Computer hardware refers to the physical parts that make a computer work. It includes the central processing unit, a chip that takes instructions from software and performs calculations and tasks.
The flat motherboard in this picture is where the processor is plugged in, with slots for memory modules (DIMMs). The gray stuff on the metal CPU chip cover is thermal paste, helping conduct heat up to the processor’s heat sink.
Motherboard
The motherboard connects all the components of your computer to make it function. It includes a CPU socket and RAM slots, expansion slots for adding external devices like graphics cards and storage, and other ports for connecting input/output devices like USB or audio jacks.
Modern motherboards usually have chipsets that allow the central processing unit (CPU), memory, and expansion slots to communicate with each other. The chipset controls other buses on the motherboard, including additional PCIe lanes for expansion cards, SATA connections, and ports such as USB.
The motherboard also has power connectors that supply electrical power to the other components in your computer. These include the main 24-pin ATX power supply connector and smaller auxiliary connectors for case fans. In addition, the motherboard contains a CMOS battery to store the BIOS configuration and settings.
Processor
The processor, also called the microprocessor or CPU, is the brain of the computer and it tells other components like graphics processing units, disk drives, and monitors what to do. It does this by executing a series of complex calculations and tasks.
Each instruction the CPU receives must be fetched from memory, decoded by microprocessor circuitry, retrieved from memory, executed and then written back to memory. To speed things up, modern CPUs have cache memory (L1 and L2) built into the processor.
A specialized coprocessor called the floating point unit performs math and numeric operations faster than the microprocessor can, and this reduces the number of CPU cycles required to process machine instructions. The CPU’s clock speed, measured in megahertz, determines how fast it can perform data processing and other functions.
RAM
RAM is temporary storage that gets wiped when you turn off your computer. Its lightning-fast data access is ideal for the processes, apps and files your computer is currently working on (like surfing the web through your browser).
Unlike secondary storage like hard disks or solid-state drives, RAM can process data much faster because it’s stored in a random order. This makes it useful for applications that require quick processing, like playing games or streaming videos.
RAM comes in the form of a rectangular flat circuit board with memory chips attached, called a memory module. It’s critical that your computer has enough RAM to enable you to multitask and run all your apps smoothly. There are two main types of RAM: SRAM and DRAM, which use different technology to store data. SRAM uses transistors that preserve memory as long as a steady trickle of power is flowing, while DRAM relies on capacitors that must be refreshed with comparatively large bursts of energy every millisecond.
Hard Drive
The hard drive stores data that has been saved by the computer. These files can be anything from the ASCII codes for letters to the instructions for running a program or the pixel colors in an image file. The computer uses the information stored in the hard drive to run programs and display the results on a screen or pipe them through speakers.
The modern hard disk drive records user data by magnetizing a thin film of ferromagnetic material on both sides of the platters. The rotational speed of the platters drives an actuator arm that positions a read/write head over the data-encoded area of each platter.
Modern HDDs use a technology called “shingled magnetic recording,” which increases the number of tracks on each platter and reduces seek time by overlapping the magnetic track zones like shingles on a roof. A HDD also contains spare sectors used for error-detecting and correction (ECC).
Graphics Card
A Graphics card is an external hardware that is used to increase the video memory of your computer and make it capable of doing high-level work. It is very important for gaming and video editing. It works with the CPU to make the image more clear and sharp.
The GPU processes image information from the CPU and converts it into pixels (tiny squares of color that combine to form complete images on your monitor or display). High-definition images have two times as many pixels as standard-definition ones.
A newer technology called mesh shading offloads complex culling and geometry processing tasks from the CPU to the GPU, resulting in performance gains in scenes with dense geometric detail. Recent GPUs also decode HD videos on the chip, offloading the CPU from this task.