PCI & ISA slots

• Peripheral Component Interconnect (in white) is a bus where hardware devices are attached inside the computer. Common PCI cards are modems, sounds, USB, and network. USB works similarly to PCI slots.

• Industry Standard Architecture slots (in black) were developed before PCI and works like them, as a bus, only they do not hold as much data. This may be why there are more PCI slots than ISA slots on the mother board.

L1 & L2 Cache

• Level 2: a secondary cache module with fast memory, SRAM, is now integrated into the main processor.

• L2 Cache operates faster than L1 b/c it separately stores recently accessed data.

• Level 1: A module that stores frequently accessed data. Data is saved to a main memory as well as in the cache for easier access.

Expansion Slots

• These easy-to-use slots help transfer data b/w the CPU and a peripheral.

• You can plug in (audio, video) and play!

Power Connector

• It is exactly as its name says: this is where power comes from.

• Usually come in the form of 24-pin cables, though some sockets may have 20-pin

Chipset

• Responsible for transferring info to and from all circuits, adapter card connectors and disk drives.

• The northbridge directs info within the CPU system, and the southbridge directs peripheral info in and out of the system.

IDE Connector Ports

• Integrated Drive Electronics connects the motherboard to the hard drive

CPU Socket Heatsink Mount

• Central Processing Unit, the brains of the entire system.

SATA Connectors

• Serial Advanced Technology Attachment connectors are faster and smaller than ATA connectors

• Serial buses carry data in bit form.

Memory Sockets

• Memory modules are housed here, and are colored coded. They can be placed together as seen in the picture or spaced out.

What is the purpose of the bus?

• A wired pathway b/w the two main components: RAM and the CPU.

• It transfers data from one place to another, which is either inside the the system or outside, via a cable.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Back Panel of a Computer

• Parallel Port connects to a printer• LAN ports link to the internet• Audio: blue = input/green= output • Speakers: black=rear &

gray=middle surround sound• Mic- mono or stereo• USB ports connect peripheral

hardware (camera, ext. hard drive)• Serial Port connect to peripheral

hardware (like a projector)• PS/2 keyboard (purple) and mouse

(green) are 6 pin connectors.• SPDIF: yellow= in/orange= out for

digital audio and video interfaces