A motherboard is the main component that connects all of the different parts of a computer. It is also known as a main board, mobo (abbreviation), MB or logic board. The motherboard is the main piece of hardware that holds everything in the computer together, and all of the expansions cards and ports connect to it directly or via cables. Motherboards are also found in laser printers, television sets, washing machines and mobile phones.
Motherboards boost the capabilities of computers by providing connections for additional devices and components. For example, a motherboard can include slots for additional memory modules and hard drives. It can also have USB ports for connecting external storage and peripherals. Moreover, some motherboards can allow the use of a high-end graphics card, which can increase performance in applications that require graphic computing.
To function properly, a motherboard must have an operating system. Most motherboards run a version of the Windows OS called BIOS (Basic Input/Output System). However, some motherboards are designed to support UEFI firmware, which has more features than traditional BIOS and provides a graphical user interface.
A motherboard has a lot of ports and connectors that are used to connect expansions cards, hard drives, optical drives and the power supply unit. It also has a CPU socket and slots for installing the processor. Most motherboards have heat sinks to help dissipate excess heat from the CPU and other hardware components. Some motherboards also have sensors that monitor temperature, voltage and fan speed.