Computer Hardware Identification A computer system contains the following components/devices:

Tower or Desktop case

Motherboard

Processor

Memory

Graphics Card

Sound Card

Modem & NIC

Floppy Disk

Hard Disk

CD-ROM / DVD ROM

PC Speakers

Monitor

Optional Extras

CD-Writer

ZIP Drive

TV-Card

A desktop or tower case is required to hold all your components together. It is your personal preference on which one you decide choose. The desktop or tower cases come two in form factor AT and ATX. Nearly all the cases made nowadays are ATX as the motherboard manufacturers make majority of their motherboard in the ATX form.

ATX Tower Casing

Motherboard A motherboard is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that connects your processor, memory and all your expansion cards together to assemble a PC.

The processor The processor also known as CPU (Central Processing Unit) is the brain of a computer.

Memory Memory is the name given to silicon chips that stores volatile computer data. Volatile means that the contents of memory will be lost if the power of the computer is switched off.

Graphics card Graphics card provides display output to your monitor. Your graphic device will most likely come on your motherboard.

Sound card If you require sound for your PC then you will need a sound card. Sound controllers also come with system board nowadays.

Modem Modem stands for Modulator Demodulator. It converts digital signals to analogue so that it can travel via your telephone line, and vice-versa. A modem is an essential item if you are intending to connect your PC to the internet using dial-up access. It is also on the board of most computers.

Ethernet Cards Ethernet cards are usually purchased separately from a computer, although many computers (such as the Macintosh) now include an option for a pre-installed Ethernet card.

FDD You need a FDD to access floppy disks.

Hard disk drive Hard disk drive stores all your data including operating system, applications, user files and documents.

CD-ROM drive Nearly all operating systems and applications software comes on CD. It is therefore essential to have a CD-ROM drive for installing your applications.

PC speakers

Monitors

CD Writer / DVD Writer CD Writer / DVD Writer is a very good option for a backup device.

ZIP drive If you need to transfer large files from one PC to another, you will find floppy disks quite useless due to their limited storage capacity. A ZIP drive could be your answer as ZIP disks can store 100 or 250 MB depending on which model you choose.

TV card A TV card gives you the option of watching TV on your monitor.