Chapter One

PARTS OF COMPUTER
Learning Outcomes

 After studying this chapter, students will be able to:

 Define what constitutes a personal computer and its main subsystems.
 Identify all internal and external hardware components.
 Describe the purpose and working principle of each component.
 Understand cable and connector types used in modern PCs.
 Install hardware drivers and basic security tools.
 Assemble, configure, and test a modern PC system.
 Apply safety and maintenance procedures during hardware handling.
Computer
 A computer is a programmable device that stores, retrieves,

and processes data.

 A device that computes especially programmable electronic

machine that perform high speed mathematical or logical

operation.
 Is a collection of entities(hardware, and software ) that are

designed to receive, process, manage and present information

in a meaningful format.
The Structure of a Personal Computer
 A typical computer system consists of hardware, software, and firmware components that work

together to perform processing tasks.

 Hardware

 Hardware includes the physical, tangible parts of the computer devices you can touch and see.

These are broadly divided into:

 Input devices: keyboard, mouse, scanner, webcam.
 Output devices: monitor, printer, speaker.
 System unit: the enclosure that houses the main internal components (motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, etc.).

 Software

 Software is a set of instructions that direct the hardware on how to perform tasks.
 System software: Operating Systems (Windows, Linux).
 Application software: MS Office, browsers, IDEs, etc.

 Firmware

 Firmware is semi-permanent software stored in chips (e.g., BIOS/UEFI) that provides low-level control

for specific hardware.

Overview of Modern PC Systems

 Modern PCs vary by design:

 Desktops – stationary computers optimized for performance and expandability.
 Laptops/Notebooks – portable and integrated with a battery and display.
 All-in-One PCs – combine monitor and computer into a single unit.
 Mini PCs and Workstations – compact or high-performance variants for special
use.
 Each follows the same fundamental architecture:
 Input → Processing → Storage → Output
 The Central Processing Unit (CPU) coordinates these activities,
communicating through buses and interfaces controlled by the
motherboard.
The anatomy computer
Major Components of a Personal Computer
 The Motherboard
 The motherboard (also known as system board or mainboard) is the central
backbone of the computer.
 It holds the CPU, memory, expansion slots, storage connectors, and all circuitry
that allows data to move between devices.
 Main parts of a motherboard:
 CPU Socket: the slot for the processor (e.g., LGA1200 for Intel, AM5 for AMD).
 RAM Slots (DIMM): where memory modules are installed.
 Chipset: controls data flow between CPU, memory, and peripherals.
 BIOS/UEFI: firmware interface that initializes hardware at startup.
 PCIe Slots: used for expansion cards (graphics, sound, network).
 SATA & M.2 Connectors: for storage devices.
 Power Connectors: 24-pin main power and 8-pin CPU power.
Major Components of a Personal Computer

 Central Processing Unit (CPU)

 The CPU acts as the “brain” of the computer.
 It performs all arithmetic and logical operations, controls hardware, and
executes program instructions.
 Modern CPU features:
 Multi-core architecture: multiple processing units within one chip.
 Threads: virtual cores that enhance multitasking.
 Cache memory: high-speed memory built into the processor.
 Clock speed: measured in GHz, defines instruction execution speed.
 Thermal management: cooling systems regulate heat generated by the CPU.
Major Components of a Personal Computer

 Memory (RAM and ROM)

 RAM (Random Access Memory):
Temporary storage for data being processed. Volatile loses data when
power is off.
Types: DDR3, DDR4, DDR5 (newest standard with higher bandwidth).
 ROM (Read-Only Memory):
Contains firmware instructions like BIOS that run during startup.
 Cache Memory:
Very high-speed memory embedded inside the CPU to minimize access
delay.
Major Components of a Personal Computer

 Storage Devices
 Storage devices permanently hold data and applications.
Type Description Example
Uses spinning disks and read/write heads. Slower
HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1 TB SATA HDD
but cheaper.
SSD (Solid State Drive) Uses flash memory; faster and more reliable. 500 GB SATA SSD
NVMe SSD Uses PCIe lanes for very high speed. 1 TB M.2 NVMe drive
External Drives USB-based portable drives. USB 3.2 HDD/SSD
Major Components of a Personal Computer

 Power Supply Unit (PSU)

 Converts AC (Alternating Current) from wall power to DC (Direct Current)
for internal components.
 Ratings: 500 W, 650 W, 850 W depending on system requirements.
 Cables: 24-pin main power, 4/8-pin CPU, PCIe, SATA, Molex.
Major Components of a Personal Computer

 Input and Output Devices

 Input: Keyboard, mouse, scanner, touchpad, webcam.
 Output: Monitor, speaker, printer, projector.
 Modern I/O standards:
 USB 3.2 / USB-C: up to 20 Gbps data transfer.
 HDMI 2.1 / DisplayPort 1.4: for high-resolution video.
 Bluetooth 5.0 / Wi-Fi 6: wireless connectivity.
Input and Output Devices

 A keyboard is one of the ways to communicate with a computer.

 Typing a key from the keyboard sends a small portion of data to tell the computer
which key was pressed

 Mouse
 A mouse allows the user to move a pointer displayed on the monitor and
experience a more intuitive interaction with the computer.
Input and Output Devices

 Printer
 A printer can take an image sent by a computer and deliver it onto a
sheet of paper.

