Introduction to various hardware components of the computer
This post contain different parts of a computer system.
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various hardware components of the computer |
1. A
computer monitor is an output device that displays information in pictorial or
text form.
2. A monitor usually comprises a visual display, some
circuitry, a casing, and a power supply.
3. The display device in modern monitors is typically a thin
film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) with LED backlighting having
replaced cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting.
4. Monitors are connected to the computer via VGA, Digital
Visual Interface (DVI), HDMI, Display Port, USB-C, low-voltage differential
signaling (LVDS) or other proprietary connectors and signals.
Motherboard:
A
motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose
computers and other expandable systems. It holds and allows communication
between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the
central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other
peripherals.
Motherboard means specifically a PCB
with expansion capabilities. As the name suggests, this board is often referred
to as the "mother" of all components attached to it, which often
include peripherals, interface cards, and daughter boards: sound cards, video
cards, network cards, host bus adapters, TV tuner cards, IEEE 1394 cards; and a
variety of other custom components.
CPU:
The
CPU is often referred to as the brain of the computer.
Alternately
referred to as a processor, central processor, or microprocessor, the CPU
(pronounced sea-pea-you) is the central processing unit of the computer. A
computer's CPU handles all instructions it receives from hardware and software
running on the computer.
• CPU
is considered as the brain of the computer.
• CPU
performs all types of data processing operations.
• It
stores data, intermediate results, and instructions (program).
• It
controls the operation of all parts of the computer.
RAM
(Random Access Memory) is the internal memory of the CPU for storing data,
program, and program result. It is a read/write memory which stores data until
the machine is working. As soon as the machine is switched off, data is erased.
Access
time in RAM is independent of the address, that is, each storage location
inside the memory is as easy to reach as other locations and takes the same
amount of time. Data in the RAM can be accessed randomly but it is very
expensive.
RAM
is volatile, i.e. data stored in it is lost when we switch off the computer or
if there is a power failure. Hence, a backup Uninterruptible Power System (UPS)
is often used with computers. RAM is small, both in terms of its physical size
and in the amount of data it can hold.
RAM is of two types −
- Static
RAM (SRAM)
- Dynamic
RAM (DRAM)
Expansion cards:
The expansion card can also be called
as expansion board, adapter card, or accessory card. It is a printed circuit
card/board used to add other functions to the computer system via an expansion
bus.
Technically
speaking, all printed circuit boards plugged into the computer bus are
expansion cards because they “expand” the functions of the computer. Therefore,
the available expansion cards include sound cards, video graphics cards,
network cards, and so on.
All
expansion cards are used to enhance the quality of their specific functions.
For instance, a video graphics card is used to enhance the video quality on the
computer.
Power Supply Unit:
A power supply unit (PSU) is a type of
power converter that provides direct current (DC) voltage to internal computer
components. Some of these units are designed specifically for use with 110 or
230 volts alternating current (AC), while others can be switched between the
two or even accept any voltage within that range. The level of direct current
voltage that they provide can also vary, typically between 3 and 12 volts DC.
Desktop and laptop computers both use power supply units, though they are
somewhat different in design.
The
power supply unit connects directly to a motherboard and powers it along with
connected hardware components like the CPU and RAM modules.
Optical Disc Drive:
In a computer system,
the optical drive uses a laser to read or write information on a disc, be it a
CD or DVD.The most common types of optical media are Blu-ray, CDs, and DVDs.
There are three main types of optical media: CD, DVD, and Blu-ray disc.
HDD:
A computer Hard
Disk Drive (HDD) is a non-volatile data storage device. Non-volatile refers to
storage devices that maintain stored data when turned off. All computers need a
storage device, and HDDs are just one example of a type of storage device.
HDDs are usually installed inside desktop
computers, mobile devices, consumer electronics and enterprise storage arrays
in data centers. They can store operating systems, software programs and other
files using magnetic disks.
More specifically, hard disk drives control
the reading and writing of the hard disk that provides data storage. HDDs are
used either as the primary or secondary storage device in a computer. They are
commonly found in the drive bay and are connected to the motherboard via an
Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA), Serial ATA, parallel ATA or Small
Computer System Interface (SCSI) cable, among other formats. The HDD is also
connected to a power supply unit and can keep stored data while powered down.
· 16 GB,
32 GB and 64 GB. This range is among the lowest
for HDD storage space and is typically found in older and smaller devices.
· 120 GB and 256 GB. This
range is generally considered an entry point for HDD devices such as laptops or
computers.
· 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB. Around
500 GB and above of HDD storage is typically considered decent for an average
user. Users can most likely store all their music, photos, videos and other
files with this much space. Individuals with games that take up a lot of space
should find 1 TB to 2 TB of HDD space suitable.
· More than 2 TB. Anything
over 2 TB of HDD space is suitable for users who work with high-resolution
files, who need to store or house a large amount of data, or who want to use
that space for backup and redundancy.
Currently,
the highest capacity HDD is 20 TB
SSD:
A
solid-state drive (SSD) is a solid-state storage device that uses integrated
circuit assemblies to store data persistently, typically using flash memory,
and functioning as secondary storage in the hierarchy of computer storage.
SSD
is a storage medium that uses non-volatile memory to hold and access data.
Unlike a hard drive an SSD has no moving parts, which gives it advantages, such
as faster access time, noiseless operation, higher reliability, and lower power
consumption.
Keyboard:
A keyboard is one of the primary input devices used with a
computer. Similar to an electric typewriter, a keyboard is composed of buttons
used to create letters, numbers, and symbols, and perform additional functions.
The following sections provide more in-depth information and answers to some of
the frequently asked questions about the keyboard.
Mouse:
A computer mouse is a
handheld hardware input device that controls a cursor in a GUI (graphical user
interface) for pointing, moving and selecting text, icons, files, and folders
on my computer.
The mouse is placed on a flat surface in front of my
computer.
In addition to moving a cursor, computer mice have one or more buttons to allow operations such as the selection of a menu item on a display. Mice often also feature other elements, such as touch surfaces and scroll wheels, which enable additional control and dimensional input.
