Part Name
Motherboard
Picture
Description
Purpose
Main circuit board of
the computer, it is a
rectangle and the
biggest piece, all
computer parts are
connected to it. It is
multicolored, and
makes everything
work together.
It's a thin plate that
holds the CPU,
memory,
connectors for the
hard drive and
optical drives,
expansion cards to
control the video
and audio, as well
as connections to
your computer's
ports (such as the
USB ports).
Central
Processing Unit
(CPU)-is a
processor that
processes
everything from
basic instructions
to complex
function.
CPU
A modern CPU is
usually small and
square with many
short, rounded,
metallic connectors
on its underside.
Some older CPUs
have pins instead
metallic connectors.
RAM
RAM is measured
in megabytes (MB)
or gigabytes (GB).
It is rectangular in
shape. A standard
"module" or "stick" of
desktop memory is a
long, thin piece of
hardware and
resembles a short
ruler. The bottom of
the memory module
has one or more
notches to guide for
proper installation
and is lined with
numerous, usually
gold-plated
connectors.
Read-only memory
(ROM) is a type of
memory storage that
is permanently
integrated into a
personal computer
(PC). It contains the
programming
needed to start a PC
which is essential for
boot-up. It is a chip
ROM
RAM (Random
Access Memory)
RAM is your
system's shortterm memory. It
temporarily stores
the data in the
RAM until it is
needed.
ROM (ReadOnly-Memory) - is
a memory
containing
hardwired
instruction that a
computer uses
when it boots up,
before the system
software loads.
Video Card
that is rectangular
and is found in the
motherboard.
A video card is a
printed circuit board
(like a motherboard)
and contains its own
processing unit and
memory. It is like a
kind of computer in
itself.
Sound Card
A sound card is
rectangular piece
of hardware with
numerous contacts
on the bottom of the
card and multiple
ports on the side for
connection to audio
devices such as
speakers.
The sound card
installs in a PCI or
PCIe slot on the
motherboard.
Hard Disk
Drive
A hard drive is
usually the size of a
paperback book but
much heavier. The
sides of the hard
drive have pre
drilled, threaded
holes for easy
mounting in the 3.5
inch drive bay in the
computer case.
Mounting is also
possible in a larger
5.25 inch drive bay
with an adapter. The
hard drive is
mounted so the end
with the connections
faces inside the
A video
card connects to
the motherboard of
a computer system
and generates
output images to
display. Video
cards are also
referred to
as graphics
cards. Video cards
include a
processing unit,
memory, a cooling
mechanism and
connections to a
display device.
The sound card is
an expansion card
that allows the
computer to send
audio information
to an audio device
like speakers or a
pair of
headphones.
The hard disk drive
is the main, and
usually largest,
data storage
hardware device in
a computer.
The operating
system, software
titles and most
other files are
stored in the hard
disk drive.
computer.
Optical Drive
An optical drive is a
piece of computer
hardware about the
size of a thick soft
cover book. The
front of the drive has
a small Open/Close
button that ejects
and retracts the
drive bay door. The
sides of the optical
drive have predrilled, threaded
holes for easy
mounting in the 5.25
inch drive bay in the
computer case. The
optical drive is
mounted so the end
with the connections
faces inside the
computer and the
end with the drive
bay faces outside.
The back end of the
optical drive
contains a port for a
cable that connects
to the motherboard.
Optical drives
retrieve and/or
store data on
optical discs like
CDs, DVDs, and
BDs (Blu-ray discs)
which hold much
more information
than classic
portable media
options like
the floppy disk.
NIC Card
A network interface
card provides the
computer with a
dedicated, full-time
connection to a
network. Personal
computers and
workstations on a
local area network
(LAN). It is
rectangular in shape
and is a long thin
circuit that is usual
green.
NIC (Network
Interface Card) an expansion card
inserted into a
computer so that it
can be connected
to the network.
Expansion
Slots
An expansion slot
usually refers to any
of the slots on
a motherboard that
take PCIe, PCI,
AGP, ISA, or other
format expansion
cards.
Sometimes the
openings on the rear
of the case are
referred to as
expansion slots.
Expansion Cardsa type of card that
gives the computer
new abilities, such
as the ability to
connect to other
computers through
the network. There
are many types
such as video,
sound, network
cards, etc.
Ports and
Buttons
The types of ports
are Serial Ports,
Parallel Ports and
USB ports are one
of the most common
computer ports in
use today. They are
hot pluggable
external connectors
with 4 pins (1 for
power supply, 2 for
data and 1 for a
ground connection),
measure 4.5 mm by
11.5 mm and come
with a maximum
length cable of 5
meters.
A computer port is
a connection point
or interface
between a
computer and an
external or internal
device. Internal
ports may connect
such devices as
hard drives and CD
ROM or DVD
drives; external
ports may connect
modems, printers,
mice and other
devices.
Floppy Drive
The most common
type of floppy drive
is the 3.5" drive,
followed by the 5.25"
drive, among other
sizes. A traditional
3.5" floppy drive is
about the size and
weight of a few
decks of cards.
Some external USB
versions are only
slightly larger than
floppy disks
themselves. The
floppy drive is
mounted so the end
The floppy drive is
a piece of
computer hardware
that reads data
from, and writes
data to, a small
disk.
Power Supply
PGA
with the connections
faces inside the
computer and the
slot for the disk
faces outside.
The power supply
unit is mounted just
inside the back of
the case. The side of
the PSU facing
outside the case has
a male, three
pronged port that a
power cable,
connected to a
power source, plugs
into. Large bundles
of coloured wires
extend from the
opposite side of the
power supply unit
into the computer.
Connectors at the
opposite ends of the
wires connect to
various components
inside the computer.
(PGA) A style of i
ntegrated
circuit socket or pi
nout with pins laid
out on asquare or
rectangular grid wi
th a separation of
0.1 inch in each di
rection.The pins n
ear the centre of t
he array are often
missing.
PGA is often used
on motherboards
for processors, e.
g. Socket 6 and
Socket 8.
The power supply
unit is the piece
of hardware that's
used to convert the
power provided
from the outlet into
usable power for
the many parts
inside the
computer case.
PGA (pin grid
array) - a type of
chip package in
which the
connecting pins
are located on the
bottom in
concentric squares
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