Processor Socket

• The processor socket is the motherboard component that a computer's CPU plugs in to. Sockets are designed for use with specific processor models, though some sockets support multiple models within the same processor family. Motherboards typically feature a fan power port located near the processor socket to provide power for the processor's heat sink fan. The design of a motherboard takes into account the type of processor socket used on the board, providing holes for screws or mounting brackets in the proper configuration used by the processor's heat sink.
  
  

RAM Ports

• RAM ports allow computer memory to be connected to the motherboard for use by the CPU. The type of RAM ports used determines which type of memory is compatible with the motherboard; different memory standards have different physical designs, resulting in specific types of memory modules typically being compatible with only one type of RAM port. The number of RAM ports determines the maximum number of memory modules that can be installed in the computer.
  
  

Interface Ports

• Motherboards may feature a number of different interface ports used to connect peripheral components such as DVD burners and hard drives. The most common types of interface ports featured on motherboards are ports for IDE ribbon cables and serial ATA cables, both of which are used to transfer data to and from hard drives and other storage media. Data is loaded into system memory from hard drives and media, after which the CPU accesses the data from within memory.
  
  

Expansion Ports

• Expansion ports on a motherboard include the PCI and PCI Express ports used to install video cards and sound cards for the computer. Several expansion port types such as PCI, AGP and ISA may be available on a motherboard, though modern motherboards typically only feature PCI, PCI Express, PCI Express x16 or PCI Express 2.0 ports. These ports allow for easy upgrades to a computer with the upgrade card simply sliding into the port and locking into place.
  
  

BIOS Chip

• A motherboard's BIOS chip determines the type of BIOS used with the computer. BIOS is the basic input/output system that allows a computer to boot, initializing the various installed components and launching the operating system boot sequence. BIOS updates are installed to the BIOS chip instead of being installed locally on a hard drive, overwriting the previous BIOS version with updated information. A battery typically accompanies the BIOS chip, providing the chip with power so that it can retain its settings even when the computer is turned off or unplugged.