Computers have become one of the most important things we need in our lives, especially in this time of the pandemic when everything turned online from classes to payments to board meetings and everything else. When computers are so important to us should we not know more about them? So we have brought you information about the different computer components. The main computer components include:
- Motherboard
- Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Storage Unit
Motherboard
A motherboard is a circuit board through which all the different components of a computer communications and it keeps everything together. The input and output devices are plugged into the motherboard for function. The motherboard is the main board that is screwed into the computer case directly. Its function is to connect all of the components so that they may communicate and work together.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The CPU is called the brain of the computer. A processor communicates with all the other components of the computer and has 3 components that help in the smooth functioning of the CPU. On a computational level, it processes all of the data. It reads data from the RAM and processes it in order for the computer to do the tasks it is programmed to do.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
RAM is the most commonly referred component in a computer and is also known as the volatile memory since it gets erased every time the computer restarts. It stores the data regarding the programs which are frequently accessed programs and processes. RAM helps speed up the start-up and closing of programs. It being slower has made it more obsolete these days. RAM is a form of data storage that allows for faster read and write operations. RAM is also volatile, which means that if the power goes out, it loses all of the data it has stored.
Storage Unit
The computers need to store all their data and they have either a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SDD) for this purpose. Hard disk drives are disks that store data and this data is read by a mechanical arm. Solid-State drives are like SIM cards in mobile phones. They have no moving parts and are faster than hard drives. There is no need for a mechanical arm to find data on a physical location on the drive and therefore this takes no time at all. This device stores all the data and the instructions required for processing. It keeps intermediate results of processing.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Another vital component of the computer is GPU. The Graphics Processing Unit or the video card helps generate high-end visuals like the ones in video games. Good graphics like these are also helpful for people who have to execute their work through images like 3D modellers and others who use resource-intensive software. It generally communicates directly with the monitor. GPU is a specialized processor that is created to accelerate graphics processing. It can render many pieces of data making them ideal for machine learning, video editing and gaming.
