Hardware is all the physical components that comprise a computer system. This includes the processor, memory, storage and communications interfaces.
A typical desktop motherboard contains a CPU socket and slots for inserting RAM modules. The CPU is a fingernail-sized chip with a metal cover that conducts heat to the CPU’s (not shown) heat sink.
Motherboard
The motherboard is the central hub of your computer system. It houses essential circuits, chips, sockets and slots that determine the performance, expandability and compatibility of your PC hardware.
Modern motherboards connect CPUs directly to RAM, from which they fetch instructions for running programs. They also manage communications with expansion slots that hold devices like graphics cards and storage drives.
Look for a motherboard with enough expansion slots for your planned system setup, as well as SATA connections and USB ports. Check that the motherboard supports the type of RAM you plan to use and consider its compatibility with newer storage technologies such as M.2.
Processor
The processor is the brain that tells your computer’s other hardware what to do. It has one or more cores that can handle different types of tasks, with some processors offering more power for heavy-duty operations like video editing and pro gaming.
The processor works by fetching instructions from program memory in a systems RAM (Random Access Memory) and then decoding them. It then translates the instructions into signals that control other parts of the CPU. The arithmetic logic unit performs arithmetic and logical operations on data, while the registers supply operands to the ALU and hold the results of operation execution.
RAM
RAM is short-term memory that the computer uses to open files, run apps and other tasks. It’s a series of capacitors and transistors that send bits of information to the microprocessor quickly, so it can process it right away.
It’s volatile, which means it loses its data if the system shuts down, unlike a hard disk drive or solid-state drive, which retain their contents indefinitely. There are different types of RAM that trade off speed and capacity for price, including SRAM, DRAM, NVDIMM and L1 cache, which is built inside the CPU.
Graphics Card
The Graphics Card (or GPU) is a hardware component that permits your PC to read different graphic pictures. It additionally helps your computer run quicker and more proficiently than it would without one.
It can handle a number of different video outputs including HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI. Most GPUs also have fans and a heat sink to help dissipate the initial heat accumulation from constant operation.
A high-end GPU can support up to 8 gigabytes of VRAM, which is more than enough for most gamers and those who do 3-D graphic work. GPUs typically come in the form of a separate card that slots into an expansion slot on the motherboard.
Sound Card
A sound card allows a digital data stream of 1’s and 0’s to be transmitted and received. It also converts the analog audio signals that come into your computer into digitized data.
Originally, most computers had very rudimentary onboard sound. The audio circuitry picked up electrical noise from things like hard drive spinning and seeking, fans, display refreshes and even moving the mouse.
If you want to hear night and day difference in audio quality (particularly positional surround accuracy) or just have more input/output options then a dedicated sound card is the way to go. Otherwise, an external USB DAC/amp is just as good.
Network Card
A network card is an expansion card that allows a computer to connect to a local area network (LAN). The card can be either wireless or wired. It is also known as a NIC, network interface card or Ethernet adapter.
Most new computers have a built-in Ethernet network card on their motherboards. Older computers often require a separate NIC that plugs into an external RJ-45 connector.
Each NIC has a unique physical address that distinguishes it from other cards on the same network. This is called the MAC address and it is burned into the network card by its manufacturer.
Disk Drives
Hard disk drives are where you store your files, music, applications and other programs. They come in several forms, but the most common are 3.5-inch (for desktops) and 2.5-inch (for laptops).
The heart of a hard drive is its spindle motor, which rotates the disc-like platters. A central shaft sits below the platters, surrounded by stationary electromagnets that interact with the rotating platters to induce rotational force.
The read/write heads sit on a light, flexible suspension arm. The head actuator arm moves the heads over the platter surfaces to land on a landing area for safekeeping.