Computer hardware is the physical parts of a computer. It includes components like the motherboard, CPU, RAM and video card. It also refers to the internal hard disk.
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Motherboard
The motherboard is the central printed circuit board (also known as the mainboard) in a computer that connects to every other part of the system. It also holds the CPU socket where the central processing unit is installed. This allows data to be transferred between the processor and other components like memory modules and graphics cards inside the case through the motherboard’s busses or data lanes.
Motherboards come in a range of sizes to accommodate different types of hardware. They have ports for connecting external devices and can support different types of expansion slots such as PCIe or M.2 (which fits small expansion devices such as NVMe SSDs). Dedicated GPUs typically fit into x16 slots, while storage and network adaptors may use a smaller M.2 slot.
CPU
Known as the brain of your computer, the processor tells other hardware components what to do. The CPU executes every action you perform on your computer, from opening files to playing games.
The CPU consists of a control unit and an arithmetic logic unit. The control unit gathers and interprets instructions, while the arithmetic logic unit performs basic arithmetic and logic operations. The arithmetic logic unit also serves as a data doorway between primary and secondary storage.
A CPU’s performance depends on its core count and clock frequency. A single-core CPU can only handle one task at a time, while dual-core and quad-core CPUs are better for multitasking. Additionally, the number of memory channels a CPU supports determines how fast it can communicate with RAM.
RAM
RAM is the short-term storage that holds all the information that your computer needs to perform tasks like running applications, opening web browser tabs and streaming movies. Its data is processed much faster than that stored on hard drives or solid-state drives, and it allows multiple programs to run simultaneously without slowing down your machine.
The type of RAM used in computers includes SRAM, SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), DDR (Double Data Rate) and RDIMMs (Registered DIMMs). Each type works differently.
SRAM uses transistors to hold its data, and continuously refreshes it using low power. It is fast and reliable, but not as long-lasting as ROM or other non-volatile storage. The newer DDR technologies send data during both the upper and lower parts of a pulse, increasing performance.
Video Card
Video cards are a crucial piece of hardware in modern computers that enable users to see visuals on their monitors. They contain graphics processor cores that do a huge number of repetitive math calculations to manipulate pixels into the images we recognize as drawings, shapes and videos.
These cores take in data transmitted by the CPU through bus lines and break it into tiny pieces of ones and zeroes called pixels. These are then sent through the card’s digital-to-analog converter to a display device like a monitor, which displays the pixels as visual images.
The GPU can be integrated into the motherboard or plugged into an expansion slot on the motherboard. It can also be replaced or upgraded. You can find out what kind of graphics card is in your computer by using free system information tools or by opening the case.
Hard Drive
Hard disk drives (HDD) store and retrieve the gigabytes of information that make up your computer’s files. They’re a reliable, durable way to keep your work and applications on hand when you need them.
HDDs use rigid rapidly rotating disks coated with magnetic material to store data. The data is organized into tracks on each platter, which are accessed by a read/write head. A precise arm moves the head assembly across each track to retrieve a byte of data, and the drive electronics convert the analog signals into digital ones for the CPU.
Modern hard drives use shingled magnetic recording technology to increase the number of tracks per platter. In addition, they utilize zone bit writing to increase the write speed in outer zones and improve areal density.