| ter is a device where digital information is stored in | | | | stored data in a random order. It processes |
| the form of electronic information. At present, the | | | | information when we start a program it is loaded into |
| number of computers used may surpass the number | | | | the RAM to be run. There is a certain amount of |
| of users, so extensive is the utility of this extremely | | | | RAM memory that the respective motherboard can |
| propitious device. There are four basic operations of | | | | take and accordingly add more RAM onto the RAM |
| a computer viz. 1.) Input 2.) Processing 3.) Storage 4.) | | | | slots provided on your motherboard.iv. Expansion |
| Output. Although a basic idea of a computer might | | | | Card: |
| include components like keyboard, printer, scanner, | | | | An expansion card is a printed circuit board (PCB) |
| monitor, speakers and so on, commonly known as | | | | that is inserted into an expansion slot of the |
| the peripherals, The central processing unit (CPU) is | | | | motherboard. They expand on certain features that |
| considered to be the computer. | | | | are not offered by the motherboard.v. Optical Disk |
| Hardware of a modern personal computer are as | | | | Drives: |
| follows:i. Motherboard: | | | | Optical drives store data on optical discs like CDs, |
| A motherboard is the most important central | | | | DVDs, and BDs (Blu-ray discs) which hold much more |
| component of a PC (Personal Computer). It is a | | | | information than classic portable media options like |
| printed circuit board (PCB) and is the main connector | | | | the floppy disk.vi. Hard disk drives: |
| to the other crucial components of a system. It is | | | | It is the major storage device that stores digitally |
| also referred to as a main board or system board | | | | encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with |
| and is known as the logic board in case of Apple | | | | magnetic surfaces. It is permanently fitted onto the |
| computers. It is casually called the mobo. The | | | | CPU and stores massive amounts of data and helps |
| components attached to the motherboard that are | | | | retrieve it.vii. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) |
| of significance for the normal running of the PC are | | | | The BIOS contains all codes required to control the |
| the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), the memory, | | | | keyboard, display screen, disk drives and a number |
| the Central Processing Unit (CPU), the graphics card, | | | | of miscellaneous functions. It also configures correct |
| sound card, hard drives, disk drives and other | | | | settings for these components at the start up.viii. |
| external ports and peripherals.ii. CPU: | | | | Internal Bus: |
| The CPU is the primary element that carries out the | | | | This connects the CPU to all the internal expansion |
| instructions of the computer programs. The program | | | | cards. It is manufactured and comes alongwith the |
| is stored as a sequence of numbers in the computer | | | | motherboard.ix. External Bus: |
| memory. The function of the CPU is to retrieve an | | | | This connects the external peripherals like printers to |
| instruction from the program memory and decodes it | | | | the computer.x. Chipset: |
| and divides it into parts of information significant to | | | | This is the main component on the motherboard and |
| the various parts of its own, executes the | | | | it passes information between each of the computer |
| information and finally writes it back in another form | | | | components.xi. Sound Card: |
| of memory. This is the cycle of processes carried out | | | | The Sound card allows the output of sound via audio |
| by a CPU. It is fitted directly onto the motherboard | | | | devices and also accept input from external audio |
| via a socket interface and is usually accompanied | | | | source. |
| with a fan to avoid overheating.iii. RAM(Random | | | | These are the basic components of a computer |
| Access Memory): | | | | which are essential elements for the proper |
| RAM is where the computer data is stored. It is a | | | | functionality the computer. |
| collection of integrated circuits that allow access to | | | | |