Why are they called motherboards?

[Naer]

why not fatherboards?

Seems sexist

 

[Golgatha]

Way back when, most of the important sockets were of the female variety. Now that CPU sockets have the pins or male portion of the electrical connection, I think they should change the name to fatherboards. Start a petition, I'll sign it.

 

[nitromullet]

The term "mainboard" used to be more prevalent back when I started building PCs in the late 90's, but you really don't hear it often anymore.

 

[Hulk]

Same reason the big alien ship is called the "Mothership." Because it's the most important part!

 

[jkauff]

The big Taiwanese manufacturers tried to push the moniker "mainboard", but it never really caught on.

Even more confusing is that male pin-out add-in cards were called "daughterboards."

 

[Sheep221]

Way back when, most of the important sockets were of the female variety. Now that CPU sockets have the pins or male portion of the electrical connection, I think they should change the name to fatherboards. Start a petition, I'll sign it.

It's not because of that, it's because of its purpose, which means motherboard is holding entire computer together, while we always think that CPU is the main part in computer, it's not because motherboard is the part that creates computer system, while other parts are key for working computer as well, they are only swappable add-ins.
That's why if you don't have branded computer, the operating system and various diagnostic/benchmark tools render computer name, type and brand by motherboard rather than CPU or something else. So since it is physical host to other components, the name motherboard is enough descriptive just on its own.

The name mainboard is still used by MSI for example and was previously used by defunct Abit.

 

[Soundmanred]

Fathers don't push daughters out.

 

[piasabird]

If we called it the Fatherboard we would be male chauvanistic pigs.

 

[Blain]

They should be called what they are... "Logic Boards"

 

[Meghan54]

They should be called what they are... "Logic Boards"

Much too general and broad a term, although technically correct. Much better and easier description to call it motherboard. Absolutely no confusion about what part of a computer to which you're referring.

 

[john3850]

Same reason the big alien ship is called the "Mothership." Because it's the most important part!

cool

 

[snickersnack]

I don't know for sure but here is my guess. In the olden days, the core parts of a computer were much more discrete and were spread over several cards that were plugged into a backplane. All boards were of similar size and plugged into the same slots. Now most of the essential parts of a computer are consolidated onto to a single pcb (the motherboard) and smaller peripheral boards (daughter boards) are plugged in to accessorize it. The name 'motherboard' reflects the relationship between the boards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backplane

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not as problematic as master/slave devices.

 

[nitromullet]

They should be called what they are... "Logic Boards"

I believe Apple refers to them as "logic boards".

 

[denis280]

I guest its like. Mother earth. mother nature. mother teresa. mother ship.HO! i have a good headache

 

[Johnny4]

how the mother handalin all the children like mothereboadr handels all componets so we are calling for that circut board as a mother board.

 

[sandorski]

It's because of all the vaginas. Err, I mean, female sockets.

 

[mikeyanrol]

I hope It's the mother of the computer, all parts and transactions are done on it. Can be called a mainboard as well but motherboard best suits it. It's the main board that the computer uses. The motherboard is the main component of a computer. It?s the hub which is used to connect all of the essential computer?s components. A motherboard is called so because it acts as a parent board, which takes the form of a large printed circuit with connectors for expansion cards, memory modules, the processor.

 

[targ]

why not fatherboards?

Seems sexist

If the problem with "motherboard" is that it's sexist, why would you propose "fatherboard"?

Actually, mother doesn't intrinsically mean female. Essentially it means source. Most words that have something similar to mater come from the same meaning:

matter / material = source = that from which everything is made
matrix = womb = place where something takes form
metropolis = mother city = the hub of activity

Motherships usually have flight decks that smaller ships take off from and return to. In the real world it's the same: the mother ship is the larger craft that launches a landing craft or rover, and aircraft carriers are also sometimes referred to as motherships.

Motherboard fits the pattern because it's the power source and communication center for most other components.

 

[DownTheSky]

Because you insert things in their slots. :sneaky:

 

[OlafSicky]

Because you stick things in them

 

[Blain]

Don't forget about daughter cards.

 

[KentState]

Same reason you have male and female fittings. Biological terms are often applied to man made objects when first realized.

 

[Imaginer]

I guest its like. Mother earth. mother nature. mother teresa. mother ship.HO! i have a good headache

And the most frequently used (in my opinion) MOTHERFUCKER!!!

Because it would sound VERY weird if it was the other way...

 

[CuriousMike]

I remember giggling when my Dad used to use the term's 'male end' and 'female end' with stereo equipment.

Then he used the term 'nipple' for something he was building and I busted a gut.

Then I grew up... a little.