Desktop computer having enhanced motherboard/riser card assembly configuration

A computer system comprising a CPU unit having a microprocessor, and a data storage device for storing data that may be retrieved by said microprocessor, said CPU unit including:

• a chassis having an outer side portion with an opening therein;
• a motherboard supported within said chassis for movement relative thereto into and out of said opening, said motherboard having a first edge portion positioned adjacent said opening for movement outwardly therethrough;
• at least one I/O connector carried on said first edge portion and to which an I/O cable external to said chassis may be secured;
• a riser card connector socket mounted on said motherboard;
• and
• a riser card having a connector edge portion removably received in said riser card connector socket, said riser card having at least one cable connector thereon which is electrically coupled to said motherboard and to which an internal computer component cable may be secured,
• said I/O and riser card cable connectors forming, for apparatus external to said motherboard, the sole cable connection locations for said motherboard, whereby said motherboard may be accessed, without having to first disconnect any cables therefrom, by uncoupling said riser card from said riser card connector socket and then moving said motherboard outwardly through said chassis opening.

A motherboard/riser card assembly for a computer, comprising:

• a motherboard having a first edge portion;
• an I/O cable connector carried on said first edge portion;
• a riser card connector socket carried on said motherboard;
• a riser card having a connector edge portion removably received in said riser card connector socket, said riser card being transverse to said motherboard and being removable from said motherboard in a direction transverse thereto;
• a plurality of ports carried on said riser card;
• a host controller carried on one of said motherboard and said riser card;
• and
• a single host controller bus driver carried on said riser card and operatively Interconnecting said host controller and said plurality of ports, the positioning of said single host controller bus driver on said riser card permitting said plurality of ports to be utilized in said motherboard/riser card assembly without an additional host controller bus driver being used in conjunction with said plurality of ports.