A motherboard is the main circuit board that holds and connects all the components of a computer system. It contains the CPU socket, memory slots, expansion slots, connectors for peripherals and power supply. Key components include the northbridge and southbridge chips, BIOS chip, and connectors for devices like graphics cards, hard drives, and expansion cards.

2. PCI Slot
(x3)
CMOS
Backup
Battery
Connectors for
integrated
peripherals
Southbridge
AGP Slot IDE
Connector
(x2)
20-pin ATX
Power
Connector
DRAM
Memory Slot
CPU Socket
CPU
Northbridge
What is a motherboard?
A motherboard is the main printed circuit board which
holds everything and all of its needs. The motherboard
also holds links which enables data to travel amongst the
various components on the board.
CPU (Central Processing Unit): The
computers brain that tells the computer
what to do and when to do it.
CPU Socket: Where the CPU slots in.
DRAM Memory Slot: Dynamic random
access memory.
20-pin ATX Power Connector: It connects the
computer power supply to an ATX style
motherboard.
IDE Connector: Standard interface for IBM
compatible hard drives.
AGP Slot: Accelerated graphics port.
Southbridge: ½ of the chips in the core logic
chipset – implements the slower capabilities
of the motherboard.
CMOS Backup Battery: The small amount of
memory on the motherboard that stores the
BIOS settings.
PCI Slot: Used to add extension cards to a
machine.
Northbridge: Chips that connect a CPU to
memory, the PCI bus, level 2 cache and AGP
activities.
Integrated peripherals: peripheral device
that is housed within the main container of
the computer e.g. USB slot.

3. What is a CPU?
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit and is
known for being the brain of a computer or also
referred to as the processor. The CPU tells
everything what to do for example if you told the
computer to do something this process will go
through the CPU to make sure it works properly.

4. What is a BIOS?
BIOS stands for Basic Input/output System. BIOS is
a type of firmware embedded on a chip on a
computers motherboard that recognizes and
controls various devices that make up the
computer during the booting process on IBM PC
compatible computers. BIOS is put in place to
ensure a computer works fully and correctly. BIOS
is the first software that PC’s run when powered
on.

5. What are cooling systems?
Within a computer system electronic components can generate a lot
of heat which in-turn can damage the components. Therefore, cooling
systems are put in place to prevent the components getting damaged.
Different cooling systems:
- Case Fan: A case fan makes the cooling process more efficient and
speeds up the process.
- Heat Sink: A heat sink draws any heat away from the core of the
CPU; the heat sink may also have a fan on top which moves the
heat away from the CPU completely.
- Fans: Fans can be dedicated to cool the GPU (Graphics-processing
Unit)
Case Fan
CPU Fan
Heat Sink

6. ROM - Read-Only Memory:
- ROM is memory containing
instructions that the computer uses
when it boots up, before the system
software loads.
- ROM is a memory system for example
a CD which can only be read but cant
be edited.
- ROM retains its contents when the
computer is turned off – no files or
memory is lost.
RAM - Random-Access Memory:
- RAM is used for temporarily storing
data and programs that are being
accessed by the CPU.
- RAM looses its content when a
computer is turned off therefore
everything is lost and it is known as
Volatile Memory.
- The bigger the RAM the bigger the
capacity which in turn can process
larger programs and files; the smaller
the RAM the smaller the capacity.

7. What is an adapter card?
Adapter cards increase the computers
functionality by adding specific controllers for the
device or by replacing the malfunctioning ports.
Adapter Cards Example?
- Sound & video adapter
- USB Ports
- Parallel and serial ports
- NIC (Network Interface Card), Wireless NIC and
modern adapters.
Expansion Slots Example?
- PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
- AGP (Advanced Graphics Port)
- PCI-Express
- Laptops (mini PCI)

