Motherboard
Also: mainboard, mobo
The main board every other part plugs into. It decides which processor, memory, and cards you can use.
The fuller definition
The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects the processor, memory, graphics card, storage, and power. For local AI it must have a suitable PCIe slot for the graphics card and enough memory slots.
- Socket
Fits the CPU
- Slots
RAM and GPU
- Connects
Everything
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
A builder checks that the motherboard's socket matches the processor and that its top slot is a full-length PCIe x16.
The distinction that matters
The motherboard does not make a model faster; it decides what you can plug in.
Related terms
PCIe
The long slot on the motherboard where the graphics card plugs in.
Hardware & hostingCPU — Central processing unit
The main brain of a computer. It can run AI models, but slowly.
Hardware & hostingDDR5
The current kind of computer memory. Install it in matched pairs so it runs at full speed.
Where it is taught
Understand the hardware a local model needsSource and further reading
Hugging Face · Model inference and quantizationThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.