Pc hardware is the physical components that make up a computer. Whether you are building your own computer from scratch or just upgrading your old one, you will need to understand what each part does and how it affects your pc.
Internal storage is hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and remains persistent even if your computer shuts down. There are a few different types of internal storage. Hard disk drives and solid state drives are two popular ones.
Motherboard
The motherboard, or mainboard, is the circuit board that connects all of the individual components of your pc. It allows the CPU to communicate with the rest of your system, and it also allows you to hook up additional hardware to the computer.
A motherboard uses integrated circuit technology to ensure that each component gets the electrical current it needs for its functions. This process enables your PC to be an energy-efficient machine that uses less power than other computers.
The motherboard also features expansion slots that can be used to add different types of cards. These cards can be used to add video, sound, network, or storage capabilities to your pc. These cards are often called PCI (peripheral component interconnect) cards.
CPU
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of a computer or smart device. It translates and executes the instructions a user inputs to carry out a variety of tasks.
It is also responsible for coordinating all other units of a computer, such as video, disk storage, and memory. The CPU is divided into three parts:
-The first part is the Instructions Read Unit, which is used to fetch and store the instructions from the system RAM and perform their processing.
This unit is synchronized with all other parts by a signal called clock. The clock speed (number of pulses per second) relates to how quickly the CPU is able to process an instruction.
RAM
RAM, short for random access memory, is a temporary storage component that lets your computer perform more efficiently. It stores information you access when you open a program, start a game, or stream your favorite show.
To access data in RAM, a processor sends a pulse of electricity through the memory cell, which switches it from low voltage to high. When the pulse is done, it changes back to a low voltage and resets it again.
The most common types of RAM are Static RAM (SRAM) and Dynamic RAM (DRAM). SRAM needs constant power, but DRAM discharges energy when it’s not being used.
Newer generation RAM is faster and consumes less power than older models. The latest memory technology uses double data rate RAM, which sends data twice during each cycle of the system clock. This allows for faster speed than legacy DRAM, and the next version of DDR, DDR5, will be released towards the end of 2019.
Optical Drive
Optical drives are the hardware that allows a computer to read or write data to discs. They are used in many devices like computers, video game consoles and certain audio devices.
Basically, they are made up of lenses that project electromagnetic waves and a laser assembly that is responsible for reading and writing information on optical discs such as CDs, DVDs or Blu-Ray discs.
The first lens is a focusing lens that directs the beam of the laser at the disc. The laser is reflected by the disc and detected by a photodiode.
Optical disks can be written or recorded to using different recording lasers that melt organic dyes onto the surface of the disc and embed grooves into it. Some drives also use a reading laser that reflects light back at the disk and is sensed by the photodiode.
Case
The case houses all the internal components of a PC and is critical for keeping all of those delicate components cool. A good case will protect all of the hardware from overheating, which can lead to poor performance and a shorter lifespan.
A case can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, depending on the motherboard form factor. This is because the motherboard is the largest part of a computer and its shape affects how all of its key parts attach to it.
Full tower cases host full-sized ATX motherboards, while mid-tower and mini-tower models are smaller and fit smaller motherboards such as EATX and micro-ATX boards. They have more room for storage drives, driver bays and GPU upgrades, making them ideal for high-end builds.