The main components of the computer. The device of the personal computer

What do you, dear reader, know about the computer? Of course, the completeness and depth of your answer will depend on many factors. Some of you will involuntarily turn to the superficial knowledge from the school curriculum obtained in computer science lessons. And it is unlikely that the average user thought about what is hiding under the protective cover of the system unit. As a rule, the knowledge of the housewife is based on a visual understanding of the subject of our discussion: an iron or plastic box, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. And we should agree with this, since the objectivity of such an opinion really characterizes the PC of the standard configuration in general terms. However, the components of the computer - it's more than the simplicity and limitations of the visible body parts of the system unit and some peripherals connected to it . Reading promises to be exciting, and the material of the article is guaranteed to be the starting point for your curiosity.

The main components of the computer: what the housewife sees

As though it would not be desirable, but without computer terminology to us simply not to manage. So be ready to get acquainted with some specialized words. By the way, this will save you time in the future. Now let's move directly to the fascinating theory and consider as an introductory list the basic configuration of a stationary PC.

• The system unit is the enclosure in which the computer hardware is located.
• The monitor is a device for displaying graphic and symbolic information.
• Keyboard - a key management tool for the computer, through which the input of data and commands.
• The mouse is a manual manipulator that converts mechanical movements into a control signal.

Design features of computing devices

These components of the computer are integral elements of desktop modifications. Laptops, tablets and pocket electronic devices refer to a portable type of computer technology. Such devices have a compact body. All basic hardware components are integrated into a single device, resulting in the maximum practicality of the device. The undeniable advantage of portable computers is the operational autonomy and mobility when used. There is another type of computer equipment - monoblocks. This kind of computing devices - something in between desktop and mobile systems. The miniature of the hardware borrowed from laptops and the stationary "attachment" to the workplace of traditional PCs separate this type of technology into a separately presented type of computing devices.

Component parts of the computer's system unit

Inside the protective case are the components of the system , which ultimately is the hardware configuration of the PC. The main part of the computer is considered to be the motherboard of the device, since this element is a kind of backbone of the electronic system, to which, in addition to the mandatory components - the CPU and the RAM slots - additional expansion modules can be installed. A special place in the system block is assigned to the storage device - a hard disk. Such components of the computer, such as the cooling system and the power supply, are also located inside the PC case. However, portable devices receive power from external power supply devices. Typically, a personal computer is equipped with an optical drive for reading and writing data. The main interface-panel is displayed outside.

Important parts of the computer: the processor - the "heart" of the PC

This chip acts as a data center. Without a CPU, the computer simply will not work. The power of the CPU is characterized by the clock frequency, which is measured in MHz. At the same time, it is the level of technology used that determines the final performance of the processor. When performing multi-threaded operations (the work of two or more concurrently used applications), an unconditional advantage is possessed by CPUs having multi-core architecture of the structure. This technical part of the computer - the processor - consists of the core and its associated components: the I / O bus and the address bus. The processing speed between the specified components of the CPU is expressed in bits. The higher the above-mentioned figure, the greater the bandwidth of the CPU bus.

RAM: high-speed assistant CPU

This is a volatile component of the system, which is a kind of intermediary between the central processor and the hard drive. However, data can be exchanged directly between the CPU and the computer's RAM. The RAM module is installed in a special bank slot of the motherboard. The speed of the OS depends on the amount of RAM that is measured in units of information (MB), as well as the bandwidth of the system bus of the device. To date, there are several types of such memory:

• The obsolete kind of RAM is SIMM and DIMM.
• The most common types of RAM - DDR, DDR2, DDR3.
• The new type of RAM is DDR4.

As you understand, the components of the computer must correspond to a single standard. By purchasing an additional memory module, you need to know exactly which type of RAM your motherboard supports.

