Laajennuslevyt

Laajennuslevyt, known in English as expansion boards or add-on cards, are circuit boards that can be inserted into a slot on a computer's motherboard to add new functionality to the system. These cards allow users to customize their computers by adding capabilities that are not built into the motherboard itself.

Common examples of expansion boards include graphics cards, which enhance video processing capabilities for gaming and multimedia; sound cards, which improve audio output and input; network interface cards (NICs), which enable network connectivity; and storage controllers, which allow for the connection of additional hard drives or solid-state drives. Other less common expansion cards can provide specialized ports, such as USB ports, serial ports, or parallel ports, or offer features like video capture or TV tuning.

The expansion slots on a motherboard are typically standardized to accommodate different types of expansion boards. Historically, common standards included ISA, EISA, VESA Local Bus (VLB), and PCI. In modern computers, PCI Express (PCIe) is the dominant standard for expansion slots, offering significantly higher data transfer rates than its predecessors. When installing an expansion board, it must be compatible with the motherboard's slot type and the computer's operating system. The process usually involves physically inserting the card into the slot and then installing any necessary drivers software for the operating system to recognize and utilize the new hardware.