The Motherboard
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The motherboard (or: mainboard) is the largest and most
important circuit board in the computer. All computer parts are
either located on, or to be connected with, the motherboard. All
communication inside the computer (referred to as I/O tasks)
runs across its printed circuits.
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Motherboards for PCs are more or less standardized in size to
make them fit. They differ a lot in their degree of complexity,
though: Some motherboards include graphic adaptors, sound cards,
or even modems, whereas others don't even have a storage
controller.
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Microstar MS-6339 motherboard.
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Everything that is already included in the motherboard is
referred to as being "onboard". In the mainboard pictured
above, only an ordinary storage controller is onboard;
sound card and network card can be inserted into one of the
five vertical expansion slots (PCI slots) on the left.
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