Computer hardware is the physical components that form a complete computer system. This includes the Central Processing Unit that interprets and executes commands as well as the hard disk drives that store data.
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Processor
The processor, also known as the CPU (central processing unit), interprets and executes most of the commands in a computer system. Other dedicated microprocessors are used to govern specific functions, such as the Graphic Processing Unit which has many cores that handle the very math-intense calculations required to deliver high-end graphics.
The two main brands of processors for consumers are Intel and AMD who offer a range of different types with different levels of performance and price. Some processors have multiple cores, allowing them to multi-task and perform tasks faster. Other processors have specialized circuits called ALUs that can do things like arithmetic and logical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and comparisons. ALUs can also offload time-consuming work from the CPU, such as calculating addresses that access main memory.
Graphics Card
The graphics card is the hardware that turns binary data (tiny squares of color that combine to form images on a computer monitor or display) into the visible image you see on your screen. It takes the image data sent by the CPU and converts it into pixels (the more pixels, the higher the definition of the image).
GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit and is specialized hardware that processes graphical output from the computer. It works differently from the CPU in that it excels at parallel processing, allowing for much faster rendering of the images and video you see on your screen.
Some GPUs come in a small plastic enclosure that is inserted into an expansion slot (before it was AGP, PCI, or ISA). Others are built into the motherboard of your computer and are called integrated graphics.
Memory
The memory is a crucial component for multitasking and handling demanding applications. It functions as a high-speed workbench that allows the CPU to easily access and manipulate data. The more RAM a computer has, the more it can juggle tasks at once.
The RAM also works closely with the CPU to store information created by programs so that it’s immediately accessible. It’s volatile, which means that data in the RAM will be erased when the computer is turned off.
Storage devices are responsible for saving any programs, apps or filles installed on your computer. They can either be an HDD or a solid-state drive (SSD). An SSD will have a much faster storage capacity than an HDD, though they both do the same job.
Hard Drive
The hard drive is the primary data storage device in a PC. It uses a magnetic medium layered on an aluminum disk called a platter to store the data. The disk platters are spun by an internal motor and the head moves over the platters to read or write information.
As files are written to the hard drive, each track of the file is separated into sectors. A sector contains a fixed number of bytes. Each time the head reads a sector, it must move to a new position on the platter. This can add a delay, known as rotational latency, to the transfer of data.
Current drives connect to a computer using one of several types of host interface connectors, such as ATA (or PATA in older systems), SATA or IEEE 1394. The drive’s firmware processes the analog signals from the read/write heads to present a consistent interface to the rest of the system.
Motherboard
The central hub of your computer, the motherboard acts like a headquarters for the rest of the components to connect to and communicate with. It houses a ton of pathways, also known as circuits, for electrical signals to travel to different parts of your device.
It carries data from a CPU to various other components, such as memory and storage devices via data buses. It also distributes power to the different components using voltage regulators to ensure they don’t get overloaded or experience dangerous power fluctuations. It also houses expansion slots for add-in cards. Motherboards come in many forms, and the one you choose depends on what kind of performance and specifications you want out of your computer.