Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Technology

motherboard 319that had a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU)that could be programmed with whatever instructions wereneeded for each application. With the support of Moore andother Intel leaders, the project got the go-ahead. The resultwas the microprocessor, and it would revolutionize not onlycomputers, but just about every sort of electronic device(see microprocessor).Under the leadership of Moore, Grove, and Noyce, the1980s would see Intel established as the leader in microprocessors,starting when IBM chose Intel microprocessorsfor its hugely successful IBM PC. IBM’s competitors, suchas Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and later Dell, would also useIntel microprocessors for most of their PCs.In his retirement, Moore enjoyed fishing at his summerhome in Hawaii while being active as a philanthropist.Moore gave a record-setting $600 million donation toCaltech in 2001, and in 2003 Moore and his wife, Betty, setup a $5 billion foundation focusing on environmental andsocial initiatives. Moore has also had a long-time interest inSETI, or the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.Moore has been awarded the prestigious National Medalof Technology (1990), the IEEE Founders Medal, the W.W. McDonnell Award, as well as the Presidential Medal ofFreedom (2002). In 2003 Moore was elected a fellow of theAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science.Further ReadingBurgelman, Robert, and Andrew S. Grove. Strategy Is Destiny. NewYork: Simon & Schuster, 2001.“Calibrating Gordon Moore.” Caltech News 36 (2002). Availableonline. URL: http://pr.caltech.edu/periodicals/CaltechNews/articles/v36/moore.html. Accessed May 5, 2007.“Laying Down the Law.” Technology Review 104 (May 2001): 65.Available online. URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/12403/. Accessed October 3, 2007.Mann, Charles. “The End of Moore’s Law?” Technology Review 103(May 2000): 42. Available online. URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/12090/.Accessed October 3, 2007.motherboardLarge computers generally had separate large cabinets tohold the central processing unit (CPU) and memory (seemainframe). Personal computers, built in an era of integratedelectronics, use a single large circuit board to serveas the base into which chips and expansion boards areplugged. This base is called the motherboard.The motherboard has a special slot for the CPU (seemicroprocessor). Data lines (see bus) connect the CPU toRAM (see memory) and various device controllers. Besidescompactness, use of a motherboard minimizes the use ofpossibly fragile cable connections. It also provides expansioncapability. Assuming its pins are compatible with theslot and it is operationally compatible, a PC user can plug amore powerful processor into the slot on the motherboard,upgrading performance. Memory expansion is also providedusing a row of memory sockets. Memory, originallyinserted as rows of separate chips plugged into individualsockets, is now provided in single modules called DIMMsthat can be easily slid into place.Schematic of a PC motherboard. Note the sockets into which additionalRAM memory chips (DIMM) modules can be inserted, aswell as the slots for ISA and PCI standard expansion cards.The motherboard also generally includes about six general-purposeexpansion slots. These follow two differentstandards, ISA (industry standard architecture) and PCI(peripheral component interconnect) with PCI now predominating(see bus). These slots allow users to mix andmatch such accessories as graphics (video) cards, disk controllers,and network cards. Additionally, the motherboardincludes a chip that stores permanent configuration settingsand startup code (see bios), a battery, a system clock,and a power supply.The most important factors in choosing a motherboardare the type and speeds of processor it can accommodate,the bus speed, the BIOS, system chipset, memory and deviceexpansion capacity, and whether certain features (suchas video) are integrated into the motherboard or providedthrough plug-in cards. Generally, users must work withinthe parameters of their system’s motherboard, althoughknowledgeable people who like to tinker can buy a motherboardand build a system “from scratch” or keep their currentperipheral components and upgrade the motherboard.Further ReadingPalmer, Charlie. How to Build Your Own PC: Save a Buck and Learna Lot. West St. Paul, Minn.: HCM Publishing, 2005.Rosenthal, Morris. Build Your Own PC. 4th ed. Emeryville, Calif.:McGraw-Hill/Osborne, 2004.Soderstrom, Thomas. “Beginner’s Guide to Motherboard Selection.”Tom’s Hardware. Available online. URL: http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/26/beginners_guide_to_motherboard_selection/. Accessed August 15, 2007.Wilson, Tracy V. “How Motherboards Work.” Available online. URL:http://www.howstuffworks.com/motherboard.htm. AccessedAugust 15, 2007.