móðurborðinu

Móðurborðið, also known as a motherboard or mainboard, is the central printed circuit board in a computer. It serves as the primary connection point for all other components, allowing them to communicate with each other and the central processing unit (CPU). Without a motherboard, a computer would be a collection of individual parts unable to function as a cohesive unit.

Key elements of a motherboard include the CPU socket, which holds the processor; the RAM slots, where memory modules are installed; expansion slots like PCI Express, which allow for the addition of graphics cards, sound cards, and other peripherals; and various connectors for storage devices (hard drives and SSDs), power supply, and input/output ports. The chipset, a group of integrated circuits, manages data flow between the CPU, memory, and peripherals.

The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) is firmware stored on a chip on the motherboard. It initializes hardware during the boot process and loads the operating system. Motherboards come in various sizes and form factors, such as ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX, which determine the number of expansion slots and overall physical dimensions, influencing case compatibility. The choice of motherboard is crucial for system performance, expandability, and compatibility with other hardware components.