Why is it Important to Understand Computer parts?

Computers are abundant in the life we live now. Everyone uses computers but the average person does not
understand how a computer functions or what exactly they are paying for, in terms of its specifications. Most
people heavily rely on computers today so it is in their best interest to understand a basic computer’s
components, functions, and cost. If you can understand this, it is possible for you save money when purchasing
or seeking repairs on your device.

It is imperative to understand the name and function of each component in a computer in order to understand
how it functions as a whole. Attempt to always remember that a computer is based off the human body and
functions in the same way. You cannot expect to understand the human body without first understanding its
organs and their functions. A computer is composed of components in the same way that the body is composed
of organs that together work to make the body or computer function. A basic computer has at least 8 basic
components which include a computer case or tower, motherboard, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Power
Supply Unit (PSU), Random Access Memory (RAM), hard drive (HDD), Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) and
some type of optical drive which would be your CD/DVD drive. These 7 components are the backbone of every
healthy, functioning computer.

It is easy to memorize the parts of a computer but slightly trickier to understand each part’s function.
Understanding this will make your knowledge of technology immensely powerful.

By understanding these basic functions of each computer component you have enabled yourself to become a
more educated consumer. You can now understand if a sales person is simply pressing your wallet for more
sales revenue and commission or if they are truly helping you in your purchase. Technology has become so
prevalent in our lives that this information will serve as the basis for you to expand your knowledge if you
choose. If not, the basics allow you to understand what you are purchasing and how efficient it will be for your
personal or business needs.
Motherboard

The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that
holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives,
expansion cards to control the video and audio, and connections to your
computer's ports (such as USB ports). The motherboard connects directly
or indirectly to every part of the computer.

CPU/processor

The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside
the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of
the computer, and its job is to carry out commands. Whenever you press a
key, click the mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to
the CPU.

The CPU is usually a two-inch ceramic square with a silicon chip located
inside. The chip is usually about the size of a thumbnail. The CPU fits into
the motherboard's CPU socket, which is covered by the heat sink, an object
that absorbs heat from the CPU.

A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), or millions of

instructions per second; and gigahertz (GHz), or billions of instructions per
second. A faster processor can execute instructions more quickly. However,
the actual speed of the computer depends on the speed of many different
components—not just the processor.

RAM (random access memory)

RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer

performs calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is
needed.

This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off. If

you're working on a document, spreadsheet, or other type of file, you'll
need to save it to avoid losing it. When you save a file, the data is written to
the hard drive, which acts as long-term storage.

RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). The more RAM you
have, the more things your computer can do at the same time. If you don't
have enough RAM, you may notice that your computer is sluggish when you
have several programs open. Because of this, many people add extra
RAM to their computers to improve performance.

Hard drive
The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are
stored. The hard drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still
saved even if you turn the computer off or unplug it.

When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some of the
data from the hard drive onto the RAM. When you save a file, the data is
copied back to the hard drive. The faster the hard drive, the faster your
computer can start up and load programs.

Power supply unit

The power supply unit in a computer converts the power from the wall
outlet to the type of power needed by the computer. It sends power
through cables to the motherboard and other components.

If you decide to open the computer case and take a look, make sure
to unplug the computer first. Before touching the inside of the computer,
you should touch a grounded metal object—or a metal part of the computer
casing—to discharge any static buildup. Static electricity can be
transmitted through the computer circuits, which can seriously damage
your machine.

Expansion cards
Most computers have expansion slots on the motherboard that allow you to
add various types of expansion cards. These are sometimes called PCI
(peripheral component interconnect) cards. You may never need to add any
PCI cards because most motherboards have built-in video, sound, network,
and other capabilities.
However, if you want to boost the performance of your computer or update
the capabilities of an older computer, you can always add one or more
cards. Below are some of the most common types of expansion cards.

Video card

The video card is responsible for what you see on the monitor. Most
computers have a GPU (graphics processing unit) built into the
motherboard instead of having a separate video card. If you like playing
graphics-intensive games, you can add a faster video card to one of
the expansion slots to get better performance.

