Which of the following components is NOT typically connected to the motherboard?

The correct answer is that an external hard drive is not typically connected directly to the motherboard. Instead, it connects through external ports such as USB, Thunderbolt, or eSATA. This distinguishes it from components like the CPU, RAM, and BIOS chip, which are all integral to the functioning of the computer and are directly connected to the motherboard.

The CPU is the central processing unit that executes instructions and performs calculations for the system, while RAM (Random Access Memory) is used for temporary data storage that the CPU accesses quickly to perform tasks. The BIOS chip contains firmware that initializes hardware during the booting process and facilitates communication between the operating system and hardware. Thus, all these components are designed to be in close connection with the motherboard to form a cohesive and efficient computing environment.