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COMPUTER HARDWARE
Computer hardware refers to the physical parts or components of a computer such
as monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, hard drive disk, mouse, system unit
(graphic cards, sound cards, memory, mother board and chips), etc. all of which you
can actually touch. Computer hardware is the physical components (devices),
which are the building blocks of personal computers. These are installed into
a computer case, or attached to it by a cable or through a port. In the latter case, they
are also referred to as peripherals. A combination of hardware and software forms a
usable computing system.
Hardware of a modern personal computer:
1. Monitor

2. Mother board

3. CPU

4. RAM

5. Expansion cards

6. Power supply

7. Optical disc drives

8. Hard disks drive

9. Keyboard

10. Mouse

Modern personal computer

Basics of Computer Hardware that runs inside your computer

Personal Computer Case: A computer case also known as a "computer chassis",
"tower", "system unit", "base unit" or simply "case" and sometimes incorrectly
referred to as the "CPU" or "hard drive" is the enclosure that contains most of the
components of a computer (usually excluding the display, keyboard and mouse).
Cases are usually constructed from steel (often SECC - Steel, Electro galvanized,
Cold-rolled, and Coil) or aluminum. Plastic is sometimes used, and other materials
such as glass, wood and even Lego blocks have appeared in home-built cases.
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P wer
Po
Powe
er supp
supply
ply
A po
pow
wer
er supp
suupply
ply
y uni
unit
u it ((P
PSU
SU)) co
conv
onve
verts
rtss aalte
ltern
ernat
natin
ting
g cu
curre
c rrent
entt (AC
(AC)
( C)) elec
ellectr
ctric
ic po
pow
ower
err too low
llow-v ltage
vol
volta
gee DC
DC ppow
ower
err fforr th
the
he in
inter
terna
rnal
al comp
ccompo
pone
nent
ents
ts of
o the
the cco
comp
mpu
puter
ter.
r. Som
S
Somee ppowe
power
er supp
supplie
plies
es
h ve a ssw
hav
have
switc
itch
ch to
o ch
cchan
ange
gee betw
bet
b twee
een
n 23
230
30 V and
an
nd 115
115 V.
V O
Oth
ther
her
models
mo
mode
elss h
have
havve autom
aut
a toma
matic
ticc senso
ssennsors
orss that
tthaat swit
sw
witch
itch
h inp
inpu
putt vo
volta
oltage
age
a tomaatical
aut
autom
aticcally
lly,, or
o aree aable
ablle to
t ac
acce
ccept
eptt an
any
ny volt
voltag
tage
ge betw
beetwee
een
en
t osee lim
tho
those
liimits
its.
s. P
Powe
Power
er su
supp
pply
ply
y uni
units
its used
ussed
d inn com
ccomp
mput
puter
ters
rs aare
n arly
nea
nearl
ly al
alwa
lway
ayss Sw
wiitcch Mo
M dee Po
Poweer Sup
S pp
pliees (SM
(SMPS
PS)
S).
T e SMP
Th
The
SMPS pr
prov
rovid
vides
dess reg
reegula
ulate
lated
ed dire
diirect
ct cu
curr
urren
rentt ppowe
pow
wer
er aat the
the sev
sever
s veral
rall volt
vo
oltag
tages
gess req
reequir
uired
ired
d by
b
t em
the
mot
othe
therb
erboa
board
ard
d and
a d acc
acces
a cesso
ssorie
ories
ies su
such
uch
h aas disk
dis
d sk driv
drrives
es and
annd co
cool
oolin
ling
g fans
fan
ns.

