Explain different Computer Hardware parts

Semester:-1

Unit:-5

Explain different Computer Hardware parts. ?
Ans:-
          The physical parts of the computer that we can see and touch are known as computer hardware. Computer software is just like the human soul, which can not be touched and computer hardware is like body which we can see and touch.
Motherboard : 

• This is the part of the computer where everything is placed or connected to. It holds the slot and ports where the other parts will be attached.
• When upgrading or buying a motherboard make sure it contain the most recent slots and ports to ensure that you will not limited in the kind of parts you install into it.
• Example there are two kinds of ports for a CD/DVD drive and hard drive. It can be the earlier IDE or a SATA port. Some motherboards can carry both IDE and SATA during the period where SATA is still new.

Processor :

• This is the "brain" of the computer because it does necessary computations and logical operations to run a program.
• At the moment of writing the most known processors brands are Intel and AMD . Intel are best for office and desktop publishing work while AMD is best for gaming.

RAM :

•            This means Random Access Memory and is responsible for becoming temporary storage for use by actively running programs and processes of a computer.
• Generally the higher the RAM the more programs you can run at the same time but the processor would play a big part two in determining if these programs will run smoothly.
• RAM comes in size of 512 kb , 1GB, 2GB, 4GB and 8GB. Usually there are only two slots available so if you hear that they are selling a computer with 3GB of RAM then it is most likely composed on a 2GB and 1GB sticks of RAM.
• Typically a laptop RAM would come also in smaller size.

Hard Disk Drive :

• The programs, files and pictures are stored in a hard disk drive.
• It comes in either with a SATA port or IDE port, the latter being the older model.
• SATA allows much higher capacity of data that can be transferred with also a much slimmer cables to be used.
• Desktop hard disk drives are about 3.5 inches while laptop hard disk drives are 2.5 inches.
• It comes in storage sizes of 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 240GB, 320GB, 640GB, 1TB, 2TB, 3TB etc .
• Please note that if you get a 649GB it doesn't equally mean to be 640GB exactly. It may fall off a few kilobytes because the conversion is not exact. 1024 bytes = 1 kilobytes(KB), 1024 KB = 1 Megabytes (MB), 1024 MB = 1 Terabytes (TB), 1024 TB = 1 Gigabytes(GB).

CD / DVD Drive :

• This is where you put your CDs and DVDs do you can view their content inside the computer.
• If you get one with a write feature it can also be used to back-up or save data from your computer into a CD and DVD. The CD and DVD you must though must also be writable.
• Like the hard disk drive it can also be either for a SATA or IDE port , the latter being the older model.
• A desktop can carry as many as 3 CD-DVD drives at the same time depending on the number of bays which can be carried by the case used however for a laptop there is only one CD-DVD drive available, sometimes none at all like with netbooks.

Internal CD/DVD drive

External CD/DVD drive

Video Card :

• They are expansion cards which allows to creates the images to be displayed out to the monitor.
• Motherboards nowadays have their on-board video and this would share memory from the RAM but some more advanced boards would have their dedicated Memory even if it is on-board specially with laptops. 
• You may consider using a video Card instead of an on-board video if you wish to run more power hungry graphics like for computer games and multimedia editing.
• Be careful not just to buy any kind of video Card and always check what your motherboard can handle are there now several lost types for use on video cards. The latest now are PCIs.