Lisälaajennuskortit

Lisälaajennuskortit, or expansion cards, are printed circuit boards that can be inserted into a slot on a computer's motherboard or other expansion bus to add new functionality or expand existing capabilities. These cards allow users to customize their computers by adding features that are not built into the motherboard. Common examples of expansion cards include graphics cards, sound cards, network interface cards, and USB expansion cards.

Graphics cards, also known as video cards or display adapters, are essential for outputting images to a monitor. They handle rendering complex graphics and are crucial for gaming, video editing, and other visually intensive tasks. Sound cards provide audio input and output capabilities, enabling users to play music, record audio, and experience surround sound. Network interface cards (NICs) allow computers to connect to a network, whether it's a local area network (LAN) or the internet, via Ethernet or wireless connections. USB expansion cards add more USB ports to a computer, which can be useful for connecting multiple peripherals like external hard drives, printers, and webcams.

The type of expansion slot used by a card determines its compatibility with a particular motherboard. Historically, common expansion buses included ISA, PCI, and AGP. Today, the most prevalent expansion slot is PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express), which offers high bandwidth and speed. The use of expansion cards allows for modular upgrades, meaning that specific components can be replaced or upgraded without needing to replace the entire computer. This provides flexibility and can extend the useful life of a system.