem or any other network adaptor you think is best for your communication needs.