Sound card
The sound card—also called an audio card—is responsible for what you
hear in the speakers or headphones. Most motherboards have integrated
sound, but you can upgrade to a dedicated sound card for higher-quality
sound.
Network card

The network card allows your computer to communicate over a network

and access the Internet. It can either connect with an Ethernet cable or
through a wireless connection (often called Wi-Fi). Many motherboards
have built-in network connections, and a network card can also be added to
an expansion slot.

Bluetooth card (or adapter)

Bluetooth is a technology for wireless communication over short distances.

It's often used in computers to communicate with wireless keyboards, mice,
and printers. It's commonly built into the motherboard or included in
a wireless network card. For computers that don't have Bluetooth, you can
purchase a USB adapter, often called a dongle.
What are the Different Motherboard
Components and Their Functions?
Understanding your motherboard components and functions is simple... Join us as we
explain the different parts of a motherboard with pictures.

At the first glance, the components of a motherboard can appear complicated... even
daunting to some. How are we supposed to figure out this big jumble of connectors, ports,
slots, sockets and heat sinks?

Good news: Finding your way around a motherboard isn't hard... You simply need to be
able to identify the different motherboard parts and understand their functions.

Join us as we take you on a guided tour of the different motherboard components (complete
with photos and plain English descriptions)

Table 2.4 Basic PC Components

Component Description

Motherboard The motherboard is the core of the system. It really is the PC; everything
else is connected to it, and it controls everything in the system.
Microprocessors are covered in detail in Chapter 3, "Microprocessor
Types and Specifications."

Processor The processor is often thought of as the "engine" of the computer. It's also
called the CPU (central processing unit).

Memory (RAM) The system memory is often called RAM (for random access memory).
This is the primary memory, which holds all the programs and data the
processor is using at a given time. Memory is covered in detail in Chapter
6, "Memory."

Case/chassis The case is the frame or chassis that houses the motherboard, power
supply, disk drives, adapter cards, and any other physical components in
the system. The case is covered in detail in Chapter 21, "Power Supply
and Chassis/Case."

Power supply The power supply is what feeds electrical power to every single part in the
 PC. The power supply is covered in detail in Chapter 21.

Floppy drive The floppy drive is a simple, inexpensive, low-capacity, removable-media,

magnetic storage device.

Hard drive The hard disk is the primary archival storage memory for the system. Hard
disk drives are also covered in detail in Chapter 10, "Hard Disk Storage."

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM CD-ROM (compact disc read-only) and DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc
read-only) drives are relatively high-capacity, removable media, optical
drives. These drives are covered in detail in Chapter 13, "Optical
Storage."

Keyboard The keyboard is the primary device on a PC that is used by a human to

communicate with and control a system. Keyboards are covered in detail
in Chapter 18, "Input Devices."

Mouse Although many types of pointing devices are on the market today, the first
and most popular device for this purpose is the mouse. The mouse and
other pointing devices are covered in detail in Chapter 18.

Video card The video card controls the information you see on the monitor. Video
cards are covered in detail in Chapter 15, "Video Hardware."

Monitor Monitors are covered in detail in Chapter 15.

Sound card It enables the PC to generate complex sounds. Sound cards and
speakers are covered in detail in Chapter 16, "Audio Hardware."

Modem Most prebuilt PCs ship with a modem (generally an internal modem).
Modems and other Internet-connectivity devices and methods are covered
in Chapter 19, "Internet Connectivity."
. Back Panel Connectors & Connectors and ports for connecting the computer to
Ports external devices such as display ports, audio ports, USB
ports, Ethernet ports, PS/2 ports etc. See image below for a
close-up view.

For details on the individual back panel ports, click here for
our guide to computer cable connections.

2. PCI Slots PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect

Slot for older expansion cards such as sound cards, network

cards, connector cards. See image below for a close-up
 view.

