11 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S.

Baqer

5. Motherboard
5.1: What is a Motherboard.
The computer is built on top of a motherboard. The motherboard is one of the
most important components in the PC. It is a large Printed Circuit Board (PCB), having many
chips, as in figure (1-10). connectors and other electronics mounted on it. The motherboard
is the hub, which is used to connect all the essential components of a computer. The RAM,
hard drive, disk drives and optical drives are all plugged into interfaces on the motherboard.
The motherboard contains the processor, memory chips, interfaces and sockets, etc.

There different kinds of motherboards depending on the form factor, chipset and
type of processor socket used. Form factor refers to the motherboard’s geometry,
dimensions, and arrangement of components. Different standards have been developed to
build motherboards, which can be used in different brands of cases. ATX is the most
common design of motherboard for desktop computers. Chipset is a circuit, which controls
the majority of resources. As the chipset is integrated into the motherboard, it is important
to choose a motherboard, which includes a recent chipset, in order to maximize the
computer’s ability to upgrade. The processor socket may be a rectangular connector into
which the processor is mounted vertically (slot), or a square-shaped connector with many
small connectors into which the processor is directly inserted (socket). The Basic Input
Output System (BIOS) and Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) are also
located on the motherboard. But what are BIOS and CMOS?
12 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

BIOS: It is the basic program used as an interface between the operating system and the
motherboard. The BIOS Figure (1-11) is stored in the ROM and cannot be rewritten. When
the computer is switched on, it needs instructions to start. BIOS contain the instructions for
the starting up of the computer. The BIOS runs when the computer is switched on. It
performs a Power-On-Self-Test (POST) that checks that the hardware is functioning properly
and the hardware devices are present. It checks whether the operating system is present
on the hard drive. BIOS can be configured using an interface named BIOS setup, which can
be accessed when the computer is starting up by pressing a key on the keyboard.

CMOS Chip: BIOS ROMs are accompanied by a smaller CMOS (CMOS is a type of memory
technology) memory chip. When the computer is turned off, the power supply stops
providing electricity to the motherboard. When the computer is turned on again, the
system still displays the correct clock time. This is because the CMOS chip saves some
system information, such as time, system date and essential system settings. CMOS is kept
powered by a button battery located on the motherboard. The CMOS chip is working even
when the computer power is switched off. As in figure (1-12).
13 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

5.2. Ports and Interfaces

Motherboard has a number of I/O sockets that are connected to the ports and interfaces
found on the rear side of a computer (Figure (1-13)). You can connect external devices
to the computer’s motherboard through these ports and interfaces.
• Serial Port— to connect old devices.
• Parallel Port— to connect old printers.
• USB Ports—to connect newer peripherals like cameras, scanners and printers to the
computer.
• RJ45 connector (called LAN or Ethernet port) is used to connect the computer to a
network such as the Internet.
• VGA connector for connecting a monitor.
• HDMI connector for connecting a newer types monitor.
• Audio plugs for connecting sound speakers and the microphone.
• PS/2 port to connect older types of mouse and keyboard into PC.

Ports and Interfaces

14 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

5.3. The expansion slots

• ISA slot—To connect modem and input devices.
• PCI slot—To connect audio, video and graphics. They are much faster than ISA
cards.
• AGP slot—A fast port for a graphics card.
• PCI Express slot—Faster bus architecture than AGP and PCI buses.

5.4. Ribbon and SATA Cables

insulated and consist of several tiny wires grouped together that carry data to different
components on the motherboard. They also connect the floppy drives, disk drives and
CD-ROM drive to the connectors in the motherboard. As in figure (1-15).
Nowadays, Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) cables have replaced the
ribbon cables to connect the drives to the motherboard.
 15 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

6. Primary and Secondary Memory

Computer memory is simply the computer’s brain where data and information are
stored for easy retrieval. Memory is the computer’s storage space temporarily or
permanently stores data or programs. Learn what primary and secondary memory are,
the types of primary and secondary storage, and the difference between primary and
secondary memory.

The comparison Between the Primary Memory and Secondary Memory.

