Main logic boards house the brain of your computer
A main logic board is a circuit board in an Apple Macintosh computer. It houses the crucial components of the computer system and provides connectivity for peripheral devices. In almost every respect, the "main logic board" is the Apple Macintosh equivalent of an IBM motherboard.
Description
A main logic board is a plastic (often green) board with circuits, chips, and other hardware. It houses the crucial components of a computer system: the microprocessor, the central processing unit (CPU), RAM and ROM memory and the logic and ports for connecting peripheral devices such as a mouse, video display and audio devices. Most modern logic boards contain the following: slots (sockets) for connecting microprocessors, slots for expansion cards, slots of the RAM and ROM memory chips, a chip-set interface, a clock for synchronizing the various systems, a battery, a reset button and power connectors.
Function
The components of the main logic board manage the computer's various systems, providing the timing mechanism and logic to coordinate computing activities. Furthermore, the main logic board provides ports or slots for connecting peripheral devices such as display monitors and speakers. It is the central piece of hardware in your Macintosh computer; think of it as the central artery system of the computer.
Logic Board vs. Motherboard
The Apple Macintosh logic board parallels the IBM motherboard in almost every respect. The types and brands of chips the boards can house are the biggest difference between the two.
History
In the early years of digital computing, the term "logic board" referred to computing devices composed of a single board and no additional expansion slots or capabilities. This usage became archaic with the rise of personal computers employing peripheral devices.
Early in their history, Mac computers had two central circuits: a logic board and a motherboard. Over time, the two circuits were combined into one, becoming the "main logic board." Today, the term "main logic board" is often used interchangeably with "motherboard." The terms refer specifically to boards containing printed circuits, slots for expansion and connectivity to peripheral devices.
Main Logic Boards Today
Apple Macintosh produces a wide array of main logic boards for its Macs, iPhones, iPods and other products. Due to size and software issues, it is inadvisable, if not impossible, to swap out main logic boards for installation in other Apple Macintosh products.
Tags: logic board, main logic board, Apple Macintosh, peripheral devices, logic boards