Everything about The Motherboard

The motherboard connects all the components together: The CPU, RAM, video card, the hard disk controller, and many other peripherals.

There are motherboards that allow data to travel faster between these components using new technologies, but the peripherals you install must be made to take advantage of these new technologies.

There are two different ways for data to be transferred between peripherals. These two ways are known as the PCI (32-bit) and ISA (8/16 bit) busses. A typical motherboard today is only equipped with PCI. Be sure not to confuse the two!

Another type of data bus is known as AGP (Advanced Graphics Port). There is only one of these ports on a motherboard and is used only for video cards.

PCI and AGP components cannot be mixed, they have different types of slots.

A PCI or AGP component on a PCI or AGP motherboard will transfer data at least four times faster than a regular component.

Click here for an interactive picture of a motherboard indicating its slots.

Article last reviewed: 12/23/2002

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