COMPUTER COMPONENTS AND IT’S

FUNCTION

CPU

The central processing unit (CPU) is the brain of a

computer system. It carries out the instructions of a
computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical,
logical, and input/output operations of the system. The
CPU is made up of the Control Unit(CU) and the Arithmetic
and Logic Unit(ALU).

CU: The control unit is a part of the CPU that instructs

other parts of the computer system to carry out program
instructions.

ALU: The ALU is a a digital circuit that performs arithmetic

and logical operations.
Motherboard

The motherboard is an underlying circuit

board that holds all the computer components
together. Computer components, including the
CPU, RAM, power supply and hard drive, plug
into the motherboard. This allows the
separate components to interact with each
other to create a fully functional machine.
While each computer part has a unique
function, they would be useless without the
unifying motherboard.
Random Access Memory (RAM)

(i)RAM slot (ii)RAM

Random access memory, also known as

main memory, provides a buffer between
the hard drive and central processing
unit. When files are requested for
processing, they get transferred from the
hard drive to the memory. The CPU then
processes the file and replaces it in the
memory.
The RAM provides a temporary storage
that gets erased when power is removed
from the machine. It is important to save
modified files to the hard drive so that
they get saved if power is lost.
HARD DRIVE

Hard drive/disk are made up of rigid material and

are usually a stack of metal disks sealed in a box.
The hard disk and the hard disk drive exist together
as a unit and is a permanent part of the computer
where data and programs are saved. These disks
have storage capacities ranging from 1GB to 80 GB
and more. Hard disks are rewritable.

A hard drive provides permanent storage for the

operating system, programs and files on a
machine. When files are saved to the hard drive,
they are retained through power outages.
Traditional hard drives are composed of magnetic
platters that spin when in use. Solid state drives,
which contain no moving parts, are another option.
SOUND CARD

A sound card (also known as an audio card) is

an internal computer expansion card that
facilitates the input and output of audio
signals to and from a computer under control
of computer programs. The term sound card is
also applied to external audio interfaces that
use software to generate sound, as opposed
to using hardware inside the PC. Typical uses
of sound cards include providing the audio
component for multimedia applications such
as music composition, editing video or audio,
presentation, education and entertainment
(games) and video projection.
GRAPHIC/VIDEO CARD

(Nvidia graphic card) (ATi Radeon graphic card)

A video card (also called a video adapter, display card,

graphics card, graphics board, display adapter or
graphics adapter and sometimes preceded by the word
discrete or dedicated to emphasize the distinction
between this implementation and integrated graphics) is
an expansion card which generates a feed of output
images to a display (such as a computer monitor). Within
the industry, video cards are sometimes called graphics
add-in-boards, abbreviated as AIBs,with the word
"graphics" usually omitted. Virtually all current video cards
are built with either AMD-sourced or Nvidia-sourced
graphics chips.Most video cards offer various functions
such as accelerated rendering of 3D scenes and 2D
graphics, MPEG-2/MPEG-4 decoding, TV output, or the
ability to connect multiple monitors (multi-monitor).
CHIPSET

A chipset is a set of electronic components in

an integrated circuit that manages the data
flow between the processor, memory and
peripherals. It is usually found in the
motherboard of a computer. Chipsets are
usually designed to work with a specific family
of microprocessors. Because it controls
communications between the processor and
external devices, the chipset plays a crucial
role in determining system performance.