 Scanner
 A scanner can take anything on paper and scan it to produce a replicated
digital image.
Input and Output Devices

 A monitor is what you use to visualize the graphics

data sent from the computer’s graphics card.
 LCD(Liquid Crystal Display)
 display that uses LCD technology to show clear images,
and is found mostly in laptop computers and flat panel
monitors.
 CRT(cathode-ray tube)
 The image on a CRT display is created by firing electrons
from the back of the tube to phosphors located towards
the front of the display.
 Input and Output Devices

Definition CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display.

Power CRT consumes more power than LCD. LCD consumes much less power than CRT.
Consumption
Cost CRT is cheaper than LCD. LCD is costlier than CRT.

Speed CRT is faster than LCD in response time. LCD is slower than CRT in response time.

Size CRT is larger than LCD in size. LCD is smaller than CRT in size.

Resolution CRT resolution is quiet lower than LCD. LCD resolution is quiet high than CRT thus
have high image quality support.
Desktop(Case)

 This is the part that holds all of the internal components to make up the
computer itself.
Mother Board

 The motherboard is the main board that is screwed directly inside the
computer case. All other cards and everything else plugs directly into the
motherboard, hence its name.
CPU

 The CPU is basically like the brain of a computer. It processes all the
information on a computational level.
RAM

 RAM is a data storage device that can provide fast read and write access.
RAM is also volatile, which means that it loses all the stored data when
power is lost.
Hard Disk(HDD)

 A hard drive is found in most computers. It’s usually a mechanical drive

that stores all the data.
 Apart from storing data, it can also be used as a boot drive to run the
operating system from it.
SSD(Solid State Drive)

 An SSD is also a type of hard drive, but it doesn’t have any moving parts.
It consists of a bank of flash memory that can hold a reasonable amount
of data.
 While SSD’s are increasing in size all the time, they aren’t cost-effective
for storing large amounts of data.
VGA(Graphics Card)

 A graphics card processes the data from the motherboard and sends the
appropriate information to the monitor for it to be displayed.
Power Supply Unit

 A power supply mounts inside the computer case. This

converts the AC mains supply from the wall socket and
supplies the correct DC voltages to all the components
inside the computer.
LAN Card

 LAN card is a piece of hardware which is connected inside the linking the
computer network using the MAC address for network to work.
Modem

 A modem card is an internal type of modem that is plugged into the PCI
slot of a PC motherboard.
 A modem is a communications device that allows a computer to send and receive
data through telephone or cable lines.
CD-ROM

 A CD-ROM Drive or optical drive is the device used to read CD ROM

disks.
 CD-ROM drives have speeds ranging from 1x to 72x, meaning it reads
the CD roughly 72 times faster than the 1x version.
 Compact Disc Read-Only Memory, a CD-ROM is an optical disc containing audio
or software data whose memory is read-only.
 As you would imagine, these drives are capable of playing audio CDs and reading
data CDs, including CD-R and CD-RW discs.
Computer Cable Connections
Computer Cable Connections

 VGA Cable
 Also known as D-sub cable, analog video cable
 Connect one end to: computer monitor, television (PC input port)
 Connect other end to: VGA port on computer (see image below)
Computer Cable Connections

 DVI Cable
 Connect one end to: computer monitor
 Connect other end to: DVI port on computer (see image below)
Computer Cable Connections

 HDMI Cable
 Connect one end to: computer monitor, television
 Connect other end to: HDMI port on computer (see image below)
Computer Cable Connections

 PS/2 Cable
 Connect one end to: PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse
 Connect other end to: PS/2 ports on computer (see image below)
 Purple PS/2 port: keyboard
 Green PS/2 port: mouse
Computer Cable Connections

 Ethernet Cable
 Also known as RJ-45 cable
 Connect one end to: router, network switch
 Connect other end to: Ethernet port on computer (see image below)
Computer Cable Connections

 Audio Cable
 Connect one end to: computer speakers, 3.5mm headphones, 3.5mm
microphone
 Connect other end to: audio ports on computer (see image below)
 Green audio port: computer speakers or headphones
 Pink audio port: microphone
 Blue audio port: MP3 player, CD player, DVD player, turntable, electric guitar etc.
(line-in port to play and record sounds from the above devices)
Computer Cable Connections
 USB Cable
 For USB computer cable connections, there are two popular formats: USB 2.0 and
the newer USB 3.0
 Since USB was intended to be the one computer cable connection to replace them
all, it's no surprise that the possible uses for a USB port are quite mind-blowing
 Connect one end to: USB device
 Storage devices
 Input devices
 Output devices
 Wireless adapters
 Data (and charging) cable for mobile devices such as mobile phone, tablet, MP3 player
 Connect other end to: USB ports on computer (see image below)
Computer Cable Connections
Computer Cable Connections

 Computer Power Cord

 Connect one end to: AC power socket
 Connect other end to: power supply unit (see image below), computer
monitor
 Note: Always turn off your power supply unit (with the 1-0 switch at the
back) before connecting a power cord to it.
Drivers

 A driver, or device driver, is a set of files that tells a piece of hardware

how to function by communicating with a computer's operating system.
 All pieces of hardware require a driver, from your internal computer
components, such as your graphics card, to your external peripherals,
like a printer.