Computer Hardware Components...

So what computer hardware components make up a computer system?

It's important you understand these components because it will make clear what a computer is comprised of.

If you already went to the computer hardware definitions page, you would understand some of the terminology describing the following computer hardware components:

CPU - Central Processing Unit

Also called the microprocessor, performs all the calculations that take place inside the PC.
Because of the heat it generates, a cooling fan is attached.
It's identified by a make and model such as a Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon
Intel has been around the longest with models 8088, 286, 386, 486, Pentium, Pentium Pro, Pentium 2, Celeron, Pentium 3, Pentium 4.
Advanced Micro Systems is the other manufacturer with models 8080A, AM2900, AM386, AM486, AMD-K6, AMD-Athlon.
Measure performance with clock speed in megahertz (MHz), speeds up to almost 3 gigahertz (GHz).
Come in two common packages - Pin Grid Array (PGA) or Single Edge Cartridge (SEC).
It communicates with the RAM through a chipset by means of the address bus and external data bus.
L1 internal cache and L2 external cache SRAM memory helps to read from the RAM chips and writing data to RAM.

RAM - Random Access Memory

Stores programs and data currently being used by the CPU.
Measured in units called bytes.
Today's computers carry from 250 megabytes (MB) to 2 gigabytes (GB).
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access (SDRAM) - tied to the system clock so the CPU and chipset knows when to get the data.
Double Data Rate (DDR and DDR2) memory - works by carrying information on the rising and falling point of a clock cycle which has double the memory bandwidth of the SDRAM.

Motherboard

The address bus and external data bus connects the CPU to all the other computer hardware components of the system by means of the chipset.
The other computer hardware components would be the video, hard drive, floppy, keyboard, sound, mouse, etc.
BIOS - Basis Input Output Service, special support programming stored on a read-only memory (ROM) chip to enable the CPU to communicate with all the components (devices) in the computer.
Firmware - programs stored on ROM chips.
Software - programs stored on eraseable media.
BIOS Groups - Core Group - Chipset, Speaker, Support chips; CMOS Group - RAM, Hard drives, Floppy drives, Serial and Parallel ports; Everything Else Group - Mice, Sound cards, Tape Backup units, and CD-ROM drives.
CMOS Group - Updated by the Setup Program which can be started in many different ways, giving access to update the computer hardware components there.
Everything Else Group - Bring Your Own BIOS (BYOB) callled Software Device Drivers which allow the other computer hardware components to talk to the CPU.
BIOS Software companies - Award, Phoenix, American Megatrends (AMI).

Power Supply

Provides the necessary electrical power to all the computer hardware components allowing them to operate.
Takes standard (US) 110-volt AC power and converts it into 12-volt, 5-volt, 3.3 volt DC power.

Hard Drive

Store programs and data that are not being used by the CPU.
Capacity is measured in gigabytes.
Two common types - Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE) - used by 95% of all PC's; Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) - show up in high-end PC's such as network servers or graphics workstations.

CD-ROM Drive

Enables the system to access CD-ROMs.
The front of the CD-ROM drive is visible in the front of the PC.
Run on either EIDE or SCSI controllers.
Compact Disk-Recordable (CD-R) - recordable CD only once.
Compact Disk-Rewritable (CD-RW - can write to special CD-RW disks, and then delete and rewrite to those disks numerous times,

Sound Cards

Two functions - first - they take digital information and turn it into sound, outputting the sound through speakers; second - they take sound entered into a microphone and turn it into digital data.
To play and record sound, needs to connect to a set of speakers and a microphone.
Provide two miniature audio jacks for a microphone and speaker for "line in" and "line out".
Also provide a female 15-pin DB socket that enables you to attach an electronic musical instrument or to add a joystick to your PC.

Video Cards

Uses a distinct 15-pin femaile DB connector.

Network Cards

Network Interface Cards (NIC's) - provide an interface between the network and the PC.
Types of connectors are RJ-45 (most common), BNG, 15-pin two-row DB or 9-pin female DB.

Keyboard

Two types of connectors - AT-style DIN, most PC's today; being overshadowed by the smaller mini-DIN PS/2 style.

Mouse

The connector is the PS/2-style mouse port or the USB port.

Modem

Works with your telephone line to translate analog telephone signals into digital serial data.
Also translate digital serial data into analog telephone signals.
Two RJ-11 sockets - one for the modem and the other for an optional telephone so you can use the phone line to send a fax.
internal - may be used for dial up access or by the DSL connection for high speed access to the internet.
external - may be a cable modem for high speed internet access.

Printer

Connected to a parallel port which carry data on more than one wire, as opposed to the serial port, which uses only one wire.
May also be connected with a USB port and connector.

As you can see, there's many different hardware computer components.

You may want to print out the computer hardware definitions page and the hardware computer components page and study them together.

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