Computer hardware consists of internal devices that make a PC run and external devices such as a monitor, mouse and keyboard. Internal hardware includes the motherboard, random access memory (RAM), CPU and hard disk or solid state drive for data storage.
Today’s computers are smaller and use less power than ever before, but they still do the same jobs that they always have done.
Motherboard
The Motherboard is a central circuit board that supports add-in components like the best pc RAM and processors. It also houses essential circuits, chips, sockets, and slots that determine the performance, expandability, and compatibility of the PC system.
It also regulates power from the Power Supply Unit to ensure everything is getting enough electricity to operate properly. Motherboards also have connections and plugs that are shaped a certain way to accept only a specific type of hardware.
For instance, there are different types of SATA ports, USB, and PCIe connections on motherboards to support a variety of devices and upgrades. Some motherboards even have specialized slots for graphics cards and other add-ins to offer more options for gaming and content creation. Some also allow users to overclock the CPU, which is a process that increases its rated frequency to improve performance without risking stability or compatibility issues down the road.
Processor
The Processor is the brain of the computer and it acts as a messenger to tell other hardware components like the disk drives and screen what to do. It comes in different shapes and sizes – some are better for everyday use, while others are designed to handle more demanding tasks like professional video editing or gaming.
It executes instructions from the operating system software. It contains a control unit which fetches instructions from memory and decodes them. It also has an arithmetic logic unit which performs basic arithmetic and logical operations. It has a cache memory which stores often-used data and instructions so that they can be retrieved more quickly.
Processors vary by their microarchitecture, cores, and clock speed. These factors influence performance and efficiency.
RAM
RAM is where data that a software program or hardware device needs to work on is temporarily stored until the program is closed or the computer shut down. It works much like your brain’s short-term memory.
This is why the more RAM your computer has, the faster it will perform. When you open a file on your hard drive, the system pulls the information from storage and puts it into the RAM so that it can be read at a fraction of the speed of storage.
There are two main types of RAM: SRAM and DRAM. SRAM is based on capacitors that charge and discharge electricity to store one or zero bits of data. However, this process requires constant power and the capacitors need to be refreshed periodically. This results in slower access times, but higher storage densities and lower unit costs compared to DRAM.
Graphics Card
The Graphics Card, or GPU, is a specialized piece of hardware that turns information sent by the CPU into images that appear on your monitor. A GPU works differently than the central processor and excels at parallel processing, so it is ideal for tasks like graphics rendering.
It receives image data from the CPU in the form of binary numbers, and then converts it into pixels, tiny squares of color that combine to create your computer’s images. The more pixels, the higher the resolution — for example, an HD image has two times as many pixels as a standard-definition image.
The GPU then stores the data it needs in a pool of video RAM (VRAM), which is separate from the main memory used by your entire computer system.
Hard Drive
The hard drive is where your computer stores your files and applications. It can reside inside the computer (for internal drives) or in a single-drive or multiple-drive external case.
Whenever the computer asks for a file, the disk controller determines which track and sector on the platter has the requested data. It then tells the actuator arm to move to that area and reads the data from the platter. If it is to be written, the actuator arm moves to another location and writes the new information.
The storage capacity of a hard drive is typically listed in terabytes or gigabytes. However, it is important to understand how the operating system calculates this number because manufacturers use different calculations. Also, a drive’s connection type can significantly affect its performance.