Systems and methods for distributing computing resources utilize a base module having certain processing resources. A peripheral module is communicatively connected to the base module and is configured to utilize processing resources of the base module using one or more input/output devices connected to the peripheral module. The peripheral module uses a minimum of power, utilizes only enough computing resources to pass input/output signals between the input/output devices at the peripheral module and the base module, and provides access to an additional session of the operating system of the base module without requiring that a separate instance of the operating system be loaded into memory of the base module. The peripheral module may serve essentially as an intelligent mounting bracket.