What is another term for the system bus that connects the CPU and memory on the motherboard?

The term "front-side bus" refers to the system bus that connects the CPU to the main memory on the motherboard. This bus plays a critical role in facilitating communication between the processor and RAM, allowing data and instructions to be transferred efficiently during processing tasks. The front-side bus typically dictates the speed at which data can travel between these core components, which directly influences the overall performance of the computer system.

In contrast, other terms like "back-side bus" refer to a different connection, often between the CPU and cache memory, while "side bus" is not a standard term used in this context and "peripheral bus" relates to communication with peripheral devices rather than the main CPU and memory connection. Therefore, the designation of "front-side bus" is specifically tied to the connection that is central to the CPU-memory interaction, making it the correct choice.