This is the first in a series of articles about the parts inside a computer. And what better part to start with than the motherboard, also called main board or system board (logic board for Apple computers). In the context of computers, if you ever see the term mobo being used, that is what is referring to (motherboard).

So what is a motherboard anyways? If you’ve ever seen the inside of many electronic devices, computers included, you’ve probably seen a thin plastic-looking green (although it can also be blue and red) board with copper color lines running through it. That is a printed circuit board. Thanks to our friend Eisler, it has been used in radios, TVs, etc., since the 1950’s. In computers, a motherboard is the main printed circuit board, to which normally all the other components inside a computer are attached, one way or another, thus populating it. All the other components that will be covered in future articles on this series are parts attached to it.

So what does it do? It provides electric connectivity to the various other parts of a computer. Think of it as a city, with streets that take you from one destination to another (or watch the movie Tron and you will see a perfect animated illustration for it). Obviously it also provides other components mechanical support (holds all other parts together).

That’s pretty much it. Perhaps the most basic and fundamental part inside a computer, the motherboard.