INTERNAL HARDWARE OF A COMPUTER
MOTHERBOARD
The motherboard or mainboard is the main circuit
board in a complex electronic system. It is the
'central' part of a computer. All of the different
parts of the computer are connected to the
motherboard. This lets them work together.
CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)
The CPU sends signals to control the other parts of the
computer. The CPU is an electronic machine that works on a
list of things to do, called instructions. It reads the list of
instructions and executes each one in order.
RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)
Is the memory or information storage in a
computer that is used to store running
programs and data for the programs.
● Volatile info
● All RAM used→Computer is slower
, ROM (READ ONLY MEMORY)
Data stored in ROM can only be modified slowly, with
difficulty, or not at all, so it is mainly used to store
firmware.
● Non-volatile: data never lost
● Contains boot routines/ BIOS (basic input/output
system)
● Little memory→ Holds BIOS
GRAPHICS/VIDEO CARD
A video card Is an expansion card which
generates a feed of output images to a
display (such as a computer monitor).
COOLING FAN
A computer fan is any fan inside, or attached to, a
computer case used for active cooling
, OPTICAL DRIVE
A disk drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic
waves as part of the process of reading or writing data to
or from optical discs.
SOUND CARD
It’s an internal card that provides input and output of
audio signals to and from a computer under control of
computer programs.
CONNECTING DRIVE WIRES
Wires that power the computer but are stored in a
box so the unit does not overheat.
POWER SUPPLY
The power supply as its name might suggest is the device
that supplies power to all the components in the computer.
Its case holds a transformer, voltage control, and (usually)
a cooling fan.
, PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB)
A printed circuit board mechanically supports and
electrically connects electronic components.
NETWORK CARD
It’s an electronic device that connects a computer to a computer
network, usually a LAN.
EXPANSION MEMORY SLOT
A printed circuit board that can be inserted into an
electrical connector, or expansion slot on a computer
motherboard, backplane or riser card to add
functionality to a computer system PARTS OF A
COMPUTER (tangible): Computer case, screen, keyboard, mouse, printer, pen
drive.
SOFTWARE: Set of instructions that make a computer system work
Systems software: The programs and files that make up
the computer’s operating system.
Essential to keep the computer
working
(software that deletes a file, software
that connects with a printer)
Applications software: Lets you do your day-to-day tasks on
the computer. Programs that carry
MOTHERBOARD
The motherboard or mainboard is the main circuit
board in a complex electronic system. It is the
'central' part of a computer. All of the different
parts of the computer are connected to the
motherboard. This lets them work together.
CPU (CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT)
The CPU sends signals to control the other parts of the
computer. The CPU is an electronic machine that works on a
list of things to do, called instructions. It reads the list of
instructions and executes each one in order.
RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)
Is the memory or information storage in a
computer that is used to store running
programs and data for the programs.
● Volatile info
● All RAM used→Computer is slower
, ROM (READ ONLY MEMORY)
Data stored in ROM can only be modified slowly, with
difficulty, or not at all, so it is mainly used to store
firmware.
● Non-volatile: data never lost
● Contains boot routines/ BIOS (basic input/output
system)
● Little memory→ Holds BIOS
GRAPHICS/VIDEO CARD
A video card Is an expansion card which
generates a feed of output images to a
display (such as a computer monitor).
COOLING FAN
A computer fan is any fan inside, or attached to, a
computer case used for active cooling
, OPTICAL DRIVE
A disk drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic
waves as part of the process of reading or writing data to
or from optical discs.
SOUND CARD
It’s an internal card that provides input and output of
audio signals to and from a computer under control of
computer programs.
CONNECTING DRIVE WIRES
Wires that power the computer but are stored in a
box so the unit does not overheat.
POWER SUPPLY
The power supply as its name might suggest is the device
that supplies power to all the components in the computer.
Its case holds a transformer, voltage control, and (usually)
a cooling fan.
, PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB)
A printed circuit board mechanically supports and
electrically connects electronic components.
NETWORK CARD
It’s an electronic device that connects a computer to a computer
network, usually a LAN.
EXPANSION MEMORY SLOT
A printed circuit board that can be inserted into an
electrical connector, or expansion slot on a computer
motherboard, backplane or riser card to add
functionality to a computer system PARTS OF A
COMPUTER (tangible): Computer case, screen, keyboard, mouse, printer, pen
drive.
SOFTWARE: Set of instructions that make a computer system work
Systems software: The programs and files that make up
the computer’s operating system.
Essential to keep the computer
working
(software that deletes a file, software
that connects with a printer)
Applications software: Lets you do your day-to-day tasks on
the computer. Programs that carry