Mothe
Mo
Moth
therb
erbo
boar
oard
rd
A ccir
circu
rcuit
uit bo
boar
oard
rd th
that
at al
allow
llows
wss the
thhe CPU
CPU
U tto inter
intterac
ract
ct w
wi
with
ith ot
othe
ther
er parts
ppartss of
of the
t e ccom
omp
put
uter
ter is
c lled
cal
called
d Mot
M the
herb
erboa
boar
ard (it
its
ts also
als
a so know
kn
nown
wnn aas the main
main
ma
n boa
b
boar
ard,, syst
syystem
tem
m boar
booard
rd, plana
pla
p anar
ar
b ard or
bo
boar
or lo
logic
gicc bo
boar
oard
rd).
). Mo
Moth
ther
erbo
rboa
oard
rd is th
the
he mai
main
in Prin
Printe
nted
ed
C rcuit
Cir
Circu
uitt Bo
Boar
oard
rd (PCB
(PC
CB)
B) ffoun
fou
undd in
i ccom
omp
mput
uter
ters and
and othe
otther
er
e pand
exp
expan
ndab
able
ble sy
syst
ystem
tems
ms.
s. IIt hol
h
holds
ldss m
maany
ny ooff tthee ccru
rucia
cial
al elect
eleectro
troni
onic
ic
c mpon
com
comp
pone
nents
nts
ts oof thee sys
ssyste
stem,
m,, ssuc
uch
h as the
th
he Cen
Ceentra
tral
al Pro
Prroceessi
ssing
ing
U it (CP
Un
Unit
(C
CPU
PU) and
an
nd mem
m mor
me
ory,, aand
d pro
prov
p ovid
ides
es ccon
onne
nnect
ector
tors
rs for
for
o herr Peeriph
oth
other
erip
ipher
heral
rals.. U
Unlike
Unlik
ke a back
backpl
kplan
lane
ne,, a m
mot
othe
therb
erboa
oard
ard
c ntain
con
conta
ainss ssigni
siggnific
ifican
cant
nt su
sub--sy
syste
stem
temss such
such
h aass the
t e ppro
roce
cess
ssor
or.
Mother
Mo
Moth
herbo
rboa
oard
rd spe
sp
pecif
cific
ficall
ally
ly re
refe
fers
rs to a PCB
PC
CB wi
with
ith ex
expa
xpan
ansio
sion
on ca
capa
apab
abili
ility
ity an
and
nd ass the
th
he nam
naamee
s ggest
sug
sugge
ests,
ts,, th
this
hiss board
bboaardd is
i th
thee "m
"mot
othe
ther"
er"" oof al
all
ll com
comp
c mpo
pone
nent
nts
ts att
attac
tache
ched
ed too iit, w
whic
hich
ch ofte
often
en
i clude
inc
inclu
dee soun
sou
undd card
caards,, vid
video
eo ccards
carrds,, ne
netw
etwor
ork
rk card
cards
ds,, hard
hard driv
drives
ves or ooth
ther
er form
forms
mss of
o
p rsiste
per
persi
istent
entt sstor
torag
rage;
ge; TV
TV tune
tu
uner
er ca
card
ards,, card
caards
ds pr
prov
ovid
iding
ing
g ext
eextra
tra US
USB
B or Fire
FireW
eWir
ire slots
slootss an
and
nd a
v riety
var
varie
ty off ooth
ther
er cust
cuustom
tom
m ccomp
compo
pone
nent
ents.
ts.
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N te:: Num
No
Note
Nu
umbe
ber
er of
of or
orga
rgani
aniza
izatio
tions
onss use
use to ma
m
manu
anufa
ufact
actur
turing
ring
g Mot
Mothe
therb
erboa
oard
ard
d PCs
PCs aamon
among
ng
w ich
wh
whic
h Int
Intel
I tel, A
Acer, Asu
Acer,
Asus
us ar
aree fam
famo
f mous
us.
Heatt si
He
Heat
sink
ink
H att sink
He
Heat
siinkk is
i uuse
sed
ed too ddis
dispe
perse
rsee tthee hheat
heaat prod
ppro
oduc
uced
ced
d ins
inside
i idee tthee com
ccomp
mput
puter
terr bby
t eC
the
CPU
PU
U and
and othe
oth
herr ppar
parts
rts byy inc
iincre
creas
asing
ingg surfa
ssurrface
cee area
arrea.
F
Fa
Fan
F n keeeps
Fan
eep
ps yo
you
ourr co
com
mpu
pute
terr co
cool
ol. If inter
interio
rior
or port
po
ortio
tionn off your
yyouur co
com
ompu
pute
uter
er
b come
bec
becom
mes
es too
too ho
h
hot,
t, it can
c n res
rresul
sult
lt iin dama
d
damag
aging
ing
g of
o the parts
p rts.
par
T e tthree
Th
The
thrreee m
ma
main
in co
com
omppon
onen
ents
ntss ooff a com
comp
c mput
puter
ter C U:: Cent
CP
CPU
Ceentra
tral
al Pr
Proc
roces
cessi
ssing
ing
g Un
U
Unit
it coor
co
oordi
rdina
inate
atess aalll acti
acction
ions
ns that
thaat oc
occu
ccur
ur in th
thee syste
system
em and
and
execu
exe
ecute
utes
es prog
prrogra
gram
m inst
in
nstruc
tructi
ction
ions.
ns.
Memor
Me
Mem
ory
ry: Me
M
Mem
emor
ory
ry is used
used
d to
t ssto
store
oree info
innform
orma
matio
ation
on.
I D
I/O
Devi
Device
ices:: Inpu
In
nput
ut / Outp
Ou
utpu
put D
Deevice
eviices whic
wh
hichh aall
allow
low
w yo
yyou
u to
t ob
obta
btain
in orr disp
displa
play
ay data
daata.

