Motherboards

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Most computer users have probably heard the term motherboard, but if you are unfamiliar with the role of the motherboard within the overall PC architecture, or if you are not quite clear about the components that make up a motherboard, this page is a good place to start.

Definition of a motherboard
The motherboard is the primary printed circuit board in a PC. All of the basic circuitry and components required for a PC to function are either contained in or attached to the motherboard. The motherboard typically contains the system bus, processor and coprocessor sockets, memory sockets, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and peripheral controllers. The motherboard may be alternatively referred to as the mainboard, system board, or even maincard or mothercard, but regardless of what you call it, it is the central component that enables all of the other parts of a computer to mesh.

Components of a motherboard
The diagram below shows the component layout of a typical motherboard. Individual parts are numbered and are identified in the accompanying legend.

The motherboard's general size, layout, and component placement is known as the form factor. The example above is an ATX board, which is the most common form factor, but there are several other standard dimensions available.

Identifying your motherboard
Spot, our motherboard search engine, can help you look up your motherboard by part number, BIOS identification string, or FCC number. 

Information about your motherboard
Once you have identified your board, you can consult our manufacturer listings for information about your board. In addition to general company info, many of our expanded manufacturer listings also have links to specification sheets, manuals, and BIOS upgrades for specific motherboards.

Installing your motherboard
Step-by-step instructions to help you install your motherboard can be found in our Installation and How to Build a PC sections

Identifying a Motherboard