Exploring the Motherboard and Busses
Module 3 Short Answer Assignment

The major components of a computer mother board are the processor, memory, chipset, expansion slots, and IO bank. The Processor is the brain of the computer. The processor is the chip where all of the computing is completed. The processor is usually removable and inserted into a socket. The processor can be attached directly to the mother board. The processor is normally protected by a heat sink which assists in removing heat and protects the processor from burning out.
The memory is where the computers stores all of the information. The computer memory is usually installed on a board called a SIMMs. SIMMs stands for Single Inline Memory Module. Single Inline Memory Modules come in different sizes. These sizes include 2G, 4G, 8G, and up. You can have one memory installed on a board or you can have multiple memory installed. The amount of memory that is allowed on a board depends on various factors. These factors include the processor, the board itself, and the BIOS. The memory is usually removable.
The chipset is a term that refers to a chip or a set of chips. The Chipset is a link between the processor and the outside world. The chipset controls the USB ports, keyboard, mouse, and hard drives. The Chipset generates the sound that the computer makes. The Chipset creates the images that you see in the screen. The Chipset is usually attached directly to the mother board and usually has heat sinks attached to them.
The Expansion Slots are connectors that allow you to attach cards on the computer. These cards include sound cards, video cards, and modems. The Expansion Slots add abilities to the computer that the mother board does not provide. As more functions are being added to the chipset fewer expansion slots are needed.
The IO bank is a set of connectors that allows various devices to be connected to the computer. These devices include the mouse, keyboard, monitor, flash drives, hard drives, and printers. The IO bank also connects the computer to the network. The IO bank is usually located at the back of the motherboard. They can occasionally be scattered throughout the motherboard.
When upgrading the motherboard you will get some performance improvements to your computer but the improvement may be limited. This improvement may be limited because you have to upgrade more than just the motherboard to improve your speed among other improvements. You will also need to upgrade the RAM to get good all-around system improvement.
There is a need for all the different busses found on a motherboard and they cannot be replaced with a single bus. The computer busses are cycle rate, device management, and data width and device type. The cycle rate and data width determine the amount of data the bus can transmit. The device management determines the number of supported devices and the difficulty of configuring the devices. The memory bus is the interface between the mother board and RAM. You cannot replace these buses with only one bus because there isn’t a bus fast enough to handle the work of all the busses at the same time and be sufficient.
Now that a 64 bit system is available, a 32 bit system is still provided. The 32 bit system is still provided because there are still a number of programs that run on a 32 bit system.