Centra
Ce
Cent
ral
all Pro
Proce
ocess
essin
sing
ing
g Un
Unit
Unitt ((CP
CPU
PU))
C U or
CP
CPU
or proce
proocess
essor
sor is the
t eb
brain
braain
n oof any
any co
com
ompu
pute
uter
er.. It
It con
contr
c ntrols
rols
ls aall activ
acctivit
ivitie
tiess insid
ins
i sidee the
t
c mput
com
comp
puter
ter.
r. Basi
Baasica
ically
ally
y it perf
peerfor
form
rmss 2 ty
type
pes
es ooff oper
op
perati
ration
tions
ns - aarit
rithm
thme
metic
ticc an
aand logi
logica
ical
o erati
ope
opera
ation
ions (in
(inte
ntern
ernal
nally)
lly),
), oper
op
perat
ration
tions
ns are
are perf
peerfor
form
rmed
ed
d on
o 2 ty
type
ypes
es off dev
d
devic
vices
cess - I/O
I and
a
memor
me
mem
ory
ry de
devi
evice
ices.
es. Th
T
Thee CPU
CP
PU perf
peerfor
forms
mss most
moostt of
o th
the
he calc
calcu
culat
latio
tions
nss wh
whic
w ichh en
enab
nable
blee a
co
com
ompu
pute
uter
er to fu
func
uncti
ction
ion,
n, aand
d is
i some
someti
etim
imes
es refe
reeferre
erred
ed to
o as
a tthee ""brai
"brrain"
in" of
o
the co
the
com
mpu
pute
ter.
r. It is coo
ccoole
oled
ed bby
y a heat
heeatt sink
sink
k an
nd
d fan.
faan.. T
The
hee proce
p
proocess
esso
sor
appro
app
proxi
oxim
imate
ately
ely
y 1.5
1 in
n X 1.55 in.
in.,
i ddoes
doees all
alll the
t e ccom
omp
mput
utati
tation
ion / wor
work
rk fo
forr tthe
comp
com
pute
uter.
ter.. Y
You
ou
u can
c n rec
recog
r cogni
gnize
izee this
th
hiss ppro
roce
cess
essor
sorr fr
from
rom
m its buil
built--in
in heat
heeat sink
siink
k and
a
P -lik
PC
PCIlike
ke co
con
ontac
tacts
cts.
s. Too insta
insstall
all th
this
hiss ppro
proce
ocess
essor
sorr you
yyou si
sim
imply
ply
y pu
push
ushh it do
dow
own
n in
into
nto
o the
t
c ntact
con
conta
acts.
ts.
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N te:: Quit
No
Note
Qu
uite
te a few
feew oorg
rgan
aniz
nizati
ation
ions
ns man
manu
nufac
factu
cturee PC proce
ppro
ocess
essor
sors,, am
amon
ong
g whi
which
ich
h Intel
Int
I tel
C rpor
Co
Corp
orati
ration
ion, AMD
AM
MD
D Coorp
por
orat
ratio
tion
n are
a e fam
ffamo
ous
us.

Memo
Me
Mem
mory
oryy De
D
Devi
evice
ices
es orr M
Me
Mem
emo
mory
ory
A thou
Alt
Altho
ough
gh mem
memo
mory
ory
y iis tec
techn
t hnic
nicall
ally
lly an
any
ny fo
form
rm o
of elect
eleectro
troni
nic
ic sstora
sto
orage
age,
e, iit is
i uuse
used
ed mos
most
st ooften
oftten
t id
to
iden
entif
tify
fy fa
fast,
st,, tem
teempo
pora
orary
ary
y for
fforms
rmss of
o sto
stora
torag
age.
e. Gen
Gener
erall
rally,
ly,, acc
acces
essin
sing
ng info
innform
orma
matio
tion
on kep
keept
i thee hard
in
harrd dr
driv
rive
ve tak
take
kess ttime.
time. H
Howev
Howe
ever,
er,, the
th
he sa
sam
amee ca
can
an bee acc
acces
a cesse
ssed
ed qu
quic
uickl
kly
ly w
when
hen
n the
t
i form
inf
infor
rmati
ation
ion
n is
i kept
keptt inn me
mem
memor
ory.. The
Thee C
CP
CPU
PU ccan
an
n acc
aacces
cess
ss it m
muc
uch
ch mor
more
re quic
qu
uickl
ckly.
ly. The
The
C U stor
CP
CPU
sttores
res all
alll inf
iinfor
forma
rmati
ation
ion
n inn tthee ccom
ompput
uter
ters
s me
mem
emor
ory.
ry.