Comparison Primary Memory Secondary Memory
Parameters
Storage validity Primary memory is the main memory and Secondary memory is the external
stores data temporarily. memory and stores data permanently.
Access The CPU can directly access the data. The CPU cannot directly access the data.
Volatility Primary memory is volatile. It loses data in
Secondary memory is non-volatile; data is
case of a power outage. stored even during a power failure.
Storage Data is stored inside costly semiconductor
Data is stored on external hardware
chips. devices like hard drives, floppy disks, etc.
Division It can be divided into RAM and ROM They do not have such a classification.
Secondary memories are permanent
storage devices like CDs, DVDs, etc.
Speed Faster Slower
Stored data It saves the data that the computer is It can save various types of data in various
currently using. formats and huge sizes.
16 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

6.1. Primary Memory?

Primary memory is the internal memory of a computer system. It stores and retrieves
data, instructions, and information. The CPU directly and randomly accesses primary
memory; hence primary memory is also referred to as Random Access Memory or RAM.
It is a volatile memory and loses data and instructions when the power turns off.
6.1.1. Types of Primary Memory
• RAM (Random Access Memory)
Random Access Memory or RAM is usually provided as the computer system’s main
memory. It is also regarded as temporary or cache memory constantly being written to
and read. You will lose information saved in primary memory when the power supply of
the computer or laptop turns off. Simply put, RAM is a primary memory from which you
can only read information.
• ROM (Read-Only Memory)
ROM is a non-volatile memory containing data that we cannot change. In this case,
information is not lost when the power supply is turned off. The computer manufacturer
determines ROM information. It is permanently stored at the time of manufacture so
that the user cannot overwrite it, as in figure (1-17).

6.1.2. Primary Memory Characteristics

• The computer cannot function without primary memory.
• Primary memory is also known as the main memory.
• You may lose data in case the power is off
• Also known as volatile memory
• It is the working memory of the computer.
• It is faster as compared to secondary memory.
17 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

• Examples: RAM, ROM, cache, PROM, EPROM, registers, etc.

6.2. Secondary Memory?
Secondary memory is a storage device that the CPU cannot access directly. It is a
permanent storage device.
The CPU accesses these devices through an input/output channel. The data first
transfers to primary from secondary storage before its assessment. Modern computers
often use hard drives and optical storage devices (CDs, DVDs) as secondary storage
devices. As in figure below.
A secondary storage device organizes data into files and directories based on a file
system. It also allows the user to access or use additional information like access
permissions, owner, last access time, etc. Also, secondary memory keeps less used data
temporarily when primary memory gets full.
Secondary memory devices are less expensive and can store vast amounts of data, audio,
video, and multimedia files. Organizations can store the equivalent of a roomful of data
on disks that consume dramatically and significantly less physical space.

6.2.1. Types of Secondary Memory

• Solid-state storage devices, such as USB memory sticks.
• Optical storage devices, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.
18 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

• Examples: Magnetic storage devices include zip, floppy, and hard disk drives. As in
figure (1-18).
6.2.2. Secondary Memory Characteristics
• These are magnetic and optical memories.
• It is a type of non-volatile memory.
• Data is permanently stored even when the computer is turned off
• It helps store data on a computer
• The computer can function without secondary memory
• Slower than primary memory
• Examples: magnetic tapes, optical discs, floppy disks, flash memory [USB drives],
paper tape, punched cards, etc.
Comparison Between Primary and Secondary Memories
• Primary memory is the computer’s main memory and stores data temporarily.
• Secondary memory is external memory and saves data permanently.
• Data stored in primary memory can be directly accessed by the CPU, which cannot
be accessed in secondary memory.
• Primary memory is lost during a power outage, while secondary memory saves
the data.
• Secondary memory is non-volatile, while primary memory is volatile.
• Primary memory is stored on semiconductor chips, while secondary memory is
stored on external devices.
• Primary memory is classified into cache and random-access memory, while
secondary memory has no such categories.
• Secondary memory can save data in various formats that can be accessed
anytime, while primary memory uses the computer’s current data
• Primary memory is faster.

Both types of memory have several differences. Although different, they work together
for the computer to run smoothly. Primary memory itself can’t save more than a few
gigabytes of data, but secondary memory fills that gap by providing up to a terabyte of
space. While the latter lags in processing data, the primary memory is faster and easily
accessible.
19 Computer Technology and Architecture /By M.Tech Shubbar S. Baqer

Both primary and secondary memories are crucial for a computer’s effortless and
efficient functioning, and they complement each other. I hope this article helped you to
differentiate between primary and secondary memory or we can say understand the
difference between primary and secondary storage.