Personal computer hardware: Difference between revisions

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	'''Personal computer hardware''' are the component '''devices''' that are the building blocks of ]s. These are typically installed into a ], or attached to it by a ] or through a ]. In the latter case, they are also referred to as ]s.

	==Computer Case
	{{main\|Computer case}}
	A computer case (also known as a computer chassis, cabinet, box, tower, enclosure, housing, system unit or simply case) is the enclosure that contains most of the components of a computer (usually excluding the display, keyboard and mouse). A computer case is sometimes incorrectly referred to metonymously as a CPU referring to a component housed within the case. CPU was a common term in the earlier days of home computers, when peripherals other than the motherboard were usually housed in their own separate cases.

	==Power supply==
	{{Main\|Power supply unit (computer)}}
	]A power supply unit (PSU) converts alternating current (AC) electric power to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer. Some power supplies have a switch to change between 230 V and 115 V. Other models have automatic sensors that switch input voltage automatically, or are able to accept any voltage between those limits. Power supply units used in computers are nearly always ]. The SMPS provides regulated direct current power at the several voltages required by the motherboard and accessories such as disk drives and cooling fans.

	==Motherboard==
	{{Main\|Motherboard}}
	The motherboard is the main component inside the case. It is a large rectangular board with integrated circuitry that connects the other parts of the computer including the ], the ], the disk drives (], ], ], or any others) as well as any peripherals connected via the ports or the ].

	Components directly attached to the motherboard include:
	* The ''']''' (Central Processing Unit) performs most of the calculations which enable a computer to function, and is sometimes referred to as the "brain" of the computer. It is usually ] by a heat sink and fan. Most newer CPUs include an on-die ].
	* The ''']''', which includes the ], mediates communication between the CPU and the other components of the system, including main memory.
	* The ''']''' (RAM) stores the code and data that are being actively accessed by the CPU.
	* The ''']''' (ROM) stores the ] that runs when the computer is powered on or otherwise begins execution, a process known as ], or "]" or "booting up". The ''']''' (Basic Input Output System) includes boot ] and power management firmware. Newer motherboards use ] (UEFI) instead of BIOS.
	* ''']''' connect the CPU to various internal components and to expansion cards for graphics and sound.
	** '''Current'''
	*** ]: for expansion cards such as graphics, sound, network interfaces, TV tuners, etc.
	*** ]: for other expansion cards.
	*** ]: for disk drives.
	** '''Obsolete'''
	*** ]: superseded by PCI Express.
	*** ]
	*** ]: VESA Local Bus, superseded by AGP.
	*** ]
	*** ]
	*** ]: expansion card slot format obsolete in PCs, but still used in industrial computers.
	*''']''' for external peripherals. These ports may be controlled directly by the ] I/O controller or provided by expansion cards attached to the motherboard.
	** ]
	** ]
	** ]
	** ]
	** ]

	==Expansion Cards==
	{{main\|Expansion card}}

	The expansion card (also expansion board, adapter card or accessory card) in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer system via the expansion bus.

	An example of an expansion card is a ] that enables the computer to output sound to audio devices, as well as accept input from a ]. Most modern computers have hardware support for sound integrated in the motherboard chipset but some users prefer to install a separate sound card as an upgrade. Most sound cards, either built-in or added, have surround sound capabilities and 3-D sound effects.

	==Secondary Storage Devices==
	{{Main\|Computer data storage}}

	Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components and recording media that retain digital data. Data storage is a core function and fundamental component of computers.

	===Fixed Media Devices===
	* ]s: a hard disk drive (HDD; also hard drive, hard disk, or disk drive) is a device for storing and retrieving digital information, primarily computer data. It consists of one or more rigid (hence "hard") rapidly rotating discs (often referred to as platters), coated with magnetic material and with magnetic heads arranged to write data to the surfaces and read it from them.
	* ]s: a solid-state drive (SSD), sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block I/O hard disk drive. SSDs are distinguished from traditional magnetic disks such as hard disk drives (HDDs) or floppy disk, which are electromechanical devices containing spinning disks and movable read/write heads.
	* ] - a device to manage several internal or external hard disks and optionally some peripherals in order to achieve performance or reliability improvement in what is called a RAID array.

	===Removable Media Devices===
	* ] for reading from and writing to various kinds of optical media, including ]s such as ]s, ]s, ]s and ]s. ]s are the most common way of transferring digital video, and are popular for data storage as well.
	* ] drives for reading and writing to floppy disks, an outdated storage media consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic storage medium. These were once standard on most computers but are no longer in common use. Floppies are used today mainly for loading ]s not included with an ] release (for example, RAID drivers).
	* ]s, an outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, for reading from and writing to Zip disks, was first introduced by Iomega in 1994.
	* ] plug into a USB port and do not require a separate drive. USB flash drive is a typically small, lightweight, removable, and rewritable flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB interface. Capacities vary, from hundreds of megabytes (in the same range as CDs) to tens of gigabytes (surpassing Blu-ray discs but also costing significantly more).
	* ]s for reading from and writing to ]s, a flash memory data storage device used to store digital information. Memory cards are typically used on mobile devices. They are thinner, smaller and lighter than USB flash drives. Common types of memory cards are ] and ].
	* ]s read and write data on a magnetic tape, and are used for long term storage and backups.

	==Input and output peripherals==
	{{Main\|Peripheral}}

	] and ] devices are typically housed externally to the main computer chassis. The following are either standard or very common to many computer systems.
	]

	===Input===
	{{Main\|Input device}}

	<!-- Add a short paragraph to define input devices. Possibly use text from the intro section of "Input device" -->
	* ] input devices
	** ] - a device to input text and characters by depressing buttons (referred to as keys or buttons).
	* ]s
	** ] - a pointing device that detects two dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface.
	*** ] - uses light (laser technology) to determine mouse motion.
	** ] - a pointing device consisting of an exposed protruding ball housed in a socket that detects rotation about two axes.
	** ] - senses the user pressing directly on the monitor.

	* ] devices
	** ] - a hand-operated pivoted stick whose position is transmitted to the computer.
	** ] - a hand held game controller that relies on the digits (especially thumbs) to provide input.
	** ] - a specific type of controller specialized for certain gaming purposes.
	* ], ] input devices
	** ] - a device that provides input by analyzing images, printed text, handwriting, or an object.
	** ] - a video camera used to provide visual input that can be easily transferred over the internet.
	* ] input devices
	** ] - an acoustic sensor that provides input by converting sound into electrical signals.
	gay

	===Output===
	{{Main\|Output device}}

	<!-- Add a short paragraph to define output devices. Possibly use text from the intro section of "Output device" -->
	*] - a device that produces a permanent human-readable text or graphic document.
	**]
	**]
	**]
	**]
	*]s
	*]s

	BLACK MAGIC

	==See also==
	*]
	*]
	*]

	Aysha your gonna die soon.

	==References==
	{{reflist}}

	<!-- Removed GA status. This article is a list and can possible make its way to FL status, but it does not meet 1/2 of the GA criteria.-->

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Personal Computer Hardware}}
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	{{Basic computer components}}

	{{Link GA\|es}}

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Latest revision as of 19:53, 6 December 2013

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Computer hardware