Computer hardware consists of external and internal devices that perform major functions like input, output, storage and communication. Software, in contrast, describes the non-physical computer programs that instruct the hardware to carry out specific actions.
A PC’s motherboard is the central hub that connects and allows communication between other components. It typically has slots for adding hardware like a GPU and front panel connectors.
Motherboard
The motherboard provides lines of communication between the various add-in components in your computer. It houses essential circuits, chips, sockets and slots that determine performance, expandability and compatibility, and regulates the power from your power supply unit to keep everything operating safely.
The CPU socket holds your processor and enables data exchange between your processor and other components like memory or graphics cards via the motherboard’s buses (data lanes). It also supports multiple expansion slot standards such as the popular mini-ITX standard for small form factor PCs.
The BIOS (or its more user-friendly successor, the UEFI) is stored on a chip on the motherboard and provides firmware-level instructions for launching your system. Motherboards also feature power connectors for receiving electrical power from the PSU and auxiliary connectors to attach storage devices or peripherals.
Processor
A tiny but powerful chip that turns inputs into outputs, the processor (also known as the central processing unit) is what makes your PC fast. It executes basic computing functions billions of times a second.
It has four primary functions: fetch, decode, execute, and store. It fetches instructions from memory, converts them to binary code using a decoder circuitry, executes those instructions, and then writes feedback to a memory location that contains results of those operations.
It can use registers, which are small, high-speed memory units that hold instructions and data. It can also incorporate a floating point unit, which performs math faster than basic microprocessor circuitry can.
RAM
When you play a video game or stream a movie from the internet, your computer stores that data in RAM so its processor can access it quickly. When the processor no longer needs to access that data, it moves it back into long-term storage on your hard drive or other storage device.
Unlike storage devices like hard drives, memory is volatile, meaning that data stored in it will disappear when the power to your system turns off. For this reason, it is important to save all data to a storage device before turning off your computer.
Hard Drive
The hard drive is the most common type of computer storage device. It consists of rotating disk platters that store data magnetically, with each sector containing a fixed number of bytes. The drive’s read/write heads position themselves over the correct track and transfer the data to or from a disk controller. Hard drives come in two form factors: 3.5-inch, mainly for desktop computers, and 2.5-inch, primarily for laptops.
A computer program requesting a file from the hard drive must send it byte by byte, which slows down performance. To speed things up, most computers have a built-in defragmenting utility that reorganizes the files on the hard drive to minimize the number of trips needed to retrieve them.
Graphics Card
Graphics cards take complex instructions from the CPU and software applications like video games and translate them into 2D or 3D images for display on computer monitors. They can render anywhere from 30 to 60 frames per second of video, depending on their processing power and the demands of the game.
Standalone graphics cards use dedicated memory (VRAM) and processing power, separate from the system memory. Integrated graphics chips are found in most laptops and smaller desktop systems and can handle basic graphics tasks.
Unlike the central processing unit (CPU), GPU architecture is optimized for parallel processing tasks. This allows a GPU to work on thousands of small tasks simultaneously, improving performance.
Sound Card
A sound card is a computer component that converts digital signals into analog output for speakers and headphones. It also converts analog input from microphones into digital data for processing.
Dedicated sound cards with advanced audio processing can deliver superior performance, especially for PC gamers and content creation professionals. They can offer lower latency, higher resolution and improved fidelity compared to motherboard-integrated audio.
Some older computers used standalone expansion cards with ISA or PCI slots, but it became customary to integrate basic sound card capabilities into the motherboard as audio playback and recording grew more widespread. Dedicated add-on sound cards are commonly known as audio interfaces and connect to the computer via USB.
Chipset
The chipset is an essential component in any computer, facilitating communication between the CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with how these components work together before you make a PC purchase or upgrade.
For example, knowing your motherboard’s chipset can help you determine how many high-speed components or USB devices it supports. Although most buyers of pre-built systems like HP’s can trust the compatibility of their motherboard’s chipset with their purchased CPU, it becomes more important to understand this component for those planning a custom PC build or future upgrades.