Hard disk: "iron" memory

Unlike the RAM, the data written to the HDD can be stored for a long time. The work of the hard drive is based on the principle of changing the magnetic field near the recording head. A storage device of this type is a mechanical device, the performance of which depends on its inherent characteristics:

• Nominal capacity is the amount of data that can be stored on the HDD.
• The random access time is the execution of the positioning operation in an arbitrary area of disk space.
• Speed of rotation of the central spindle - the parameter is measured by the number of revolutions per minute.
• The buffer size is the intermediate memory, which is calculated in MB.
• Data transfer speed - the ability of a device to read a certain amount of information per second. Sequential access to a certain (referring to the external and internal zones) of the disk part of the personal computer is taken into account.

Upgrading a PC, a compact computing device and service equipment is often associated with increasing the speed of the operating system. And the recently appeared solid-state drives can not be better solved the speed problems of any computer technology. However, the relatively small amount of disk space at a high price of an SSD device for many users is, to put it mildly, an unacceptable solution.

Video card: visual representation

What parts of the computer are responsible for the graphics? The answer to this question is quite simple. First of all, it's a video card, then a central processor, and then - the PC's RAM. It should be noted that graphics adapters are discrete and integrated. Therefore, the issue of the difference in such equipment should be considered in more detail.

Embedded in the motherboard graphics chip

As a rule, computers of the lowest price category are equipped with integrated video controllers. As you understand, these chips do not have such a performance. However, to solve office problems, view multimedia material and even launch a non-resource-consuming game application, such an option is quite acceptable. Please note: the video adapter built into the chipset can not physically be considered a separate component of the configuration.

Discrete type of video cards

To date, this is the most effective method to increase the graphic capabilities of the PC. This graphic module is inserted into a special PCI expansion slot of the motherboard. Via the interface-connector, which is located on the video card itself and is output to the outside of the system unit, a monitor is connected. The amount of video memory and bandwidth of its buses, as well as the core frequency, texture and pixel fill rate are the main indicators of the graphic performance of the specified PC hardware. Now, if someone asks you: "List the components of the computer," you should consider that a discrete graphics card , unlike an integrated graphics chip, is a separately presented module.

PC configuration: expansion of functionality and upgrading

After you have learned or refreshed previously received information about what is inside the PC system unit, let's touch on the question of what an upgrade is and how it is related to the topic of the article.

So, additional parts of the computer are not only peripherals: printers, scanners, web cameras, etc., connected to any interface connector or connected via wireless technology to a PC, but also some components of the system that are commonly called Basic. For example, a user can always add operational resources to his computer by adding additional RAM modules to the free bank slots of the motherboard. Hardcore gamers often put two powerful video cards on their computers. Audio capabilities can be significantly expanded if you connect a heaped sound adapter. Network and DVB-cards, various readers and TV tuners, as well as a lot of other equipment - all this can become elements of modernization, that is, PC upgrade. The only limitation for flying a user's imagination may be an insufficient level of manufacturability of the motherboard.

Before I finish

Now you will not be caught unawares if you are asked: "List the components of the computer." Nevertheless, for completeness of knowledge about the device PC should be something else to understand. After all, in the previous paragraphs, only a brief mention was made of the communication capabilities of the computer. Meanwhile, the mainboard of the PC is equipped with various interface-connectors, among which you can identify the main:

• PS / 2 - for connecting the mouse and keyboard.
• USB - universal port for connection with peripheral devices.
• VGA - connector for the monitor.
• RJ45 - for connecting a network connector.

To date, modern computing equipment is equipped with various wireless modules. Developers give PCs new communication properties. Manufacturers are introducing revolutionary technologies that seemed fantastic yesterday. Electronics is rapidly expanding its influence. However, the process of human thinking will always be the basis for computer technology. Because, as a person thinks, no one and nothing in the world can think.

Technical epilogue

With confidence, you can assume that now you know what parts of the computer are called. However, the information presented is just a drop from the ocean of information on the topic, since it's not enough to tell about the computer device in general terms! Therefore, as mentioned earlier, it is necessary to show curiosity and to approach the issue of studying the computer device more seriously. Be sure, such knowledge will make you much richer. After all, at the computer future!