Basic Parts of a Computer System

Fancy setting up your own computer? It’s easy once you know the basic parts of a computer system. Here’s more on the hardware part of any computer.

Laptops and hand-held devices nowadays have become quite powerful as well as quite popular among users. These devices contain the same basic computer parts to do all its functions.

But not long back, computers used to be expensive, and many would prefer assembling their own computers so that they could save on cost.

There are many who still do, and it is not difficult once you have the basic understanding of the various parts that are used within.

So here’s more on the hardware (physical components) that you see in most computing devices.

Motherboard
This is the main electronic circuit board, known as motherboard. All the computer components connect to this board. The CPU is located on the motherboard.

Central processing unit
Most important part of the computer, as it does most of the data processing. It consists of one or more processing chips.

Random Access Memory (RAM)
It’s called a “memory” because this is the place where the computer stores and retrieves data, as it operates. More computer memory means the computer will be able to run faster and handle more software programs.

This is volatile memory; meaning when the computer is switched off everything stored on this temporary storage device is lost.

Power supply
A computer runs on electricity, so a power supply unit (PSU) is also one of the computer parts; it regulates the electricity needed by the other components to operate.

Hard-disc drive
RAM is quick but volatile. Hard drive is the place where you store your data and information so that you can retrieve it later. Hard drives are comparatively slower than RAM, when it comes to storing and retrieving data.

Various Drives
This includes drives to read and write CDs, DVDs. In addition to the hard-disc you can utilize these for storing data, and these are quite portable as well.

On earlier computers, you also had floppy drives, but then those are no longer available as that technology is obsolete.

Input devices
The more common ones being the keyboard and the mouse.

Computer monitor
This is the LCD screen with which you interact with the computer. You can even connect your computer to bigger screens, television, or projectors for a wider audience.

Expansion cards
Want to increase the functionality of your computer? Add the appropriate expansion card to the motherboard. For example, you can add graphic cards, network cards and sound cards.

Additional ports
These are receptors that help to exchange information (additional means besides CDs, DVDs) between computer and other devices. Firewire and USB ports are the more popular ones.

So that’s it then! Looks like several components, but i’m sure if you’ve used a computer then you’re already familiar with most of these. These are the basic components of any computing device.

The next time you sit on your computer, look for these parts. These are the basic parts of a Computer System.

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