Have been largely replaced by PCI-Express x1 slots (see

motherboard parts #3 below).

3. PCI Express x1 Slots Slot for modern expansion cards such as sound cards,
network cards (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth), connector
cards (USB, FireWire, eSATA) and certain low-end
graphics cards. See image below for a close-up view.

4. PCI Express x16 Slot Slot for discrete graphic cards and high bandwidth devices
such as top-end solid state drives. See image below for a
close-up view.

5. Northbridge Also known as Memory Controller Hub (MCH).

Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with the RAM

and graphics card.

Beginning from Intel Sandy Bridge in 2011, this

motherboard component is no longer present as it has been
integrated within the CPU itself.

6. CPU Socket Insert CPU here. To learn how to install a CPU, click here
for our guide to installing a CPU.

7. ATX 12V Power Connects to the 4-pin power cable of a power supply unit
Connector which supplies power to the CPU.
8. Front Panel USB 2.0 Connects to USB 2.0 ports at the front or top of a computer
Connectors case. See image above for a close-up view.

9. Front Panel Connectors Connects to the power switch, reset switch, power LED,
hard drive LED and front audio ports of a computer case.
See image above for a close-up view.

For more details on the individual front panel ports, click

here for our guide to installing a motherboard.

10. IDE Connector Connects to older hard drive disks and optical drives for
data transfer. See image above for a close-up view.

Have been replaced over by SATA connectors (see

motherboard component #13 below).

11. CMOS Battery Supplies power to store BIOS settings and keep the real-
time clock running. See image above for a close-up view.

The CMOS battery found on most motherboards is the

CR2032 lithium coin cell.
12. Southbridge Also known as the Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH).

Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with PCI

slots, PCI-Express x 1 slots (expansion cards), SATA
connectors (hard drives, optical drives), USB ports (USB
devices), Ethernet ports and on-board audio.

13. SATA Connectors Connects to modern hard disk drives, solid state drives and
optical drives for data transfer. See image above for a
close-up view.

14. Fan Headers Supplies power to the CPU heat sink fan and computer case
fans. See image above for a close-up view.

15. RAM Slots Insert RAM here. To learn how to install RAM, click here
for our guide to installing RAM.

16. ATX Power Connector Connects to the 24-pin ATX power cable of a power supply
unit which supplies power to the motherboard.

17. mSATA Connector Connects to a mSATA solid state drive. In most cases, this
SSD is used as cache to speed up hard disk drives, but it's
possible to re-purpose it as a regular hard drive.

18. Front Panel USB 3.0 Connects to USB 3.0 ports at the front or top of the
Connector computer case.
19. Power & Reset Button Onboard button to turn on, turn off and reboot the
computer.

This motherboard component is more common among high

end boards.

4 main parts of a computer

system?
Input device (like a keyboard), output device (like a monitor), memory (like a hard
drive), and processor (Intel is a designer of these).

MARKETING
MACHINES
In the digital world we live in, it can be easy to take for granted the many parts
that make up those machines helping us deliver on our daily tasks here at
Flood Marketing. Those machines we’re talking about, computers!

All our tasks, writing, social media, producing video, emailing, accounting,
conferencing, designing… are all done on computers. Our devices must be
able to hold an incredible amount of data to organize and protect our
countless files, graphics, and documents. We also need these devices to work
quickly so that no time is wasted in completing our work.

If we aren’t on our computers, we’re on our phones (also mini-computers).

That’s just how we all function best. And if you’re reading this, we’re guessing
you also use one. But do we know what power we hold in these machines?
We do now!

Our Video Editor, Luke, dropped the knowledge on us all this week on how
computers are pieced together. Your basic comput

Your basic computer consists of seven major parts:

  Motherboard
 Processor/CPU
 Power Supply
 Hard Drive
 PCI-Express Cards
 Graphics Cards
 RAM/Memory

Hardware Components

The terms input and output say if data flow into or out of the computer. The picture
shows the major hardware components of a computer system. The arrows show the
direction of data flow.

