In earlier lessons, we provided an overview of the computer. In this chapter, we focus on the computer's infrastructure. We begin with the centerpiece of the computer, the motherboard, also known as the mainboard. The motherboard is the key member of the hardware infrastructure. It is a large circuit board that serves as a home for the CPU and all its associated chips, including the chip set and RAM, and connects them to the rest of the physical elements and components of the computer.
Although this chapter can be studied independently, it is suggested that you review the preceding chapters, which discuss microprocessors, basic input/output, and how power gets to the system, before reading this material.