Basics of Hardware

Basics of Hardware​

This Guide will inform you on the inner Hardware workings of a computer. This guide will relate to the Human Body to try and make you understand exactly which component does what.

CPU - Central Processing Unit
The CPU is basically the brains of the computer. It has a heavy impact on the speed of your computer. There are many different types of CPU, ranging from the product themselves, the fitting, the speed and the capabilities.

Motherboard/Mainboard
You could call the Motherboard the nerve center of the computer. It connects everything together. Motherboards are very temperamental and house upon it the main components of a PC. Again there are many different types of motherboards, mainly because the CPU fits directly onto it. Thus, as the CPU fitting changes, so must the motherboard fitting. As always, other differences include, capabilities, Expansion Slots, supported RAM types.

RAM - Random Access Memory
RAM is basically the short term memory of a PC. During the normal operation of a computer, data is stored within RAM modules, so it can be accessed faster when it is needed again. RAM is also generally very temperamental. RAM also has a large impact on the speed of your PC. When upgrading your PC, generally the most value for memory upgrade is RAM. The different types of RAM as always, are speed, storage size, fitting and capabilities.

Video/Graphics Card
The Graphics card can't really be related to a human body part, basically it creates a picture to be displayed on the monitor/screen. The Graphics card has a minimal impact on the normal running of a PC, unless you are a Gamer or some kind of a Graphics/Video Designer/Editor.

PSU - Power Supply Unit
The PSU is, in a way, the Digestive system of a PC. It gives the machine power to run. There aren't to many different types of PSUs, the only differences are fittings, wattages, certain capabilities/features. A PSU will not have any affect on the speed of your machine.

HDD - Hard Disk Drive
Your HDD is the long term memory of your PC. It is where your PC holds all of your data, it is much slower than RAM as HDDs are mechanical, whereas RAM is electronic. The HDD has a very minimal impact on the speed of your PC. Different types of HDDs are, speed, storage size, fitting, physical size.

Optical Drives
An Optical Drive is your CD, DVD, Blu-Ray Drive. Optical Drives have no affect on the speed of your PC. Different types are the type of drive (CD/DVD/Blu-Ray), speed, fitting.

FDD - Floppy Disk Drive
FDDs are becoming increasingly less common these days, as the new age Optical Drives/disks take over. FDDs are another removable storage device. The Different types are only physical size.

Sound Cards
The sound card is the Voice Box of your PC, it allows your PC to play and record sounds/music. Sound cards do not have any affect to the speed of your PC. Most are inbuilt on your Motherboard, however add-in soundcards can come in a variety of different fittings including USB. Different types of sound cards are, fitting, capabilities, features.

NICs - Network Interface Cards
NICs come in a wide variety of different types, speeds etc. A NIC can range from the basic Dial-Up modem to the 802.11 Wireless Cards. A NIC doesn't have any affect to the speed of your PC BUT DOES have an affect on the speed and reliability of your network/internet. Different Types of NICS range from; types (Dial-Up, LAN etc), speed, fitting.

Cooling
All computers need some kind of cooling, cooling comes in different types, the main ones are heatsinks and fans. You may also see some water cooled systems, and on extremely high end systems, refrigerated water cooled systems. Cooling is essential. If cooling is not properly configured or not working properly, it can cause many problems for your PC. Front to back air flow in your PC is essential, as is the cooling of your CPU and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit, the CPU for your Graphics Card).

Case
This being the most obvious of them all, the case is the skin and bone structure of your PC. It houses all of the internal components, protects the inner components and makes your machine look good.

This guide may not be big, but it covers what it needs to, the basics of the innards of a computer.

:major Good luck with your PC endeavors! :major

 

Hey Man another good one,
watch for the RSI at your keyboard.



Some moderator should make these Sticky at the beginning of the relevant forum.

 

Lol thanks :-D

It actually did start to pain a bit at the end lol ...

 

Woooow typo lol ... in RAM, this line

Is supposed to be;

When upgrading your PC, generally the most value for money upgrade is RAM.

 

Good post: I've got this tattooed vampire doll hanging from my SATA cables in front of the CPU fan...not sure which part she plays in the operation, tho... :-D

 

LOL ... keeping the Garlic smell out and the evil in maybe :-D