A bus is a group of wires on the main circuit board of the computer. It is a pathway for
data flowing between components. Most devices are connected to the bus through
a controller which coordinates the activities of the device with the bus.

The processor is an electronic device about a one inch square, covered in plastic.
Inside the square is an even smaller square of silicon containing millions of tiny
electrical parts. A modern processor may contain billions of transistors. It does the
fundamental computing within the system, and directly or indirectly controls all the other
components.

The processor is sometimes called the Central Processing Unit or CPU. A particular
computer will have a particular type of processor, such as a Pentium processor or a
SPARC processor.

How many transistors do you think the first commercial processor chip had in 1971?
Click on a guess:

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Introduction
The basic parts of a desktop computer are the computer
case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cord. Each part plays
an important role whenever you use a computer.

Watch the video below to learn about the basic parts of a desktop
computer.

The computer case is the metal and plastic box that contains the main
components of the computer, including the motherboard, central
processing unit (CPU), and power supply. The front of the case usually has
an On/Off button and one or more optical drives.

Computer cases come in different shapes and sizes. A desktop case lies flat
on a desk, and the monitor usually sits on top of it. A tower case is tall and
sits next to the monitor or on the floor. All-in-one computers come with the
internal components built into the monitor, which eliminates the need for a
separate case.
Monitor

The monitor works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to
display images and text on the screen. Most monitors have control
buttons that allow you to change your monitor's display settings, and some
monitors also have built-in speakers.

Newer monitors usually have LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-
emitting diode) displays. These can be made very thin, and they are often
called flat-panel displays. Older monitors use CRT (cathode ray tube)
displays. CRT monitors are much larger and heavier, and they take up more
desk space.

Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with a computer.
There are many different types of keyboards, but most are very similar and
allow you to accomplish the same basic tasks.

Click the buttons in the interactive below to learn about the different parts
of the keyboard.
The mouse is another important tool for communicating with computers.
Commonly known as a pointing device, it lets you point to objects on the
screen, click on them, and move them.

There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical.

The optical mouse uses an electronic eye to detect movement and is easier
to clean. The mechanical mouse uses a rolling ball to detect movement and
requires regular cleaning to work properly.

Touchpad: A touchpad—also called a trackpad—is a touch-sensitive pad

that lets you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your
finger. Touchpads are common on laptop computers.
Disassembling the computer system
Detach the power cable:

The disassembling of the computer system starts with externally connected device detachment.
Make sure the computer system is turned off, if not then successfully shut down the system and then
start detaching the external devices from the computer system. It includes removing the power cable
from electricity switchboard, then remove the cable from SMPS (switch mode power supply) from the
back of the CPU Cabinet. Do not start the disassembling without detaching the power cable from the
computer system. Now remove the remaining external devices like keyboard, mouse, monitor,
printer or scanner from the back of CPU cabinet.
Remove the Cover:

The standard way of removing tower cases used to be to undo the screws on the back of the case,
slide the cover back about an inch and lift it off. The screwdrivers as per the type of screw are
required to do the task.

Remove the adapter cards:

Make sure if the card has any cables or wires that might be attached and decide if it would be easier
to remove them before or after you remove the card. Remove the screw if any, that holds the card in
place. Grab the card by its edges, front and back, and gently rock it lengthwise to release it.
Remove the drives:

Removing drives is easier. There can be possibly three types of drives present in your computer
system, Hard disk drive, CD/DVD/Blue-ray drives, floppy disk drives (almost absolute now a day).
They usually have a power connector and a data cable attached from the device to a controller card
or a connector on the motherboard. CD/DVD/Blue Ray drive may have an analog cable connected to
the sound card for direct audio output.

