Computer hardware is the physical parts of a computer system. It includes things like the central processing unit (CPU), motherboard, memory and storage. It also includes input devices such as keyboards and touchpads, output devices such as monitors, and other gadgets that make a computer run.
Computer hardware is closely associated with software, which collaborates with it to execute tasks and provide results.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the “spine” of a computer, managing the interconnections of every component and providing a platform to install additional components. It houses a CPU socket, RAM slots, expansion slots, and various connectors.
The CPU (as the mechanical “brain”) communicates with other hardware using a chipset, which relays instructions from the CPU to RAM and expansion cards. The motherboard also features a memory controller that helps manage working proram data, and it provides connectors for storage devices such as hard disk drives and solid-state drives (SSDs).
A motherboard’s BIOS or UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) software performs initialization tasks such as the Power-On Self-Test during startup. The board also generates clock signals to synchronize different components’ operations, avoiding data errors and preventing bottlenecks that slow performance.
Processor
A computer’s central processing unit (CPU) interprets and executes most of the instructions that a software program gives it. Its four primary functions are fetch, decode, execute and write back. A CPU has a number of memory locations called registers that hold operands and the results of instructions. It also has a cache, a fast memory that stores frequently accessed data and instructions to reduce the amount of time it takes to retrieve them from main memory.
Processors come in different types that are designed for specific tasks, performance needs and power consumption requirements. Intel and AMD manufacture processors that range from inexpensive models that are great for everyday computing to more powerful ones that provide extra processing power for heavy-duty applications and specialized calculations.
Memory
The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of your computer. It guides your hardware as it processes data, much like a human brain guides a body. A CPU’s speed — measured in gigahertz (GHz) — determines how fast it operates.
RAM, or random access memory, works closely with the CPU to temporarily store information created by programs so it’s immediately accessible. It is a volatile form of memory, meaning the information it stores gets erased when your computer shuts down.
Most modern PCs use DIMM (dual inline memory module) slots to hold RAM. Desktop PCs running Windows usually fit the modules into matching pairs, while laptops and mini PCs use smaller SO-DIMM forms of RAM that are arranged in quartets. The best performance comes from identical sets of DIMMs installed in matching channels on the motherboard.
Graphics Card
GPU is the dedicated processor (like a second math chip) inside Graphics Card that does all the heavy lifting to render images and video onto your screen. It’s the most important component in your PC for gaming and accelerating AI data processing.
GPUs are measured in terms of their ability to create 3-D images by calculating the number of triangles or vertices per second. This process transforms binary code into pixels and adds lighting, texture and color. Without it, your computer would struggle to run even basic apps and games.
GPUs have evolved alongside computer display standards from the early days of IBM compatibles, through Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA), Hercules Graphics Card (EGA) and VGA. Graphics cards can be built into your motherboard or separate and attached to the motherboard via a dedicated slot.
Hard Drive
The hard drive stores all of your data. It’s a stack of disk platters inside a solid encasement that spins extremely fast, allowing your computer to access data instantly. Unlike optical drives, HDDs store data magnetically, so it stays on the disks even when the computer is turned off.
A hard disk drive’s seek time depends on its rotational speed (measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM) and its connection type. The higher the spin speed, the faster the drive can find a file.
Modern HDDs have storage capacities of 500GB or more, and they can be connected to systems by ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment), USB, SAS, or SCSI cables. They can also be connected to a desktop system using the eSATA port of a docking station.