The motherboard contains the electrical connections for communication with other system components. The base is connected, the central processing unit and other subsystems and electronic devices.
A typical desktop computer has a microprocessor, RAM and other essential components connected to the motherboard. It can be attached to other components, such as external storage devices, controllers for video card, sound card and other peripheral devices, although modern computers have integrated all these peripherals.
An important component of the motherboard chipset is support for the microprocessor, which acts as the interface between the microprocessor and data bus between the various external components. This chipset determines, to an extent, the motherboard features and capabilities.
Modern motherboards include, at least:
an outlet (socket) or microprocessor slots that can be installed one or more microprocessors. There are cases in which the microprocessor is bonded directly to the motherboard.
slots in the system memory is installed (usually in the form of DIMM modules containing DRAM memory chips)
chipset, which is the bus that connects the microprocessor, RAM and peripherals
a chipset for non-volatile memory (usually flash memory on modern motherboards) containing system firmware or BIOS
an internal clock, which produces synchronizing the various components
expansion card slots (data bus interface chipsets supported)
power connectors that receive electricity from the power source and a distributed microprocessor, chipset, RAM and expansion cards, graphics cards (eg GeForce 8 and Radeon R600) that require more power than can offer motherboard – so are additional connectors to attach directly to the power source. (There are drives connected to the power source through special connectors.)
Octek Jaguar V motherboard from 1993. This board has 6 ISA slots peripherals.
In addition, nearly all motherboards include connectors to support programs and devices used for input, such as two connectors for mouse and keyboard PS.
Given the high power microprocessors for high-speed computation and components, modern motherboards nearly always include heat sinks and mounting points for fans to dissipate excess heat.