Computer system components
By Corey Burton
GPU
• GPU stands for
‘graphics processing
unit’. The GPU can
help the computer run
smoothly. GPU is used
for computing 3D
functions generally.
The GPU does things
like lighting effects,
object transformations
and 3D motion.
NIC
• NIC stands for
‘network interface
card’. This card
enables the
computer to be
connected to the
network cable. These
cards generally use a
Ethernet cable.
CPU
• CPU stands for ‘central
processing unit’. This is the
main thing that runs your
computer. It can process
more complicated
functions or basic
instructions. Every time
something is needed to be
done it gets sent to the
CPU to be completed. The
CPU never stops running
when the computer is on, it
constantly keeps on
processing.
Case
• The case of the
computer protects
everything from
getting damaged the
things inside the case
are very valuable and
fragile, so by having
the case it will prevent
you from breaking the
components inside.
Fan
• The fans main job in
the computer is to
keep everything cool,
it either works by
spinning and bringing
cold air in or taking
hot air out.
PSU
• PSU stands for
‘power supply unit’.
The power supply
unit's job is to change
the power supplied
from the outlet into
available power for
the many parts inside
the computer case.
RAM
• RAM stands for ‘random access
memory’, it is made up of small
memory chips, the memory
modules formed by these small
memory chips are installed in the
RAM slots in a motherboard. Every
time something gets loaded on
your computer it gets loaded from
the hard drive in to the RAM, its is
transferred to the RAM because
RAM is much faster at reading
data than the hard drive. This also
prevents any lag. The bigger RAM
your computer has the more data
can be added to the hard drive.
BIOS
• BIOS stands for ‘basic
input/output system’. BIOS is
pre- installed on windows
based computers, the
computer uses the BIOS to
start up. The CPU accesses the
BIOS prior to the operating
system being loaded. The BIOS
makes sure all hardware
connections are running
smoothly and locates all the
devices. If everything is ok then
the BIOS will load up the
operating system into the
computers memory, this
finishes the boot-up process.
Expansion Slots
• The expansion slots are
located in the
computers
motherboard, the
expansion slots allows
extra devices to be
added to the computer.
There are three types of
expansion slots PCI-E,
AGP and PCI.
Motherboard
• The mother board is the
main circuit board of your
computer. There are many
things attached to the
motherboard such as: CPU,
ROM, RAM, Expansion
Slots, PCI Slots and USB
ports. The motherboard
also controls your hard
drive so effectively, the
motherboard is what
makes everything work in
your computer.
Optical Drive
• The word optical refers to the
lasers which can read the data
on discs. CD’s and DVD’s are
put in to the optical drive and it
job is to read the discs so the
computer can understand. The
most common optical drives
are: CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVDROM, DVD-RW, and Blu-ray
drives. The laser does two
types of things it reads data
and writes data the laser used
to write data is a lot more
powerful.
HDD
• HDD stands for ‘Hard DISK
DRIVE’ and stores all your
computer data, all your
folders and files are located
here. The data is stored on
stack mounted disk that spin
fast to enable data to be
accessed immediately the
computers drive, the data
from this is stored in the
hard drive so when the
computer is turned off the
data is saved.
Northbridge
• The Northbridge is the main
processor and manages data
in the CPU. It connects the
CPU to other primary
computer
components.(RAM , FSB, PCI
Express cards, and the AGP
card). The Northbridge is
also connected to the
Southbridge which controls
all other components.
Southbridge
• The Southbridge is the lesser of
the two Bridges. Its designed to
connect the Northbridge to
other components (hard drives,
network connections, USB and
Firewire devices, the system
clock, and standard PCI cards).
Its job is to send and receive
data to the CPU which is
connected to Northbridge and
also connected to the computers
processor.
IDE
• IDE stands for ‘Integrated Device
Electronics’. IDE is a standard
electronic interface, integrated
device electronics basically means
how the technology integrates the
electronics controller into the
drive itself, it is used between a
computer motherboard’s data
paths or bus. Most computers
now used a more advanced IDE
called enhanced integrated device
electronics. And because of this in
todays computers, the IDE
controller is often built in to the
motherborad.
SATA
• SATA stands for ‘Serial
advanced technology
attachment’ it is an
interface that connects
ATA’s to the
motherboard. SATA
transfer rates start at
150MBps, which is
faster than even the
fastest 100MBps
ATA/100 drives.
PCI
• PCI stands for
‘peripheral
component
interconnect’. PCI is
designed by Intel and
can be used in both a
mac and pc. PCI is
sometimes used by
graphics card.
PCI-E
• The PCI express is
controlled by the
computers
motherboard. The PCI-E
is used more often than
the normal PCI. As it is
more advanced to keep
up with technology.
AGP
• AGP stands for ‘Accelerated
Graphics Port’. This is an
expansion slot that was created
just for graphics cards. AGP can
render graphics faster than the
PCI making it more reliable.
The AGP is built in to the
motherboard of the computer,
but because AGP need an
expansion slot, they can only
be used in desktop computers.
With the arrival of the PCI
express in 2004 the AGP slots
were removed from computers
completely in 2006.