Computer hardware is any physical component that contributes to a computer system. This includes the motherboard, CPU, RAM and internal storage.
The parts inside a PC have changed a bit over the years, but they still perform similar overall functions. Today’s better labeled cases and faster components help, but the basic setup remains the same.
Motherboard
The motherboard connects all the devices that make up a computer system. It acts like the nervous system of a computer by connecting all of the components and ensuring that they function properly.
It includes a socket into which the CPU — the brain of your computer that interprets and executes digital instructions — is inserted. The motherboard also features memory slots that hold RAM modules, which store temporary data for quick retrieval by the CPU.
The motherboard also has expansion slots that allow you to install PCIe expansion cards that provide high-speed connections between the main components of your system. These expansion cards work over PCIe, a serial expansion bus that has standardized lanes like x1, x4, x8, and x16.
Processor
The processor of a computer acts like the brain, telling everything from the graphics processing unit to the disk drives and screen what to do. There are many different processors, each designed with a specific purpose and level of performance.
Some are built to handle everyday computing, while others offer more power for demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming. A common brand is Intel, which offers a variety of CPUs with different core counts, speed and price levels.
The primary functions of a processor include fetching and decoding instructions, arithmetic logic units and registers. An additional circuit, called an address generation unit, calculates addresses for accessing main memory, saving CPU cycles.
RAM
The RAM is the computer’s short-term memory. It stores the files and applications that are currently running and provides lightning-fast data access, compared to the relatively slow process of searching for information on your hard drive.
It takes the form of integrated circuits soldered directly to the motherboard or packaged into modules that plug into sockets on the logic board. There are different types of RAM, like SRAM (which uses transistors that preserve memory as long as a steady trickle of power flows through them) and DRAM (which uses capacitors that need to be refreshed with comparatively large bursts of electricity every millisecond).
Some RAM is called ECC RAM, which has the capability to detect and correct errors in stored information. This makes it a good choice for mission-critical applications, like computers used to run medical imaging programs.
Hard Drive
A hard disk drive (HDD) stores and retrieves data files. They are usually fixed inside a system cabinet and connected to the motherboard with a standard interface cable, such as SATA.
Modern HDDs store data on platter surfaces using organizational elements called tracks and sectors. Each sector stores a fixed number of bytes.
Several factors influence performance, including spin speed (rotations per minute or RPM), seek time and data rate. Write caching, defragmentation and other features can help improve performance. The capacity of an HDD is measured in gigabytes and terabytes. Individuals who frequently use video and audio will require more storage. 1 TB to 2 TB is adequate for most users.
Graphics Card
The GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is the piece of hardware that renders the 3D images on your monitor. Modern GPUs are multifunctional and support tasks that extend far beyond gaming.
They can transmit audio alongside video to connected TVs or monitors for a full multimedia experience. They can also connect to multiple other cards for enhanced graphical performance through SLI or Crossfire.
A graphics card has its own dedicated memory called video RAM (VRAM), where it stores data about primitives and their colors. It also holds completed pixels until they’re ready to be displayed on the screen. This is different from integrated graphics, which uses the same system memory as the CPU.
Monitor
The monitor (also called a VDU or visual display unit) is the main output device that displays information sent from the computer in pictorial form. This includes text, images and videos. It also allows users to interact with software applications and graphical interfaces.
Feature sets vary by model and can include factors like color depth, gamut, response time and power consumption. For example, higher color depth allows for more shades of white and gray while high gamut means the screen can display more colors without sacrificing detail.
Moreover, they can be used to monitor servers for critical performance metrics like server temperatures and CPU load. This helps identify potential issues and improve server performance.