 History of Motherboards

Before the invention of microprocessors, computers were built into

mainframes with components which were connected by a backplane
that had countless slots for connecting wires. In old designs, wires were
needed to connect card connector pins but they soon became a thing of
the past with the invention of PCBs. The CPU, memory and other
peripherals were all housed on this printed circuit board.
 During the late 1980s and 1990s, it was found that an increasing
number of peripheral functions on the PCB were more economical.
Hence, single Integrated Circuits (ICs) capable of supporting low-
speed peripherals like serial ports, mouse, keyboards, etc., were
included on a motherboard. By the late 1990s, they began to have a
multifaceted platform integrated with audio, video, storage and
networking functions. Higher end systems for 3D gaming and graphic
cards were also included later.
 Micronics, Mylex, AMI, DTK, Orchid Technology, Elitegroup, etc. were
some of the few companies that were the early pioneers in the field of
motherboard manufacturing where companies
like Apple and IBM soon took over. They offered top grade,
sophisticated devices that included upgraded features and superior
performance levels over the prevailing ones.
 A motherboard is a complex printed circuit board (PCB), which
is the main central part of many electronic systems, particularly
computers. They are alternately known as mainboard, system
board, or logic board (Apple Computers). It is a platform that
offers electrical connections through which other components of
a computer communicate, and also houses the central processing
unit (CPU), generally referred to as the brain of the computer.
 Motherboards are also present in mobile phones, clocks, stop
watches, etc. They include a lot of essential components of a
computer such as a microprocessor, main memory, and the
microprocessor's supporting chipset that provides an interface
between the CPU and other external components.
 This vital piece of technology revolutionized the way computer
systems were later designed. The earlier versions weren't as
efficient and dependable. Today's motherboards contain more or
less of the following parts:
 Expansion card slots.
 Many computers come with a CPU directly welded to the
motherboard.
 Logic and connectors that support input devices.
 They come with power connectors that use the electricity
from a computer power supply to run the expansion cards,
memory, CPU, and chipset.
 Integrated sound card.
 Slots or sockets that allow one or multiple microprocessors
to be installed.
 A clock generator is a vital component that sets the system
clock signal to help sync itself to a variety of components.
 There are non-volatile memory chips that contain BIOS or
firmware of the system.
 Graphic card supporter with 2D and 3D graphic
capabilities.
 USB controllers that can support about 12 USB ports.
 Timeline of Various Computer Components
1967: The first floppy disk is created by IBM.
1970: The first microprocessor is released by Intel, called the 4004. Shortly
after, Intel announces the release of the first random-access memory (RAM),
called the 1103.
1972: The invention of the compact disc.
1974: The 8080 microprocessor is released by Intel.
1975: Introduction of Apple I, (the company Apple Computer was founded by
Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs) a device that consists of a motherboard, a
keyboard, and a display.
1977: The first commercial network ARCNET is developed, where Apple II takes
the market by storm with the first personal computer that integrates the use of
colored graphics.
1980: Paul Allen and Bill Gates are hired by IBM to create DOS. Microsoft in
the same year licenses UNIX and starts to develop a PC version called XENIX.
1987: Elitegroup Computer Systems Co. Ltd. is established in Taiwan and
becomes the largest supplier of motherboards in the world.
1989: AsusTek, one of Taiwan's top companies, starts manufacturing graphic
cards.
1993: First International Computer Inc. becomes the largest motherboard
manufacturer in the world.
1997: Intel Corp. plans to add to its monopoly a microprocessor, by
manufacturing motherboards.
2000: ATI Technologies Inc. announces graphic cards technology, an
advancement in computer graphics.
2007: AsusTek becomes the world's largest maker of computer motherboards.
 Since the motherboard's inception, technology has
grown in leaps and bounds to accommodate the needs
of the modern-day man with faster, lighter, and high-
end capabilities. The need to reinvent and advance
further has only been made possible through the
working geniuses behind each technological
introduction. With every passing year we see more
innovations break through the market, with others
battling it out to top off the best. With time, we will be
fortunate enough to be able to witness a revolutionary
change in the face of technology within this lifetime.