COMPUTER HARDWARE

The physical parts of a computer are what we call hardware. They are the parts that you can touch. And these electronic and mechanical parts are either internal or external.

The internal parts are located inside the system unit while external parts are seen outside which connected to the system unit through cables or wireless connection. Hardware devices linked to the computer operations such as input, processing, output and storage.

All of the hardware components are interconnected by sets of wires called buses on the motherboard.

Motherboard

The main circuit board of the computer chips and some electronic components are attached known as motherboard. Below is the typical view of a motherboard.




Power Supply

CPU
The central processing unit or CPU contains of complex and integrated circuit are connected directly to the motherboard. Computer experts call CPU as the “heart” of the computer. Personal computers (PC) today are manufactured by Intel or AMD (Advanced Micro Devices).

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Single In-Line Memory Module (SIMM)
Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM)











Small Outline Dual In-Line Memory Module (SODIMM)










































RAM is often associated with volatile types of memory (such as DRAM memory modules), where its stored information is lost if the power is removed.

Storage Devices
Your computer has one or more disk drives—devices that store information on a metal or plastic disk. The disk preserves the information even when your computer is turned off.

Hard disk drive
Your computer's hard disk drive stores information on a hard disk, a rigid platter or stack of platters with a magnetic surface. Because hard disks can hold massive amounts of information, they usually serve as your computer's primary means of storage, holding almost all of your programs and files. The hard disk drive is normally located inside the system unit.

Optical Drives
Nearly all computers today come equipped with a CD or DVD drive, usually located on the front of the system unit. CD drives use lasers to read (retrieve) data from a CD, and many CD drives can also write (record) data, store copies of your files, use a CD drive to play music CDs on your computer.


An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the optical media. There are three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD).

CD
DVD drives can do everything that CD drives can, plus read DVDs. If you have a DVD drive, you can watch movies on your computer and can record data onto blank DVDs.

Floppy disk drive

Floppy disk drives store information on floppy disks, also called floppies or diskettes. Compared to CDs and DVDs, floppy disks can store only a small amount of data. They also retrieve information more slowly and are more prone to damage.

Floppy disk

External Flash Drive
An external flash drive, also known as a thumb drive, is a removable storage device that connects to a USB port. An external flash drive uses the same type of non-volatile memory chips as solid state drives and does not require power to maintain the data. These drives can be accessed by the operating system in the same way that other types of drives are


Peripherals

It refers to the external devices that connects to the computer and other hardware. It extends the capabilities of the computer to input or output functions. Examples of the input devices are keyboard, mouse, light pen, and output devices are monitor, speakers, and printer