A computer’s hardware is the physical parts that perform its tasks. Hardware includes internal devices that collect and store instructions from software, as well as external tools used for input and output.
The CPU follows the instructions sent from software; RAM stores bits for quick access, and hard drives store long term persistent storage (even when power is removed). Other important components include a display and a power supply unit.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the primary circuit board that connects all the other pieces of hardware inside your computer. The flat piece of green plastic is where you plug in different parts, like the central processing unit, memory, and a hard drive. It also has a cooling fan to eliminate any heat generated by all of the other components.
It regulates voltage and allows communication between different components. It may also include extra ports for peripherals and storage, e.g., a USB-C port, or support for NVMe (nonvolatile memory express) solid-state drives.
Processor
The processor is the heart of your computer and a major reason why it is so fast. It is the central processing unit, or brain of your computer, and it tells all of the hardware components like your disk drives and screen what to do.
The CPU operates by fetching instructions from memory (usually random access memory) and decoding them. Then it executes the instructions.
There are different types of processors, and they vary in the number of cores they have and their speed. Some are designed for everyday computing, while others have more cores and are built for more powerful tasks like video editing and gaming.
RAM
RAM is the place where data lives when you are surfing the web or editing a document. It is temporary storage and can process information far faster than stored data on a hard drive, twenty to a hundred times faster depending on the hardware and task.
Memory works by transmitting data every other pulse of the system clock. Modern RAM uses DDR technology that allows it to send more than one bit of data during each pulse, resulting in faster speeds. Memory is sold in sticks that plug into slots on the motherboard.
Hard Drive
Hard drives store all of the information, photos, videos and documents that are saved on your computer. They use circular aluminum, glass or ceramic disks with a thin magnetic coating to store the binary 1s and 0s of data permanently.
The disks spin inside a solid encasement and are read by an arm that moves left and right over the surface. This physical movement makes them less reliable than a modern SSD, but they are also much cheaper per gigabyte and offer larger storage capacities.
Hardware is anything you can touch, but software is what runs on top of it all.
Graphics Card
A graphics card takes image information from the CPU and converts it into pixels (tiny squares of color that combine to create images on your computer monitor). It can also help a computer produce higher-resolution images, like HD or 4K.
Graphics cards can either be integrated into the motherboard or separate components that slip into an expansion slot on the motherboard. Integrated graphics are found in laptops and cannot be upgraded, while a discrete GPU can be replaced as newer technology becomes available.
A separate GPU requires a dedicated memory called video RAM (VRAM), which holds both information and completed pictures while the card is processing them. The card also needs power connectors and a heat sink to prevent overheating.
Sound Card
A sound card converts digital bits, the computer’s language of 1s and 0s, into analog output for speakers or headphones. It also can input analog signals from microphones.
Many older computers have their own motherboard-integrated sound cards, including the Apple IIGS, C64, Commodore 64, SGI Indigo, MSX, Falcon, Archimedes, and ZX Spectrum. These typically have specialized chips that support real-time generation of music and sound effects using minimal data and CPU time.
External sound adapters (USB DACs) are sometimes used for advanced audio recording and playback. However, it has become common to incorporate basic sound card capabilities into the motherboard as digital recording and playback became more widespread and component prices decreased.
Network Card
A network interface card (NIC) is a computer hardware component that connects a device to a data network. It transmits data at the physical layer and delivers packets at the network layer.
It is an important component of a computer, as it helps to communicate with a local network (LAN) or larger-scale networks through internet protocol. A NIC can be integrated into the motherboard or inserted in expansion slots like server network cards.
The brain of the NIC is the controller chip, which processes all the data it receives. It performs various functions such as data conversion, error detection, and packet prioritization. It also provides LED indicators to help users identify working status.