T eree are
Th
There
a e two
tw
wo
o mem
memo
mory
ory
y typ
types
t es - RAM
RA
AM
M and
an
nd RO
ROM
M

N te:: Quit
No
Note
Quite
te a ffew
w orga
orrgani
aniza
izatio
ation
onss m
man
anuf
nufac
factu
cture
re RAM
RAMs
ss fo
forr PC
PCs
s amo
am
mong
ngg wh
whic
hich
ch
T ansce
Tra
Trans
scen
end,, K
King
ings
gston
ton,, Micr
Micron
ron ccomp
com
mpan
panie
nies
es aree famo
ffam
mous
us.
R M ((Ra
RA
RAM
(Ran
ando
dom
om A
Acc
cces
cess
ss Mem
M
Meemor
ory)
ry)
Thhiss vvolati
This
vollatile
tile typ
ty
ypee is a read
read and
and wri
w ite m
write
mem
emo
mory
ory
deevice
devi
ice.
e. Co
Cont
onten
tent
nt sto
store
ored
ed inn tthee RAM
R
RAM woul
wo
would
ld be
errased
eras
ed whe
when
en po
pow
ower
err iss sshu
hut off.
off The
The iinfor
infform
rmati
ation
ion
o on
of
ongo
ngoin
oing
ng pro
progra
gram
amss is st
stor
tored
red
d in
i RAM
RA
AM
M fo
forr temp
tem
mpor
porar
rary
ry purp
pu
urpos
pose.
se. RA
RAM
M iis volat
vo
v latile
tile
a d non
and
nonn -pe
perm
rman
anen
nent
nt m
mem
emo
ory
ry ty
type
pe.
T e ttypes
Th
The
typ
pess o
of R
RAM
RA
AM D AM
DR
DRA
M (D
(Dyn
( ynam
nami
mic
ic R
RAM
AM
M): D
DRA
RAM
AM
M is sim
siimila
ilar
ar to a ccap
apac
acito
citor,
or,, aass it ten
tend
ndss to lo
lose
osee iits
c ntent
con
conte
ents
ts an
and
a d henc
hhence
ce rreq
requ
quire
ires
es to be refr
refres
reshe
shed.
ed.. T
Thi
his
is is
i
t eC
the
Com
omp
mput
puter
terr RA
RAM
M.
S AM
SR
SRA
M (S
(Sta
Stati
atic
ic RAM
RA
AM
M):: It is
i faste
fasster
er than
tha
t an DRA
DRAM
AM and
and
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doesnt require to be refreshed. SRAM is quite costly and hence only a limited
amount is used as CACHE memory in the computer.
DDR (Double Data Rate SDRAM): DDR doubles the rate of data transfer of
standard SDRAM by transferring data on the up and down tick of a clock cycle. It is
incompatible with SDRAM physically, but uses a similar parallel bus, making it
easier to implement than RDRAM, which is a different technology.
ROM (Read Only Memory)
Read Only Memory or ROM can be programmed using a programmer and then it acts
as a read only device. This device is used as the textbook for
the CPU in the computer and is called ROM BIOS. It stores all
the basic information of programming the devices present inside
the system as well as the POST (Power On Self Test) sequence
which supports in OS Booting process. AMIBIOS and AWARD BIOS are the most
common ROM BIOSs.
Note: Number of organizations manufacturing ROMs, among which Transcend,
Kingston, Micron companies are famous.
The Types of ROM
PROM

(Programmable

Read

Only

Memory):

PROM

or

one-time

programmable ROM can be written to or programmed via a special device called

a PROM programmer. Typically, this device uses high voltages to permanently
destroy or create internal links within the chip. A PROM can only be programmed
once.

