A technician is replacing the motherboard of a workstation for a user who runs multiple large applications at the same time. Which of the following motherboard specifications would provide the most significant improvement in performance?

DMAI (Direct Memory Access Interface) slots are not a standard specification and may refer to specific configurations that are less common in general motherboards. While DMA can improve data transfer rates, the presence of dedicated DMAI slots does not significantly enhance overall system performance compared to the benefits offered by PCI slots for expansion and hardware upgrades.

HDMI ports are primarily used for video output. While having multiple HDMI ports can be beneficial for connecting multiple monitors, it does not directly contribute to the performance of running large applications. The performance improvement for multitasking relies more on processing power and hardware upgrades that can be accommodated by PCI slots.

USB ports are useful for connecting peripherals like keyboards, mice, and external storage devices, but they do not impact the core performance of the system when running large applications. While having more USB ports is convenient, it does not provide the necessary enhancements in processing or memory capacity that PCI slots can facilitate.