54 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
54 lines
3.0 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Computer Hardware
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---
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## Computer Hardware
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In this section, we explore the various hardware components of modern computers.
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## Parts of a Personal Computer
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### Central Processing Unit (CPU)
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A Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions.
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![Intel Core i5 - Front](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Intel_i5-2500.jpg/247px-Intel_i5-2500.jpg) ![Intel Core i5 - Back](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Intel_i5-3330%2C_bottom.jpg/240px-Intel_i5-3330%2C_bottom.jpg)
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### Expansion Cards (eg. GPU)
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An expansion card is an embedded circuit card that can be added to the motherboard to augument a computer's capability. It can either add capabilities, ex allow for a new type of I/O port, or upgrade existing ones, ex. faster ethernet connection. The most common type of expansion card is a GPU, or a graphical processing unit.
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![Nvidia Titan XP](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/nvidia-titan-x.jpg)
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### Storage (SSD or HDD)
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The Solid State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) are used to store information on the computer. It retains the memory even after loss of power.
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![SSD](https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImage/20-147-373-09.jpg)
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### Memory (RAM)
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Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data storage which stores data and machine code currently being used. A random-access memory device allows data items to be read or written in almost the same amount of time irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory.
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![Ram](https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImage/20-232-476-S01.jpg)
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### Case
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A case is used to house all the components of a computer.
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![Case](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Wq97Jk20L._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg)
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### Power Supply
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A power supply is an electronic device that supplies electric energy to an electrical load.
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![Power Supply](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/SFX_PC-PSU_Delta_IMG_9760.JPG/620px-SFX_PC-PSU_Delta_IMG_9760.JPG)
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### Motherboard
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Motherboard holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals.
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![Motherboard](https://fthmb.tqn.com/mmTUdCN6UBGIKlkEggGq4fpV-3k=/768x0/filters:no_upscale()/gig-57c732ed3df78c71b60e7aa5.jpg)
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### Input and Output devices (eg. Keyboard and Mouse)
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Input/Output device is any hardware used by a human operator or other systems to communicate with a computer.
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![I/O Devices](https://www.clasohlson.com/medias/sys_master/9225929949214.jpg)
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### Monitor
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A computer monitor is an output device which displays information in pictorial form.
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![Monitor](https://assets.pcmag.com/media/images/523934-dell-ultrasharp-34-curved-monitor-u3417w.jpg?thumb=y)
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