Components
Motherboard
Motherboard
Motherboard is a foundation that the computer is built on; all components are attached to the motherboard. A normal Motherboard includes a CPU socket were the processor is attached. There is expansion slots were RAMs and components such as graphic card and sound card are attached. These are just the basic attachment slots there are many others as well. Everything is attached to the motherboard in one way or another. Motherboard is the skeleton of the computer, without motherboard computer is noting.
CPU/Processor
CPU/Processor
A CPU/central processing unit are also known as the processor. Processor is the brain of the computer; it is very small and generally has a Fan or Heat Sink on top. Processor is used to carry out instructions for the computer programs. Another task the processor does is that it carries out instructions for peripherals input and output. Modern day processors have more than one processor inside of them, to increase their speed. There various types of processors such as single core, dual core and the latest one quad core. Different processors are used depending on needs. If someone wants to do simple web surfing and word processing they will be fine with a single core processor. If someone wants to do high speed gaming that they will be suitable with a dual core processor. If someone wants to do video or audio editing they will be suitable with a quad core processor. Some processors can be single core or lower level processor and can still be used for purposes that a higher processor is used for, the power of the processor is more important than its type. The latest quad core processor can work the same as four single core processor PCs. A CPU is measured on its speed the faster the CPU, the better it is. The speed of the CPU is measured in GHz. The latest model of the Intel Quad Core Processor can go up to 3 GHz.
RAM - Random Access Memory
RAM
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. RAM is a device in all computers. A computer can't run without a RAM. RAM is used for the memory basis on a computer. Computers have many different kinds of memory such as video memory, direct memory and hard drives. RAM is flash memory, which means when the computer is turned off the memory saved on RAM erases it. Flash memory is very fast, it is used for various tasks in the computer such as multi-tasking in a computer. RAM's are measured in MB and GB; they are usually up to 558 MB - 2 GB each. RAM is not used for long - term storage because as I mentioned earlier it erases when computer is turned off, Hard disk drives are used as long-term storage.
Hard Disk Drive
Hard Drive
Hard drive is a device in the computer that stores data from the computer. It has the largest storage capacity in a computer. Hard drive controls the reading and writing of the date from the computer. It is not the fastest storage device in the computer as it much slower than a RAM. This doesn't affect its use as hard drive is mainly used for storage and RAM is used for temporary storage of data.
There are many different types of hard drive e.g. SATA and IDE. There are many different types of hard drive as different computer use different hard drives and some hard drives are slower than others. A normal hard drives consists of head, spindle, actuator arm, actuator axis, power connector, jumper block, IDE connecter and actuator. Hard drives in computers usually have 500GB but newer computers come with over 1TB worth of memory.
SATA - SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. SATA is the newer version of hard disk connector; it is most commonly used today. There are many factors for this but the most the important factor is that it can transferred data faster, that another type of hard drive type.
IDE - IDE also known as ATA is the older version of hard disk connector. It is not used a lot today but was revolutionary when it first came out, as it could support higher storage capacity. It was parallel so it was a little slow in transferring data.According to techterms.com -
"Master drive - handles all the traffic on the IDE cable. Its controller retains its own data and passes on data to the slave drive.
Slave drive: sees only the data that is passed to it by the master drive. (NB There does not have to be
a slave drive if there is only one drive attached to the cable."
(Reference 2)
There are many different types of hard drive e.g. SATA and IDE. There are many different types of hard drive as different computer use different hard drives and some hard drives are slower than others. A normal hard drives consists of head, spindle, actuator arm, actuator axis, power connector, jumper block, IDE connecter and actuator. Hard drives in computers usually have 500GB but newer computers come with over 1TB worth of memory.
SATA - SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. SATA is the newer version of hard disk connector; it is most commonly used today. There are many factors for this but the most the important factor is that it can transferred data faster, that another type of hard drive type.
IDE - IDE also known as ATA is the older version of hard disk connector. It is not used a lot today but was revolutionary when it first came out, as it could support higher storage capacity. It was parallel so it was a little slow in transferring data.According to techterms.com -
"Master drive - handles all the traffic on the IDE cable. Its controller retains its own data and passes on data to the slave drive.
Slave drive: sees only the data that is passed to it by the master drive. (NB There does not have to be
a slave drive if there is only one drive attached to the cable."
(Reference 2)
Graphic Card/Video Card
Graphic Card
Video card also known as graphic card is a device in the computer. Graphic card is usually inserted in one of the expansion slots. Graphic card help run graphic and video better and faster. How much better and faster it helps, depends on the kind of graphic card someone has. Graphic card is not needed by the computer as some computer come with a chip which helps video and graphic to display but the chip is very basic.
The type of graphic card someone needs depends on their needs from the graphic card. If someone wants a graphic card just to view photos than a basic graphic card is good and can support their needs. If someone wants the graphic card to play games, which the graphic card is mostly used for than the better the graphic card the better game quality they will receive. A graphic card has a fan to keep it cool and it has various connectors.
The type of graphic card someone needs depends on their needs from the graphic card. If someone wants a graphic card just to view photos than a basic graphic card is good and can support their needs. If someone wants the graphic card to play games, which the graphic card is mostly used for than the better the graphic card the better game quality they will receive. A graphic card has a fan to keep it cool and it has various connectors.
Sound Card
Sound Card
Sound card is a device in the computer that output sound from the computer. It is necessary to have a sound card in a computer to have any sound. Sound card doesn't just output sound it also input sound into the computer through the use of microphone. Sound cards enable the computer to output sound through speakers connected to the device.
Nearly all modern sound cards support MIDI and Sound Blaster. These are needed to provide high quality sound and support different kinds of sound waves. Sound card use two different methods to output sound. They use FM Synthesis and Wavetable Synthesis.
