- The 8 main elements of a computer
- 1- CPU
- 2- Motherboard or motherboard
- 3- RAM memory
- 4- Monitor
- 5- Keyboard
- 6- Mouse
- 7- Video card
- 8- Storage medium
- References
The main elements of a computer include the screen, hard drive, memory, keyboard, and mouse, among others. These elements make the computer work.
The CPU or hard disk is the brain of the computer, it processes the input information and produces the output information.
The screen is where you can see what is being done. The mouse is used to navigate and choose part of the information, and the keyboard is used to type on the computer.
A computer is made up of different elements. They are all very important to the computer; if one is missing, the computer cannot function.
The different parts of the computer are called hardware. Every part of the computer is a piece of hardware, no matter how small.
Hardware is basically all you can touch. Software is the programs that make the computer work and is what you see on the monitor.
The 8 main elements of a computer
1- CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the element of the computer responsible for interpreting and executing many of the commands for the other hardware and software elements of the computer. That is why it is known as the brain of the computer.
It interprets the user's inputs, sends them to the computer as electronic signals, and translates these signals into a result that the user can read.
For example, typing on a keyboard sends a signal to the processor. This reinterprets said signal as an electrical impulse and sends it to the word processor program and the monitor, indicating that the latter should display the corresponding characters.
A modern CPU is a small, square frame with many short, round, and metal connectors.
The CPU connects directly to the motherboard. After running, even for a short time, the CPUs get quite hot. For that reason a fan is placed directly above it.
The CPU can have different names: processor, computer processor, microprocessor, and core processor.
The most famous CPU manufacturers are Intel and AMD, but Apple, Nvidia and Qualcomm also make them.
Some devices have a single core processor, while others have two and are dual.
If there are two processor units working at the same time, the CPU will perform better.
2- Motherboard or motherboard
It is a circuit board that serves as the foundation of the computer. It is located on the side or bottom of the computer chassis.
It allows a path for electricity and communication to travel between the CPU, the power source, the RAM, and the other hardware elements.
The first motherboard was used in the IBM personal computer in 1981. This computer and its motherboard set the standard for computer hardware in the future.
It's called a motherboard because there are 'children' of circuits around it, which plug into this larger motherboard.
3- RAM memory
It provides the computer with memory to temporarily store instructions and information, so that the processor can access them.
RAM maintains short-term memory; that is, the duration of a work session. When the computer shuts down, all RAM information is lost.
Most computers made after 2002 have dual data RAM (DDR2).
This type of RAM transfers information more quickly without reducing the overall performance of the computer.
4- Monitor
It is the element that shows the graphic and video information generated by the computer through the video card.
They are external equipment to the computer cover and are connected with a cable to a port on the video card or on the motherboard. It is an essential part of the computer system.
Monitors are similar to televisions, but they usually display information in a higher resolution. They can be of different sizes.
They generally exist in two types: LCD or CRT. CRT monitors look like old TVs and are quite large.
LCDs are thinner, use less power, and have better graphics quality. Because they are of better quality, LCDs are more common.
A monitor, no matter what type, usually connects to an HDMI, DVI, or VGA port. Other connectors can include USB, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt.
5- Keyboard
It is a device similar to a typewriter but with additional letters. The keyboard allows the user to enter letters, numbers, and other symbols on a computer.
These characters can serve as commands or can be used to type text. Almost all keyboards use the QWERTY pattern to display the keys.
6- Mouse
It is the element used to manipulate objects on the screen. Mice can be laser, ball, wired, or wireless.
A movement detected by the mouse sends instructions to the computer to move the cursor on the screen and thus interact with files, windows and other elements of the software.
The standard mouse has two buttons (right click and left click) and a wheel in the center to quickly move the screen up and down.
7- Video card
It is a card that allows the computer to send graphic information to the monitor. They are rectangular and have many bottom contacts; are installed on the motherboard.
Most video cards are in PCIe format, but there are also some in PCI and AGP format. The latter are older and do not communicate with the CPU as fast as the PCLe.
While there are many companies that make video cards, almost all include a graphics processor unit (GPU) from NVIDIA or AMD.
8- Storage medium
Storage media allow you to store information for a longer time, because RAM can only store it for a short time.
The hard drive has different elements that hold information magnetically. When the user is going to access a file, the operating system looks for the location of the information on the hard disk.
In this process it sends a signal to the hydraulic arm, which contains a needle that reads the magnetic charges that represent the information.
References
- What is a video card (2017). Recovered from lifewire.com
- Elements of a computer (2013). Recovered from slideshare.net
- What is a mouse? (2017). Recovered from lifewire.com
- Recovered from computerhope.com
- What is a monitor (2017). Recovered from lifewire.com
- Basic elements of a computer system. Recovered from techwala.com
- What is a motherboard? (2017). Recovered from computerhope.com
- What is a CPU (2017). Recovered from lifewire.com