Hardware of a modern personal computer 1. Monitor 2. Motherboard 3. CPU 4. RAM 5. Expansion cards 6. Power supply 7. Optical disc drive 8. Hard disk drive 9. Keyboard 10. Mouse Inside a custom-built computer: power supply at the bottom has its own cooling fan. The personal computer, also known as the PC, is one of the most common types of computer due to its versatility and relatively low price. Laptops are generally very similar, although may use lower-power or reduced size components. Case Main article: Computer case The computer case is a plastic or metal enclosure that houses most of the components. Those found on desktop computers are usually small enough to fit under a desk, but many newer computers use more compact designs. Laptops are computers with a clamshell form factor, that fold up into a device that includes an integrated screen. Power supply Main article: Power supply unit (computer) A power supply unit (PSU) converts alternating current (AC) electric power to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer. Laptops are capable of running from a built-in battery, normally for a period of hours.[5] Motherboard Main article: Motherboard The motherboard is the main component inside the case. It is a large rectangular board with integrated circuitry that connects the other parts of the computer including the CPU, the RAM, the disk drives(CD, DVD, hard disk, or any others) as well as any peripherals connected via the ports or the expansion slots. Components directly attached to or part of the motherboard include: The CPU (Central Processing Unit) performs most of the calculations which enable a computer to function, and is sometimes referred to as the brain of the computer. It is usually cooled by a heat sink and fan. Most newer CPUs include an on-die Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). The Chipset, which includes the north bridge, mediates communication between the CPU and the other components of the system, including main memory. The Random-Access Memory (RAM) stores the code and data that are being actively accessed by the CPU. The Read-Only Memory (ROM) stores the BIOS that runs when the computer is powered on or otherwise begins execution, a process known as Bootstrapping, or booting or booting up. The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) includes boot firmware and power management firmware. Newer motherboards use Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) instead of BIOS. Buses connect the CPU to various internal components and to expansion cards for graphics and sound. The CMOS battery is also attached to the motherboard. This battery is the same as a watch battery or a battery for a remote to your cars alarm system. Most batteries are CR2032 which keeps the memory for date and time for your BIOS setting. Expansion cards Main article: Expansion card The [expansion card] in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer system via the expansion bus. Storage devices Main article: Computer data storage Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components and recording media that retain digital data. Data storage is a core function and fundamental component of computers. Fixed media Data is stored by a computer using a variety of media. Hard disk drives are found in virtually all older computers, due to their high capacity and low cost, but solid-state drives are faster and more power efficient, although currently more expensive than hard drives, so are often found in more expensive computers. Some systems may use a disk array controller for greater performance or reliability. Removable media To transfer data between computers, a USB flash drive or Optical disc may be used. Their usefulness depends on being readable by other systems; the majority of machines have an optical disk drive, and virtually all have a USB port. Input and output peripherals Main article: Peripheral Input and output devices are typically housed externally to the main computer chassis. The following are either standard or very common to many computer systems. Input Input devices allow the user to enter information into the system, or control its operation. Most personal computers have a mouse and keyboard, but laptop systems typically use a touchpad instead of a mouse. Other input devices include webcams, microphones, joysticks, and image scanners. Output device Output devices display information in a human readable form. Such devices could include printers, speakers, monitors or a Braille embosser. Mainframe computer An IBM System z9 mainframe A mainframe computer is a much larger computer that typically fills a room and may cost many hundreds or thousands of times as much as a personal computer. They are designed to perform large numbers of calculations for governments and large enterprises. Supercomputer A supercomputer is superficially similar to a mainframe, but is instead intended for extremely demanding computational tasks. As of November 2013, the fastest supercomputer in the world is the Tianhe-2, in Guangzhou, China.[6] See also Open-source computing hardware References ^ Script error ^ Script error ^ Script error ^ Script error ^ Script error ^ Script error External links Learning materials related to Computer hardware at Wikiversity Media related to Computer hardware at Wikimedia Commons v t e Basic computer components Input devices Keyboard Image scanner Microphone Pointing device Graphics tablet Joystick Light pen Mouse Pointing stick Touchpad Touchscreen Trackball Webcam Softcam Refreshable braille display Output devices Monitor Refreshable braille display Printer Speakers Plotter Removable data storage Optical disc drive CD-RW DVD+RW Disk pack Floppy disk Memory card USB flash drive Computer case Central processing unit (CPU) HDD / SSD / SSHD Motherboard Network interface controller Power supply Random-access memory (RAM) Sound card Video card Data ports Ethernet FireWire (IEEE 1394) Parallel port Serial port USB audio jack Categories: Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2013 Computer hardware The content on this page originates from Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Document License or the Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license. Explore Answers About Five Component of a Computer System Components of a Computer System Unit Primary Components of a Computer System Elements of Computer System Definition of a Computer System Diagram of Computer System Fundamental Components of Computer System Diagram of a Simple Computer System Types of Computer Systems System Units of Computer Expand Your Search List of Computer Components Basic Components of a Personal Computer Major Component of a Computer Other People Are Asking What Makes up a Computer System? Advertisement Popular Q&A Q: What are the main component in the computer system? A: 1(arthimatic logic unit) 2(control unit) 3(memory unit) Read More » Source: wiki.answers Q: What Are the Four Main Components of a General Purpose Computer? A: The purpose of a computer is to process information in many various forms, such as text, images or music for example. Before the computer can process any inform... 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