FM Synthesis - A type of program in the computer that communicates with the sound card to help it make different simulated instrumental sounds or tones. It does this by manipulating the frequency of the audio signal.
"Wavetable Synthesis - A way to recreate sounds on a PC by storing and then retrieving actual musical samples. Better quality sound cards have this type of synthesiser."
(Reference 3)
Nearly all modern sound cards support MIDI and Sound Blaster. These are needed to provide high quality sound and support different kinds of sound waves. Sound card use two different methods to output sound. They use FM Synthesis and Wavetable Synthesis.
FM Synthesis - A type of program in the computer that communicates with the sound card to help it make different simulated instrumental sounds or tones. It does this by manipulating the frequency of the audio signal.
"Wavetable Synthesis - A way to recreate sounds on a PC by storing and then retrieving actual musical samples. Better quality sound cards have this type of synthesiser."
(Reference 3)
Computer Power Supply Unit
Power Supply
Power Supply Unit (PSU) is one part of the computer which is vital for the computer to run. Without PSU a computer just cannot operate, as it will receive no power to start running the vital components. Without PSU the computer cannot transfer alternating current (AC) line from your home to the direct current (DC) needed by the computer.
PSU provides power to the important components of the computer. It is usually connects to the computer with a PC Main cable. It has a connector for the switch at the back.
PSU provides power to the important components of the computer. It is usually connects to the computer with a PC Main cable. It has a connector for the switch at the back.
Network Interface Card
Network Card
Network interface card (NIC) is a device in the computer. NIC usually comes built in into most modern day computer. NIC is used to connect to a network, people connect to networks, to access internet. Without NIC people cannot use internet to transfer data wirelessly. They contain a MAC address which can be tracked and this is one of the ways people hack computers. NIC usually connect to networks in two ways wired this is requires an Ethernet cable connected to the NIC. They can connect wirelessly in which they connect be a USB adapter or in some case without USB adapter.
Fan/Heat Sink
Heat Sink
Heat Sink is a device in the computer that cools down the components in in the computer. It is usually located on top of the processor. As the processor continues to work at a rapid pace, it begins to generate heat. If the processor in not cooled down from the heat it overheats and will destroy itself. The heat sink not only cools the processor it cools down other components as well as they produce heat as well and are under the same risks.
Read Only Memory
ROM
ROM stands for read only memory, ROM is a chip in the computer were data is pre-recorded. Once that data has been saved on to that ROM it can never be deleted again. The difference between ROM and RAM is that once the computer has turned off the data stays on the chip. The data that has been stored on the ROM are critical programs needed to run the computer. ROM helps run peripherals such as laser printer as the fonts for laser printer are stored on the ROM.
There is no way to delete data on the ROM, it can only be destroyed by destroying the ROM itself. In the modern day there is some software that can allow people to modify ROM storage but they are not commonly used.
There is no way to delete data on the ROM, it can only be destroyed by destroying the ROM itself. In the modern day there is some software that can allow people to modify ROM storage but they are not commonly used.
Basic Input/Output System
BIOS Chip
BIOS stands for Basic Input/output System, this is a small chip in the computer that contains software. BIOS are the first component the computer reads when it is turned on. The component it contains is used to check if the important components in the computer are working fine. BIOS are used to control the computer and can change setting that you cannot on the operating software. It makes decisions such as memory allocating and password changing.
Cache
Cache
There are many types of Cache in a computer but they all serve the same purpose. Cache is made for convince of computer users as it is used to access recently stored memory extremely fast.
According to techterms.com - For example, a Web browser like Internet Explorer uses a cache to store the pages, images, and URLs of recently visited Web sites on your hard drive. The most common type of cache is a disk cache. This stores information you have recently read from your hard disk in the computer's RAM, or memory. Since accessing RAM is much faster than reading data off the hard disk, this can help you access common files and folders on your hard drive much faster.
(Reference 1)
According to techterms.com - For example, a Web browser like Internet Explorer uses a cache to store the pages, images, and URLs of recently visited Web sites on your hard drive. The most common type of cache is a disk cache. This stores information you have recently read from your hard disk in the computer's RAM, or memory. Since accessing RAM is much faster than reading data off the hard disk, this can help you access common files and folders on your hard drive much faster.
(Reference 1)
Ports
USB Port
In a computer a port is used as a source of connection between the computer and peripherals. There are many different types of ports on a computer.
USB Port - USB port is the most common type of port used in a modern day computer. USB ports are compatible to connect with most of devices e.g. keyboard and webcam. It is popular because of its easy to use design and flexibility to connect everything.
Serial Port - Serial port is the one of the oldest type of port that is still commonly used today. Modern computers have one or two of these port in a computer but manufactures prefer USB, so peripherals with serial ports are decreasing. It transfer data one bit at a time, Serial port are still used with some printers and digital cameras.
Parallel Port - Parallel port was used in computer but its use has become uncommon. It is not used in most modern computers. It can transfer data eight bit at a time, It is bigger that serial port in size and have more pin spaces. It was used for peripherals such as printers and scanners.
USB Port - USB port is the most common type of port used in a modern day computer. USB ports are compatible to connect with most of devices e.g. keyboard and webcam. It is popular because of its easy to use design and flexibility to connect everything.
Serial Port - Serial port is the one of the oldest type of port that is still commonly used today. Modern computers have one or two of these port in a computer but manufactures prefer USB, so peripherals with serial ports are decreasing. It transfer data one bit at a time, Serial port are still used with some printers and digital cameras.
Parallel Port - Parallel port was used in computer but its use has become uncommon. It is not used in most modern computers. It can transfer data eight bit at a time, It is bigger that serial port in size and have more pin spaces. It was used for peripherals such as printers and scanners.