A computer is an electronic device that manipulates information or "data." It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.

You can use a computer to type documents, send email, and surf the Internet. You can also use it to handle spreadsheets, accounting, database management, presentations, games, and more.

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Storage

Output

Processing

A computer case (also known as a computer chassis, cabinet, box, tower, enclosure, housing, '"system unit'" or simply case) is the enclosure that contains the main components of a computer. A computer case is sometimes incorrectly referred to metonymously as a CPU or hard drive referring to components housed within the case.

An assortment of different cases in the same series, showing an array of sizes and styles. From the left: a microATX "micro tower", a microATX mini tower, an ATX mid tower, an AT/ATX full tower, a microATX desktop (above), and an ATX desktop (below).

A motherboard is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, while providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the main board, system board, or, on Apple computers, the logic board.

Once known as the Winchester drive, the hard disk or hard drive is an essential hardware that every computer desktop and server contain. And its functionality, is to store vast amount of digital data in a non-volatile form, so that data can be retained when the computer is powered off. Data is again accessed when the power is on. There are a few different types of hard disk but, other than its physical size, the different type of interfaces of the hard disk is the main difference. Types of hard disk interfaces Desktop Hard Disk Types: 3.5', IDE and Sata Interfaces Laptop Hard Disk Types:2.5', 1.8', IDE, Sata, SCSI Server Hard Disk types:3.5' Sata, SCSI

Random Access Memory (RAM) provides space for your computer to read and write data to be accessed by the CPU (central processing unit). When people refer to a computer's memory, they usually mean its RAM. If you add more RAM to your computer, you reduce the number of times your CPU must read data from your hard disk. This usually allows your computer to work considerably faster, as RAM is many times faster than a hard disk. RAM is volatile, so data stored in RAM stays there only as long as your computer is running. As soon as you turn the computer off, the data stored in RAM disappears. When you turn your computer on again, your computer's boot firmware (called BIOS on a PC) uses instructions stored semi-permanently in ROM chips to read your operating system and related files from the disk and load them back into RAM.

A power supply unit (PSU) is the component that supplies power to the other components in a computer. More specifically, a power supply unit is typically designed to convert general-purpose alternating current (AC) electric power from the mains to usable low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer. There are 3 types of power supply in common use: AT Power Supply - still in use in older PCs. ATX Power Supply - commonly in use today. ATX-2 Power Supply - recently new standard. The voltages produced by AT/ATX/ATX-2 power supplies are: +3.3 Volts DC (ATX/ATX-2) +5 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2) -5 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2) +5 Volts DC Standby (ATX/ATX-2) +12 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2) -12 Volts DC (AT/ATX/ATX-2)

A video card, video adapter, graphics-accelerator card, display adapter or graphics card is an expansion card whose function is to generate and output images to a display. Many video cards offer added functions, such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D graphics, video capture, TV-tuner adapter, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, FireWire, light pen, TV output, or the ability to connect multiple monitors (multi-monitor). Other modern high performance video cards are used for more graphically demanding purposes, such as PC games.