The system block is that such? Characteristics, device and connection of the system unit

Many users do not understand why the computer is still called only as a system unit. This concept is complex and conceals a whole complex of equipment, which will be discussed in this article. The reader is invited to learn about the device of the computer, the characteristics of the devices and the connection of the system unit.

The generalized concept

Many users believe that the metal case of the computer and is a system unit that puts in itself all kinds of components responsible for performance. The opinion is erroneous. In fact, the case of the system unit is the same element as the processor, memory or video card. All these are computer components that are necessary for any user to work.

The term "system block" hides something more - a set of components that are linked together and provide stable operation with the operating system, programs and games. And all this set of devices is a complete and complete product of the seller. It will be simpler to say that the system unit is a personal computer without a monitor, keyboard and other peripherals.

Form Factor

Size is the basic factor when buying any computer equipment. Therefore, the reader is invited to begin the study with a form factor. The assembled system blocks, in the first place, differ in size, and, accordingly, have a generalized name and own classification.

1. The personal computer . A metal box, which is customary for all users, can be of different sizes and shapes. Accordingly, all components are selected individually for each unit.
2. The mobile computer . Laptop, tablet, smartphone - it's all system blocks, only reduced by several times.
3. Narrow Directional Equipment . Servers, on-board computers, terminals and other specialized electronic computers fall into this category.

A typical personal computer

In the market of computer equipment, any buyer is always offered a choice: to purchase assembled system blocks or to produce an independent set of spare parts, being guided by the price and performance of the platform. In most cases, users prefer the second option, because hand-made assembly is always cheaper. And with the performance of the platform things are much better. That's just a lot of buyers always overlook one important criterion - hardware compatibility.

Another matter is the system unit assembled in the conditions of the whole enterprise (HP, Intel or some other very famous brand). In the factory, engineers not only select the most compatible components, but also test the computer's efficiency, the efficiency of the cooling system, and determine fault tolerance at maximum loads.

The market of conventional computers

In any specialized store, a potential buyer will find that all computers have not only different color, but also distinctive shapes and sizes. So, the game system blocks look pretty massive (requires decent cooling), and office systems, on the contrary, are more compact to save space on the desktop. All computers, and, accordingly, and accessories to them, are classified according to the form factor: ATX, miniATX, microATX, monoblock and terminal.

Accordingly, for each type of system unit, there is its own case, motherboard, graphics card and expansion devices. All other spare parts (processor, memory, hard drives) are universal, and can be installed in any computer. The form factor is the main characteristic of the system unit, which solves the future fate of the platform and its mission.

Correct selection of components

The next step of the future owner is the selection of compatible computer components. It is necessary to determine the platform, to whom to give preference - the manufacturer of AMD or Intel. Having received the answer to this question, it is necessary to choose a base motherboard, which will have a corresponding frame size. There are some nuances. For example, a small motherboard microATX can easily be mounted in a huge chassis of the ATX system unit, but the user will not be able to do the opposite.

The next steps require the buyer to determine the processor, RAM and video adapter. Here professionals recommend giving preference to a balanced system. The choice of hard drive, optical drive and other parts directly depends on the purpose of the computer. For toys it is better to take a fast and expensive SSD-disk, and for office and multimedia, a magnetic disk with a large capacity will be preferable. It turns out that the system block is an ordinary constructor, which you can collect as you like, you just need to know what should result as a result.

Portable Systems

Minimized platforms for home and office use are more suitable for the definition of "candy bar". Very often they are compared to a laptop or tablet. The thing is that whatever the hardware components are installed inside the computer, due to the small dimensions of the device case, their functionality is severely limited (if compared with a standard PC). However, in terms of performance and productivity, no one has a claim against them. Take at least a portable system unit Intel, which has the most powerful processor in the world, Core i7.

The disadvantage of all laptops is limited functionality. The user can not add new, more productive components or install any expansion cards with his own efforts. It is this limitation that allows manufacturers of mobile devices to monitor the relevant market, constantly imposing more productive expensive devices on users.

Narrow Specialized Equipment

Many sellers believe that gaming system blocks need to be classified as a category of narrowly focused equipment, because they, like expensive servers, are evaluated according to the criterion of "performance". Despite the cost, many fans of dynamic and resource-intensive applications are willing to pay hundreds of thousands of rubles, just to have the most powerful platform in the world, which is able to immerse the user in virtual reality.

However, HP's system unit, designed as a server and intended for working with databases, belongs to specialized equipment. Its main difference compared to a conventional computer is the processor power. Manufacturers of such system units install special motherboards inside the enclosure that support work with multiple processors. Also critical for the server is the amount of RAM and hard drives. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to play on such a system, since the platform does not have a discrete video adapter, and the multi-million dollar cost of such equipment is unlikely to be allowed by anyone from ordinary users.

Finally

Having found out that the system unit is a whole complex of computer parts assembled together, the reader can only learn how to connect and use this platform in home or office environments. At this stage, everything is very simple, because all manufacturers have worried about users and adopted a single standard that requires matching connectors for all components and color identification marks.

By unfolding the chassis of the system unit to its back, the owner will find that all the pins on the motherboard have different shapes, and some components differ from each other in color. So, the lilac plug of the keyboard needs to be inserted into the computer's corresponding color contact. The monitor and mouse also have the corresponding ports of the size. Even the power cable can not be inserted incorrectly, because all power supplies have built-in grounding.