HARDWARE COMPONENTS OF THE COMPUTER

INPUT DEVICES
KEYBOARD

A computer keyboard is an input device that

allows a person to enter letters, numbers, and other
symbols (these are called characters in a keyboard)
into a computer. It is one of the most used input
devices for computers.

MOUSE
A computer mouse is an input device that is used with a
computer. Moving a mouse along a flat surface can move the
cursor to different items on the screen. Items can be moved or
selected by pressing the mouse buttons (called clicking). Today's
mice have two buttons, the left button and right button, with a
scroll wheel in between the two.

JOYSTICK
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that
pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device
it is controlling. Joysticks are often used to control video games,
and usually have one or more push-buttons whose state can
also be read by the computer. A popular variation of the joystick
used on modern video game consoles is the analog stick.

SCANNER
In computing, an image scanner is a device used to
transfer images or text into a computer. A scanner or optical
scanner is a hardware input device that optically "reads" and
image and converts it into a digital signal. For example, a
scanner may be used to convert a printed picture, drawing, or
document (hard copy) into a digital file which can be edited on
a computer.

MICROPHONE
Sometimes abbreviated as mic, a microphone is a hardware
peripheral and input device originally invented by Emile Berliner in
1877. A microphone allows computer users to input audio into their
computers.
Webcam
A webcam is a hardware camera and input device that
connects to a computer and the Internet and captures either still
pictures or motion video of a user or another object.

CARD READERS

Alternatively referred to as a media card reader,

a card reader is a hardware device that lets you read
and write data on a memory card such as a multimedia
card. Some card readers only have one card slot, and
some have multiple card slots for different cards and
media.

OUTPUT DEVICES

MONITOR
A computer monitor is an electronic device that shows
pictures for computers. Monitors often look similar to
televisions. The main difference between a monitor and a
television is that a monitor does not have a television tuner to
change channels. Monitors often have higher display
resolution than televisions. A high display resolution makes it
easier to see smaller letters and fine graphics.

PRINTER
A computer printer is a piece of hardware for a
computer. It allows a user to print items on paper, such as
letters and pictures. Mostly a printer prints under the control
of a computer. Many can also work as a copying machine or
with a digital camera to print directly without using a
computer.
SPEAKER
Computer speakers are speakers external to
a computer. Speakers contain amplifiers which
vibrate to produce the sound. They come in many
different forms. Some speakers are already
attached to a computer. Some speakers are
wireless. They work by Bluetooth.

PROJECTOR
A projector is an output device that can
take images generated by a computer or Blu-ray
player and reproduce them by projection onto a
screen, wall, or another surface. In most cases,
the surface projected onto is large, flat, and lightly
colored. For example, you could use a projector
to show a presentation on a large screen so that
everyone in the room can see it. Projectors can
produce either still (slides) or moving images
(videos). A projector is often about the size of a
toaster and weighs only a few pounds.

SYSTEM UNIT

POWER SUPPLY
Abbreviated as PS or P/S, a power supply or PSU (power
supply unit) is a hardware component of a computer that
supplies all other components with power. The power supply
converts a 110-115 or 220-230 volt AC (alternating current) into
a steady low-voltage DC (direct current) usable by the computer
and rated by the number of watts it generates.

CPU
Alternately referred to as a processor,
central processor, or microprocessor, the
CPU (pronounced sea-pea-you) is the
central processing unit of the computer. A
computer's CPU handles all instructions it
receives from hardware and software running
on the computer.
HARD DISK DRIVE
A hard disk drive (sometimes abbreviated as hard
drive, HD, or HDD) is a non-volatile memory hardware device
that permanently stores and retrieves data on a computer. A
hard drive is a secondary storage device that consists of one
or more platters to which data is written using a magnetic
head, all inside of an air-sealed casing. Internal hard disks
reside in a drive bay, connect to the motherboard using an
ATA, SCSI, or SATA cable, and are powered by a connection
to the PSU (power supply unit).

RAM
Alternatively referred to as main memory, primary memory, or system memory, RAM
(random access memory) is a hardware device that allows information to be stored and retrieved
on a computer. RAM is usually associated with
DRAM, which is a type of memory module.
Because information is accessed randomly instead
of sequentially like it is on a CD or hard drive,
access times are much faster. However, unlike
ROM, RAM is a volatile memory and requires
power to keep the data accessible. If the computer
is turned off, all data contained in RAM is lost.

SOLID STATE DRIVE

An SSD, Short for solid-state drive (or solid-state disk,
although it doesn't use a disk mechanism), an SSD is a storage
medium that uses non-vola tile memory as a means of holding and
accessing data. Unlike a hard drive, an SSD has no moving parts
which gives it advantages such as faster access time, noiseless
operation, higher reliability, and lower power consumption.

VIDEO CARD
Alternatively known as a display adapter, graphics
card, video adapter, video board, or video controller, a video
card is an expansion card that connects to a computer
motherboard. It is used to creates a picture on a display; without
a video card, you would not be able to see this page. More
plainly, it is a piece of hardware inside of your computer that
deals with processing images and video, along with some of the
tasks normally handled by the CPU.

SOUND CARD
Alternatively referred to as an audio output
device, sound board, or audio card. A sound card is an
expansion card or IC for producing sound on a computer
that can be heard through speakers or headphones.
Although the computer does not need a sound device to
function, they are included on every machine in one form
or another, either in an expansion slot or built into the
motherboard (onboard).
HEAT SINKS
A heat sink is a device that incorporates either a
fan or some other means to keep a hot component, such
as a processor, cooled down. There are two heat sink
types: active and passive. The picture is an example of a
heat sink that has both active and passive cooling
mechanisms.

