L, L4T, L; Trgl

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13.1 What is the motherboard? A motherboard, also called the system board or main board, acts as the computer system's nerve center. Every computer system device plugs into, is controlled by, and depends on a computer's motherboard to communicate with other computer system devices. Delivering power from the power supply, providing data paths, and presenting sockets for attachments, the motherboard's integrated circuitry essentially determines the computer's power, function, and speed The Evolution of the Motherboard While the motherboard has changed physically over time, its basic structure has always remained primarily the same. Since the original PC, the motherboard has contained a computer's microprocessor, support devices, primary memory units, expansion slots, battery, and a bus system. Four common reasons that motherboards change are these: Microprocessors get smaller • New types of expansion slots emerge • New technologies emerge that make motherboards more efficient • Chip counts are reduced, compacted or combined When any of these components undergo a significant change, the motherboard also has to change in order to support and house the new technology. 13.2 Motherboard Form Factor Types Like computer power supplies and cases, motherboards are classified by their form factor type. Form factors essentially designate the motherboard's dimensions, positioning of components, mounting holes, and number of expansion slots it can hold. A motherboard in a computer must be of the same form factor as the computer's power supply and case form factor. For example, an ATX motherboard requires an ATX computer case. The following section will outline some of the characteristics of various motherboard form factors, stalling with those currently in use today. Current Motherboard Form Factors ATX (Advanced Technology eXtended) ATX was developed by Intel as an

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