Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Photo by Snickerdo; licensed under Creative Commons.
Figure.2 5
PCI and PCIe slots in a motherboard.
Photo by Bastiaan van den Berg; licensed under Creative Commons.
Figure.2 6
A PCI Express Mini Card.
Built-in Components
Motherboards can also have built-in components for video, audio, and
networking. Having these components built in means that you don't
need to buy separate circuit boards for those capabilities, and you don't
need expansion slots for such cards.
Each of those three built-in components has its own external
ports built into the motherboard. The display adapter may
have a
Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
connector, a
Video
Graphics Adapter (VGA)
connector, or both. DVI is the newer, digital
type of monitor connector used with digital monitors (which include
most flat-screen LCD monitors); VGA is the older, analog type used
with the boxy older CRT style of monitor and with some older or
inexpensive LCD monitors.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI)
A digital port
for connecting a monitor to a PC.
Video Graphics Adapter
An analog port for
connecting a monitor to a PC.
