Computer slots are narrow, vertical slits on the motherboard that allow electrical signals to travel between various components on the motherboard. The slots can be found on the back or front of a computer case, and they vary in width, from about 0.
6 inches (15 millimeters) to 1.5 inches (39 millimeters).
Slot spacing is important because it affects the way signals can travel between different components on the motherboard and affects how heat can be dissipated from those components. The spacing between slots also affects how easily you can remove or replace a component, since it determines how wide a tool can fit between the slots.
The most common type of slot is called a DIMM (dual in-line memory module) slot. DIMM slots are rectangular, and they come in both wide (64-bit) and narrow (32-bit) varieties.
Most processors require at least one DIMM slot, but some processors (Intel’s 6th-generation i3 and later CPUs, for example) require two or even three DIMMs. Some motherboards have four or more DIMM slots.
Other types of slots include SFF-8472 and SFF-8475 sockets, which are used for storage devices such as hard drives or solid-state drives; PCIe x16 lanes; USB 3.0 ports; and PS/2 ports.
The number and type of ports on a motherboard will depend on the type of computer it is designed to support.
