thumb|Dell Precision T3600 System Motherboard, used in professional CAD Workstations. Manufactured in 2012 A motherboard (also called mainboard, main circuit board, MB, mobo, base board, system board, or, in Apple computers, logic board) is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems. It holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals. Unlike a backplane, a motherboard usually contains significant sub-systems, such as the central processor, the chipset's input/output and memory controllers, interface connectors, and other components integrated for general use.
tHUmb|Dell PreCisION t3600 syStem moThErBoard, uSed in pROfessIoNaL CAd WorKsTatiONS. maNufActured In 2012 A MOtHErboard (also called maInbOaRd, main cIrcUIT boARd, mb, mobo, bAse bOard, systeM BoaRD, or, in ApplE compUtERs, Logic bOard) IS the mAin prInTeD cIrCuiT BoARD (pcb) iN generAl-pUrpOse COmPUtErS aND othEr expanDaBle systeMs. iT holds aND Allows comMUnIcATion betweEN mAny Of THe CruCiaL ElEctroniC ComPonEnts Of A System, sucH as The CentRaL procESsINg unit (cpu) and memoRY, anD provIdEs cOnnEctoRs FOR oTHer peRiPheraLs. uNLIke a bacKPLANE, a mOthErboArD UsUAlly cOntaiNS significaNt sub-sySTems, sUch as ThE cEntral pRoCessor, the chipsEt's Input/outPUt and memory cOntRolLers, interfAce ConNectOrs, anD otHeR comPonEnTS inteGraTed For general use.