Computer components (RAM,sound card, video card, etc.) are connected via special interfaces - slots. These are connectors for expanding the capabilities of a PC. They can also be called expansion cards or adapters.
What is it - slots of RAM?
As you already understood, we are talking about connectors,which connects the RAM of the PC. Usually there are at least two such slots on the motherboard. This is a mandatory element on any board, without which the operation of the system as a whole is impossible.
Depending on the year of the motherboardIt can use different connectors designed for different types of RAM. Given the fact that iron is improving every year, motherboard manufacturers have to adapt and slots. This is a normal practice, so when choosing a RAM, you have to take into account the connectors for which it is intended.
The number of slots is also important.In inexpensive motherboards, only 2 connection interfaces are available, but there are also 4. The more there will be more of them, the easier it will be for the user to increase the amount of RAM. But even if you take all the modules, the capacity can be made by replacing the slots with a capacity of 4 GB, for example, 8 GB.
Types of slots
The very first interfaces on the motherboard wereprimitive. They put the operational memory type 30 pin SIPP. But every year its new standard came out, and the connection interfaces on the board were adjusted to it. So there were connectors:
- 72 pin SIMM;
- 168 pin DIMM;
- 184 pin CRIMM Spacer;
- 64bit RDIMM;
- XDR;
- 184 pin DDR;
- 240 pin DDR2;
- 240 pin DDR3;
- DDR4.
The most modern standard that is usedin the motherboard, - connectors for DDR4 RAM. So far, there is no DDR5 RAM, but its appearance is a matter of time. Then, by the way, there will be new motherboards with connectors for these chips.
What are these expansion slots for video cards?
Let's not touch the old interfacesconnect video cards. Modern graphics chips can be connected through any of the two existing types - AGP and PCI Express. The difference between these interfaces lies in their bandwidth and power options. There are other, less significant differences.
It is believed that higher throughput is always better. However, in practice, higher throughput does not affect the performance of the chip itself very much.
A limited number of motherboards does not haveAGP or PCI Express slots. They are equipped only with PCI adapters for connecting a video card. However, there are very few video cards for them, and they are generally not suitable for a home computer.
But not only video cards and RAM are connected via such connectors. Sound, network cards and even processors in some sense are connected through them.
Memory slots
Memory slots are interfaces to connectCompact Flash memory cards, etc. Often, laptops have interfaces for connecting Compact Flash cards. Today it is one of the most common standards, and it is supported by many cameras. Compact flash cards are the cheapest.
Memory Stick is a slot for cardsdeveloped by Sony, and today it is the most expensive format for digital media. And this standard is not unique. There are varieties: Pro, Duo.
SmartMedia is a memory slot for SmartMedia cards,which have a very thin body, although their size in width and length is slightly larger than the size of Memory Stick cards. These cards today are used exclusively rarely and leave the market. Therefore, connectors for them, too, are rare.
And the xD-Picture slot is a small slot forvery small memory cards developed by Olympus, Toshiba and Fujifilm. This standard is very popular today, because it is characterized by low power consumption, high speed writing and reading, as well as reliability and compactness.
Now you know that these are memory card slots - and what they are like. The standards named here are improved, become obsolete and disappear, and new ones appear instead.
Processor Interfaces
Processors are also connected via slots. Intel and AMD use completely different interfaces designed for processors of one or another company.
So, Intel in 1997 developed the Slot1 for Pentium 2 processors with a second-level cache and so-called fool protection, thanks to which the processor could not be plugged into the wrong slot. Of course, this interface is old and is no longer used today, but since 1998 the company has switched to Slot 2 for Pentium 3 processors.
AMD is also not far behind, but theirSlots for processors were different and were called Slot A. Today they are extremely rare and remain only on old computers. At the moment, the processors are connected to the motherboard through a socket (Socket) - a female connector. As in the case of slots, certain sockets are suitable for certain processors.
Remaining slots
If to judge, the laptop case generally consists ofone slots. On it, you can even find a place to connect the cable, which securely holds the device and does not allow to pull it off the store counter. Sometimes these cables are used to protect against the fall of the device, although it is very doubtful.
Also in laptops there are slots for connecting modems, SCSI cards, etc. Therefore, it is not necessary to go inside to find one of them.
В современном понятии слово «слот» обычно means a strip of RAM, and not a connector for its connection. Therefore, when they say "memory slot", they often mean the bar of RAM. It is also worth considering, because many people can be misunderstood. Although in fact it is a connector, and its purpose may be to connect any device.
