Computer hardware

From Open Encyclopedia

Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer, as distinguished from the computer software or computer programs and data that operate within the hardware. The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed, in comparison with software and data which are "soft" in the sense that they are readily created, modified or erased on the computer. Firmware is special software that rarely, if ever, needs to be changed and so is stored on hardware devices such as read-only memory (ROM) where it is not readily changed (and therefore is "firm" rather than just "soft").

Most computer hardware is not seen by normal users as it is enclosed as embedded systems in automobiles, microwave ovens, electrocardiograph machines, compact disc players, and many other household appliances. Personal computers, the computer hardware familiar to the most people, form only a small minority of computers (about 0.2% of all new computers produced in 2003) Market statistics.

1 Personal computer hardware
2 See also
3 Wiki links
4 External links

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Personal computer hardware

A typical personal computer consists of a case or chassis in desktop or tower shape and the following parts:

Motherboard or system board with slots for expansion cards and holding parts including:
- Central processing unit (CPU)
- Random Access Memory (RAM) - for program execution and short term data storage, so the computer doesn't have to take the time to access the hard drive to find something. More RAM can contribute to a faster PC.
- Buses :
  - PCI bus
  - PCI-E or AGP bus
  - ISA bus (outdated)
  - USB
Power supply - a case that holds a transformer, voltage control and fan
Storage controllers of IDE, SATA, SCSI or other type, that control hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM and other drives; the controllers sit directly on the motherboard (on-board) or on expansion cards
Video display controller that produces the output for the computer display
Computer bus controllers (parallel, serial, USB, FireWire) to connect the computer to external peripheral devices such as printers or scanners
Some type of a removable media writer:
- CD - the most common type of removable media, cheap but fragile.
  - CD-ROM Drive
  - CD Writer
- DVD
- Floppy disk
- Zip drive
- USB Flash Drive
- Tape drive - mainly for backup and long-term storage
Internal storage - keeps data inside the computer for later use.
- Hard disk - for medium-term storage of data.
- Disk array controller
Sound card - translates signals from the system board into analog voltage levels, and has terminals to plug in speakers.
Networking - to connect the computer to the Internet and/or other computers
- Modem - for dial-up connections
- Network card - for DSL/Cable internet, and/or connecting to other computers.
Other peripherals