Computer Components
There are many fancy add-ons that can be incorporated into a computer, but
before these can be installed the basic components of the computer must
be connected and operating correctly. If one of these main
components is missing the computer will not operate.
The essentials of every computer system are a motherboard, a Central
Processing Unit (CPU), memory and a hard drive. These 4
components are installed in a computer case to which are attached a
monitor and a keyboard and a mouse. This makes up the basic
computer.
Motherboard
The motherboard (sometimes called the mobo) provides the foundation
for the rest of the computer components. Everything is attached
to the motherboard -- the CPU, the memory, the monitor, the mouse, the
keyboard, add-on cards, and extra peripherals like printers, scanners,
and speakers. We could say that the motherboard is like the
nervous system and skeleton of the human body -- it provides support
for the internal components and also passes information between all the
computer parts.
CPU
If the motherboard is the nervous system, the CPU is the
brain. Most of the mathematical manipulations that make computers
operate are done by the CPU. Other components may also have their
own processors, but the results still have to be passed through the CPU.
The speed of the computer is usually measured by the speed of the
CPU. Even though there are other factors affecting speed, the CPU
rating is usually seen the single most important measure of performance.
Modern CPUs are usually rated between 2.0 GHz and 3.0 GHz, although
you see some models in the 3.5 GHz range. These numbers refer to
the number of calculations the processor can make in one second, so
obviously the higher the number the faster the computer.
CPUs generate a lot of heat, so they need a heat sink and fan to prevent them from overheating.
Memory
RAM (Random Access Memory) is the part of the computer that stores
information while the computer is operating. It is Random Access
because the computer can get the stored data in any order, rather than
synchronously. Generally speaking, the more RAM the better.
512 to 1024 megabytes is fairly common for memory.
The most common type of RAM these days is DDR-SDRAM which stands for
double-data-rate synchronous dynamic random access memory. We
already know what the RAM part means. DDR means that the data is
accessed at twice the rate than ordinary RAM.
The latest type of RAM is DDR2. It offers even faster access
rates that DDR and is quickly becoming the standard for computer memory.
Hard Drive
Since the data contained in RAM is lost when the computer is turned
off, there has to be a place to store it permanently. This is what the
hard disk is for. It also contains all our personal work as well
as the operating system. An operating system like Windows uses
around 4 gigabytes of hard drive space, and the extra space can be used
to install computer programs and to store personal data.
Eighty gigabyte hard drives are the most common, but they are
available at up to 400 GB, and several hard drives can be installed in
one case.
Peripherals
All that is needed to complete the basic computer system is a
monitor, keyboard and mouse. Accessories like a printer or
scanner can be useful for office work, and gamers will probably want to
add speakers and joystick controls.
So there you have it. The basic computer is composed of just 7
major components. To get the best performance these components
must integrate well. The motherboard is the most important
component for determining the type and specification of the other parts
so choosing an appropriate one for your computer needs is very
important.