The power may be attached using one of two connectors, a Molex connector or a Berg connector for
the drive. The Molex connector may require to be wiggled slightly from side to side and apply gentle
pressure outwards. The Berg connector may just pull out or it may have a small tab which has to be
lifted with a screwdriver.
Now Pull data cables off from the drive as well as motherboard connector. The hard disk drive and
CD/DVD drives have two types of data cables. IDE and SATA cables. The IDE cables need better
care while being removed as it may cause the damage to drive connector pins. Gently wiggle the
cable sideways and remove it. The SATA cables can be removed easily by pressing the tab and
pulling the connector straight back.
Now remove the screws and slide the drive out the back of the bay.
Remove the memory module:

Memory modules are mounted on the motherboard as the chips that can be damaged by manual
force if applied improperly. Be careful and handle the chip only by the edges. SIMMs and DIMMs are
removed in a different way:

 SIMM - gently push back the metal tabs while holding the SIMM chips in the socket. Tilt the
SIMM chip away from the tabs until a 45% angle. It will now lift out of the socket. Put SIMM in a
safe place.
 DIMM- There are plastic tabs on the end of the DIMM sockets. Press the tabs down and away
from the socket. The DIMM will lift slightly. Now grab it by the edges and place it safely. Do not
let the chips get dust at all.
 Remove the power supply:

 The power supply is attached into tower cabinet at the top back end of the tower. Make sure
the power connector is detached from the switchboard. Start removing the power connector
connected to motherboard including CPU fan power connector, cabinet fan, the front panel of
cabinet power buttons and all the remaining drives if not detached yet.

 Now remove the screws of SMPS from the back of the cabinet and the SMPS can be
detached from the tower cabinet.

 Remove the motherboard:

 Before removing all the connectors from the motherboard, make sure u memorize the
connectors for assembling the computer if required, as that may require connecting the
connectors at its place. Remove the screws from the back of the motherboard and you will
be able to detach it from the cabinet. Now remove the CPU fan from the motherboard. The
heat sink will be visible now which can be removed by the pulling the tab upward. Finally, the
processor is visible now, which can be removed by the plastic tab which can be pulled back
one stretching it side way.

 Assembling the computer system

 The assembling of the computer system is exactly the opposite of disassembling operation.
Before starting assembling the computer system, make sure you have the screws and a
screwdriver for those.

 The first step for assembling the computer system starts with mounting the processor on the
processor socket of the motherboard. To mount the process, you don't need to apply any
force. The special ZIF (zero insertion force) sockets are usually used to prevent any damage
to the processor pins. Once the processor is mounted, the heat sink will be attached on top
of the processor. The CPU fan is also attached on top of the heat sink.

 Now the motherboard is to be fixed vertically in the tower case and the screws are fixed from
behind of the motherboard.

 Now line up the power supply at the top back end of the cabinet and screw it. The power
connectors for motherboard power supply and CPU fan power supply are to be connected. If
the cabinet cooling FAN is required then it is to be screwed at the back end grill of the
cabinet and its power connector is to be connected from SMPS.

 Install the CD/DVD drives at the top front end of the cabinet and screw it. Install the Hard
disk drive and floppy disk drive below CD/DVD drive and screw it. Make sure once screwed
there is no vibration in either of the CD/DVD, Hard disk or Floppy disk drives.

 Now select the appropriate data cable and connect one end of the cable to its drive socket
and another end at its appropriate connector on the motherboard. For SATA hard disk drive
or CD/DVD drives use SATA cable and its power cable, else use IDE data cable. Do the
proper jumper settings as per the usage requirement.

 It is time now to mount the memory modules on the motherboard by aligning the RAM to its
socket on the motherboard and press it downward. Make sure the side tab are fixed into the
RAM notch. If not, you may still have to press a bit.

 Install the internal cards to its socket and attach the cables or power cable to it. The selection
of right socket or slot is required as per the type of socket.

 Cover the tower by placing it and pressing towards front side and screw it.

 Connect the external devices with CPU at its appropriate socket. It includes mouse and
keyboard at PS2 or USB connectors. Monitor at the video output socket. Connect the power
cable to the back of tower in SMPS. Plug in the power cable to the electric board.