Final answer:
The two components that usually interface directly with the Southbridge chipset are the hard drive (C) and USB ports (D); they are essential for data transfer between peripheral devices and the CPU or memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Southbridge chipset on a motherboard is part of the chipset that handles the I/O (Input/Output) functions of a computer. The two components that usually interface directly with the Southbridge are the hard drive (C) and USB ports (D). These components depend on the Southbridge to relay data between the peripheral devices and the CPU or memory.
The Southbridge controls a variety of devices including the internal hard disk controllers for IDE, SATA, or SCSI systems, and also the USB, Ethernet, and audio on the motherboard. On the other hand, components like RAM (A) and the CPU (E) interface with the Northbridge component of a motherboard, which is responsible for high-speed data exchanges. The graphics card (B) might be directly connected to either the Northbridge or the CPU itself, especially on newer systems that have integrated the Northbridge's functionality into the processor.