Computer Hardware: is the physical part of a computer, including its digital
circuitry, as distinguished from the computer software that executes
within the hardware. The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed, in
comparison with software and hardware data, which are "soft" in the
sense that they are readily created, modified or erased on the computer. These
components can usually be put together to build a computer. Then the software
has to be installed to make the hardware work.
Mainboard:
A motherboard is the central or primary circuit board (PCB) making up a
complex electronic system, such as a modern computer. It is also known as
a mainboard, baseboard, system board, planar board, or, on Apple
computers, a logic board, and is sometimes abbreviated casually as mobo.
Central Processing Unit (CPU):
or
microprocessor is one of the Components that affects performance the
most. This is where the calculations to computer your request are
done (where the thinking is done) everything you request your computer to
do goes to the CPU for processing.
RAM (random access memory):
A PC's
main memory is fast storage that is directly accessible by the CPU, and is used
to store the currently executing program and immediately needed data. Main
memory is much faster than mass storage devices like hard disks or optical
discs, but is usually volatile, meaning it does not retain its contents
(instructions or data) in the absence of power.
Hard drive(hard disk):
is a
non-volatile storage device which stores digitally encoded data on rapidly
rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. The hard drive stores all the
programs and data in the Binary Numeral System (1's & 0's) upon
request the data is read and sent to RAM and the CPU for
processing and the data is written to the drive when saved if your computer
starts a knocking or tipping sound this drive may be failing if it fails
completely then the data within is may not be recoverable!
Video Card:
otherwise
called a graphics card, graphics adapter or video adapter - processes and
renders the graphics output from the computer to the computer display, also
called the visual display unit (VDU), and is an essential part of the modern
computer. On older models, and today on budget models, graphics circuitry
tended to be integrated with the motherboard but, for modern flexible machines,
they are supplied in PCI, AGP, or PCI Express format.
Monitor:
is a piece of electrical equipment which displays viewable images
generated by a computer without producing a permanent record. A computer
display device is usually either a cathode ray tube or some form of flat
panel such as a TFT LCD.
Computer Case:
is the enclosure that contains the main components of a computer. Cases
are usually constructed from steel, aluminum, or plastic, although other
materials such as wood, or fans[7] have also been used in case
designs. Cases can come in many different sizes, or form factors.
The size and shape of a computer case is usually determined by the form
factor of the motherboard that it is designed to accommodate, since this
is the largest and most central component of most computers. Consequently,
personal computer form factors typically specify only the internal
dimensions and layout of the case.
Power Supply:
A modern computer power supply is a special type of switched-mode supply
designed to convert 110-240 V AC power from the outlets in your wall, to
several low-voltage DC power outputs known as +12v, -12v, +5v and -5v just
to name a few.