8. What are storage devices?
Storage Devices are drives that read or write information to magnetic storage
media – allows you to read or write information onto a storage device.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD):
The Hard Disk Drive is a magnetic storage device *a magnetic storage device
has drive motors designed to spin magnetic platters and move the drive
heads when needed*. The storage within the HDD is measured in gigabytes
(GB) or terabytes (TB).
Solid State Drives (SSDs):
Solid State Drives is the same as a HDD but it has no moving parts therefore it
results in faster access to your data, making it more reliable and reduces the
power usage.
Floppy Disk Drive (FDD):
A floppy disk drive is a storage device that uses 3.5inch removable floppy disks
that can store up to 1.44MB of data.
Optical Drive:
An optical drive is a storage device which uses lasers in order to read the date
on the optical media. Optical drives can come in 3 different types a CD, DVD or
a BD (Blu-Ray)
Flash Drive:
A flash drive is a removable storage device that connects to a USB port. Flash
drives also don’t use a type of memory that requires power.

9. - A video port connects a monitor cable to the computer. Examples: DVI, DisplayPort, RCS, DB-15, RJ-45,
MiniHDMI, DIN-6.
- Display cables transfer video signals from the computer to display devices. Examples: HDMI (High
Definition Multimedia Interface, DVI, VGA (Video Graphics Array), Component/RGB, Composite, S-Video,
Coaxial, Ethernet.
- Serial Ports transmit bits of data one by one.
- A telephone cable (RJ11) is used to connect a modem to a telephone outlet.
- USB is a standard interface for connecting transferable devices to a computer. Some devices can also be
powered through the USB port for example a phone or camera.
- FireWire is a high-speed, hot swappable interface that can support up to 63 devices. Some devices can
also be powered through the FireWire port.
- Parallel cable is used to connect parallel devices such as a printer or scanner ect and can transmit 8
pieces of data at one time.
- SCSI Port can transmit data at rates around 320 Mbps and can support up to 15 devices. SCSI devices
must be terminated at each endpoint of the SCSI chain.
- Network Port (RJ-45 port) connects a computer to a network (Wifi).
- PS/2 port connect a keyboard and mouse to a computer.
- Audio port connects audio devices to the computer.
- Video port connects a monitor cable to a computer.

10. - Scanner: A scanner is a device that capture images from
photographs, posters, magazine pages, documents ect in order
to view and edit the various sources on a computer.
- Keyboard: A keyboard is a piece of computer hardware which
is used in order to input text, characters and other commands
onto a computer or various other similar devices.
- Digital Camera: A digital camera is a device used to digitally
capture images rather than recording them on a film. A digital
camera also gives you the ability to transfer and download
these images onto a computer to edit, share and carry out
various other processes.
- Pointing Device (mice): A pointing device is a device in which
you can control the movement of the pointer to select items on
a display screen (eg computer screen) – it allows you to
navigate around the computer system.

11. - Plotter: A plotter is a printer that interprets commands from a
computer to make line drawings on paper with one or more
automated pens. This is also used when using programs such as
CSD and CAD. Plotter is used to print designs for things such as
building plans, machines and boats ect.
- Printer: A printer is a device that accepts text and graphic
output from a computer and transfers the information onto a
paper in order to view physically as well as manually.
- Monitor: A monitor is a piece of computer hardware that
displays video and graphics information that is generated by
the computer through a video card. Monitors are similar to TV
however they display information at higher resolutions.
- Projector: A projector is a device that can take images
generated by a computer and reproduce them onto a large, flat
surfaces.

12. - Optical Cable (Fibre optic): An optical fibre cable is a cable
containing one or more optical fibres that are used to carry
light and transmit data. Fibre optical cables carry more data
than metal cables due to a much grater bandwidth, data can be
transmitted digitally rather than analogically, and fibre cables
also increase the speed of the computer and its internet
connection.
- Coaxial Cable: A coaxial cable is the type of cable that is used
by cable TV’s that is commonly used for data communications.
Data is transmitted through the centre wire which runs parallel
to the outer braided layer which serves as a line to ground.
- Twisted-Pair Cable: A twisted-pair cable consists of two
independently insulated wires twisted around one another.
Twisted-pair cables are used by telephone networks and helps
to reduce crosstalk and electromagnetic induction.