PARTS OF A COMPUTER

AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

Angelica P. Adepin
BASIC PARTS OF A COMPUTER
AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Here is a complete list of all the common computer
hardware components and common peripherals used with them.
1. The computer case or system unit
This component holds all of the physical parts of a computer system.
It is usually designed in such a manner to make fitting a
motherboard, wiring, and primary and secondary storage devices as
easy as possible. Some are designed so well that it is easy to make
everything look tidy and presentable.
They can also accommodate CD or DVD drives, allowing the user to
listen to music using compact discs or watch Blu-ray movies from
their computer.
2. Motherboard
The motherboard is the main board mounted directly inside the
computer case. All other cards plug directly into the motherboard,
hence its name.
It is a printed circuit board in which the CPU, RAM, drives, power
supply, expansion cards, and more are plugged into it.
Its function involves integrating all the physical components to
communicate and operate together.
3. Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU or central processing unit is basically like the brain of
computer systems. It processes all the information on a
computational level.
It takes all the processes from the RAM and processes them to
perform the tasks required by the computer system.
The faster the processor, the more instructions it can execute at
any given time.
4. Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM is a data storage device that can provide fast read and write
access. RAM is volatile memory, meaning it loses all the stored data
when power is lost.
The RAM keeps data ready for the CPU to process. The RAM speed
is a big contributor to the overall speed of a computer system.
It plugs directly into a long slot that has contacts on either side of
the slot.
5. Graphics Card or Graphics Processing Unit
(GPU)
A graphics card is an output device that processes the data from
the motherboard and sends the appropriate information to the
computer’s screen for display.
You can connect monitors to it using HDMI, DisplayPort, DVI, or
VGA connectors.
It can also be referred to as a video or display card.
A video card takes the burden of all the video processing from the
main CPU. This gives a computer a big boost in performance.
6. Sound Card
Most of the time, the sound chip built into the motherboard is used
for audio output.
But, if you are a sound enthusiast or prefer high-quality audio output
while playing a game, you might be inclined to use a sound card.
Sound cards plug into a computer in multiple ways. It can be through
USB, PCI slot, or PCI Express x 1 slot.
7. Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
A hard drive is still found in many PCs to this day. A mechanical
drive’s purpose is to store all your information for retrieval at any
time.

Software
Apart from storing information for your computer, hard disk drives
also function as a boot drive to run the operating system (OS) from
it. You can install operating systems of many different kinds
depending on your needs. An OS is a software program installed,
making a computer useable, like Microsoft Windows. The biggest
vulnerability of a mechanical drive is its physically fragile nature.

They have fragile components

One bump the wrong way can destroy a whole drive. A mechanical
hard drive contains one or more platters that spin anywhere between
5200 to 10000 RPM (revolutions per minute).
The read and write heads are about 0.002 (51 micro M) inches from
the platter.
This gives you an idea about the physical limitations of its fragile
nature.
8. Solid State Drive (SSD)
An SSD is also a type of hard drive, but it doesn’t have any moving
bits. It consists of a bank of flash memory that can hold a
reasonable amount of information.
While the capacity of SSDs is increasing, they aren’t cost-effective
for storing large amounts.
9. Power Supply Unit (PSU)
A power supply unit mounts inside the computer case. It converts
the AC mains supply from the power cord from a wall socket and
supplies the correct DC voltages to all the parts of a computer

10. Monitor or Visual Display Unit (VDU)

A monitor is an output device to visualize the graphics information
sent from the computer’s GPU.
There are various types of monitors on the market. An LED (Light
Emitting Diode) backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor is the
most commonly used with a modern PC.

11. Keyboard
A keyboard is an input device that is one of the ways to communicate
with a computer. Typing a key from the keyboard sends a small
portion of information to tell it which key was pressed.

12. Mouse
A mouse is an input device that allows the user to move a pointer
displayed on the monitor and experience a more intuitive interaction
with computer systems.

Common peripheral parts for computers

Some common peripherals connect to a computer and extend their
usefulness.

Printer
A printer can take an image sent by a computer and deliver it onto a
sheet of paper.
It does this by using the information from the computer, and by
either using toner or ink, it deposits one of these in a controlled and
accurate manner to form the image.

Scanner
A scanner can take anything on paper, and it functions by scanning it
to produce a replicated digital image for a computer to save.
Multifunction printers

Many all-in-one, multifunction devices have printer and scanning

capabilities in one reasonably compact product, which has dominated
the market over recent years and continues to grow.
The most common models include an inkjet printer and scanner for
home use and a laser printer version for home and other office
applications.

Computer Speakers
Speakers can connect to the sound card at the rear of the
computer.

For more full immersion

Generally, the sound quality is poor from a monitor’s speakers. That’s
why most people buy a set of computer speakers for their desks.
You can even connect up a 7.1 surround speaker system to certain
sound cards for a computer.
This can add a nicer experience to gaming, playing music, or watching
a film.

A microphone
A microphone is essential for anyone who requires decent audio
recording or capturing. They can range widely in price, from
extremely cheap to very expensive, depending on the individual’s
profession or application.
A camera or webcam
Desktop users often use cameras when they’re not using a laptop or
other portable communication device with an inbuilt camera.
Again, quality can vary depending on how much someone is willing to
spend. They allow many applications, including video or conference
calls, webinars, or presentations, and gamers to be streamed from
their seats.

Conclusion
That covers all the components of a computer system. All of these
play a vital function in making everything work.

Once you understand these basic parts to a memorable level, it

probably won’t be long until you repair or build desktops yourself.

From here, I recommend that you go and read about knowing which
computer parts are compatible with each other.