MOTHERBOARD
Alternatively referred to as the mb, mainboard, mboard, mobo, mobd, backplane
board, base board, main circuit board, planar board, system board, or a logic board on
Apple computers. The motherboard is a printed circuit board and foundation of a computer that is
the biggest board in a computer chassis. It allocates power and allows communication to the CPU,
RAM, and all other computer hardware components.

1. I/O ports- This is located in the rear panel of the CPU, this use to connect the outside
hardware or peripherals of the computer.

 PS/2 ports- These are used to connect the mouse (green color) and the keyboard
(purple color)
 DB 25 female connector (printer port)-This is use to connect the impact printer, one of
that the DOT MATRIX printer, ex. the Epson LX 300 +
 DB 9 male connector (Serial or com1 port)-This use to connect a serial device of the
computer, such as the serial mouse and external modem.
 VGA port (built-in)- This is use to interface the DB cord of the monitor screen or to
connect the monitor screen of the computer. The fastest video card versions are based
on the standard of the VGA slots, ex: the AGP and PCI’e card.
 USB 2.0 × 2 ports- These are the ports of the USB devices of the computer. Attached
externally of the system unit, one of that are the USB flash drives. As of now the
versions or speed of the USB are the 1.0 and 2.0 compatible.
 LAN port- This called as Local Area Network of the computer. This is use to connect the
numbers of node or workstations (PC) to form a local area network of the computer with
in their area. Using type of communication media such as the network switch and router.
 Audio Port- This is use to connect the speaker, mike, and MIDI (Musical Instrument
Digital Interface) device of the computer.

2. ATX Power connector(4 pin)- This is use to connect the 4 pin of the power supply
unit(PSU) .This is separate of the 20 or 24 pin of ATX power supply to provide DC
voltage of computer processor.

3. Processor’s ZIF Socket- Part of MOBO use to hold the processor or CPU chip (Zero
Insertion Force).The compatibility of the socket depends of the computer processor type.
Such as the AM2 socket of the AMD and the socket 775 of the Intel company.

4. Memory slot (DIMM) - This is called as Dual Inline Memory Module, this is the slot of
computer memory or what we called RAM. The memory slot depends of the type of the
memory. Such as the PC 133 SDRAM and PC 400 SDRAM-DDR 1.

5. ATX Power connector (24 or 28 pin) - A group of connector of the MOBO. This is
separate of the 4 pin power assignments. It provides a DC power output to the system
board (SB) from the output of the Power Supply Unit.

6. Name of the Vendor- this is the manufacturer name. This is important to know the
manufacturer or vendor. So you can download through the internet site the driver
software of the MOBO.

7. CMOS/BIOS BATTERY- In this part, the CMOS/BIOS battery is hold, so that it can
provide 3 volts direct current/voltage to the CMOS IC. To preserve the BIOS settings of
the computer. Such as the time module, hardware information and settings/parameter,
etc.

8. IDE connector (Intergrated Drive Electronics)- This connector is use to connect the
IDE cable of the HDD(Hard Disk Drive) or CD/DVD ROM to the Mother Board IDE.

9. Front panel connectors(F-Panel)- This is use to connect the Power LED,HDD LED,
Power Switch, and Reset switch of the computer system unit(CPU).

10. SATA connector-This is Serial Advance Technology Attachment. The new standard of
the IDE connection array of the computer HDD (SATA HDD) to the motherboard system.

11. CMOS/BIOS jumper- This is use to disable the BIOS default setup. Such as to disabled
the supervisor password of the BIOS.

12. USB connector (header) - This is use to connect the USB port of the front panel USB
2.0 x 2 port.

13. FDD connector- The connector of the FDD cable through the system board. Normally
there are 34 pins out of it to connect the 3.5” 1.44mb Floppy Disk Drive.

14. PCI slots- a part of the computer motherboard use to connect the I/O cards of the
computer. Such as LAN card, WIFI card, USB expansion card, and sound card.
15. Motherboard Version number- here you can get the version of the motherboard driver
software. So that you can download it exactly to the manufacturer website.

16. CMOS/BIOS IC- This is the type of BIOS IC being use by the computer MOBO.A set of
a program being installed in this IC to preserved the BIOS configuration settings of the
computer. Such as the speed of the CPU chip and RAM, etc.

17. AMR slot- This is the AUDIO Modem Riser. Being use to demodulate and modulate the
analog audio of the computer.

18. PCI express slot- A part of the computer that hold the computer video card (VGA), the
PCI’e card. The latest and the fastest card being installed and most compatible with 3d
and 4g gaming of the computer. The old video card type is the AGP or Accelerated
Graphic Ports and the standard of the PCI’e.

19. North Bridge IC- Is a passion name as being north of the PCI buses or the PCI slots of
the MOBO. The true name of the north bridge is MCI or Memory Controller Hub.
Assigned to manage and control the computer memory before the processing of the
CPU chip.

20. South Bridge IC- Is a passion name as being south of the PCI buses or PCI slots. The
true name of the south bridge is I/O Controller HUB (ICH). It is a type of microchip task
to control all the Input and output devices of the computer. Such as the keyboard and
mouse. And the monitor screen of the computer that commonly found at the rear back of
the CPU or system unit.