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EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory): EPROM can be

erased by exposure to strong ultraviolet light (typically for 10 minutes or longer),
then rewritten with a process that again needs higher than usual voltage applied. But
most EPROM chips exceeds 1,000 cycles of erasing and reprogramming.
FLASH ROM: (or simply flash) is a modern type of EEPROM invented in 1984.
Flash memory can be erased and rewritten faster than ordinary newer designs
feature very high endurance (exceeding 1,000,000 cycles). Modern NAND flash
makes efficient use of silicon chip area, resulting in individual ICs with a capacity
as high as 32 GB as of 2007, allowed NAND flash to replace magnetic in some
applications (such as USB flash drives). Flash memory is sometimes called flash
ROM or flash.
EEPROM (Electrically EPROM): EEPROM is based on a similar semiconductor
structure to EPROM, but allows its entire contents (or selected banks) to be
electrically erased and then rewritten electrically, so that they need not be removed
from the computer (or camera, MP3 player, etc.). Writing or flashing an EEPROM
is much slower (milliseconds per bit) than reading from a ROM.
EAPROM (Electrically Alterable ROM): EAPROM is a type of EEPROM that
can be modified one bit at a time. Writing is a very slow process and again needs
higher voltage (usually around 12 V) than is used for read access. EAPROMs are
intended for applications that require infrequent and only partial rewriting.
EAPROM may be used as non-volatile storage for critical system setup information
in many applications.

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D D::
DV
DVD
D D is
DV
DVD
i a dig
digit
gital
tal opti
optica
tical
al di
disc
isc stor
sttorag
rage
ge form
fo
orma
mat,
t, in
inve
vent
ented
ted and
a d deve
dev
d velop
lope
ped
d by Phi
P
Philip
ilips
ps,
S ny,, Tosh
So
Sony
To
oshib
hiba,, and
and P
Pan
Panas
nason
sonic
nic in 19
199
995.
5. DV
DVDs
Dss off
offer
o ferr hig
highe
her
er stora
sto
orage
agee ccapa
cap
pacit
city
ty th
than
an
c mpac
com
comp
pact
ct di
disc
iscs while
wh
hile
le hhavin
having
ng th
the
he sa
sam
amee di
dime
imen
ensio
sion
ons.
s. Pr
Pre--re
reco
cord
rded
ed
D Dss are
DV
DVD
ae m
mas
ass--pr
prod
oduc
uced
cedd usin
using
ng mold
mo
oldin
ding
ng ma
mach
machin
hines
nes that
th
hat
p ysica
phy
physi
icall
ally
ly staamp
amp data
daataa o
ont
nto
to the
the D
DVD
DV
VD.
D. Su
Such
uch
h ddis
discs
scss are
a e kno
know
own
n as
D D-R
DV
DVD
ROM,, beca
ROM
beecau
ause
se dat
data
ta ca
can
an only
onlyy bee rrea
read
ad and
and
d no
nnott wr
writt
ritten
ten
n or
o eera
rased
sed.
d. B
Bla
lank
nk
r corda
rec
recor
rdabl
able
le DV
DVD
VD
D discs
dis
iscss ((D
DVD
VD--R
R and
an
nd D
DV
VD+
D+R
+R)) ca
can
an bee rec
rrecor
corde
rded
ed on
once
ncee uusing
usiing
gaD
DVD
DVD
r corde
rec
recor
rder and
annd then
the
t en ffunct
fun
nctio
tionn ass a D
DV
VD
D-R
RO
OM
M.. Re
Rew
ewrit
ritab
itable
blee DVD
DV
VDs
Ds ((D
DVD
VD--RW
RW
W,
D D+R
DV
DVD
+RW
RW
W,, an
and
nd DV
DVD
D-R
RAM
AM
M)) ccan
n bbee rec
rrecor
corde
rded
ed an
and
nd er
eras
rased
sed
d mu
multi
ltiple
iplee ttimes
times.
DV
DVD
VD--RO
ROM
OM
M: DV
DVD
D-R
RO
OM
M iss a dev
devic
vicee that
tthaat is used
ussed
d to
t rea
read
ad DV
DVDs
Ds / CD
CDs.
s. Iff cap
ccapab
pable
ble
o wr
of
writi
riting
ting
g to
t thee D
DVD
DV
VD,, the
then
en itt iss oofte
ften
en re
refe
ferre
rred
ed to as
as a DVD
DV
D D-bbur
urne
rner
er or a D
DVD
VD--RW
RW.
W.
F gur
Fig
gure
re of SAM
SAMS
MSU
SUN
NG
G DV
DVD
D-R
RW
W sho
sh
hown
wn
n bel
below
b low..
N te: There
No
Note
Th
T eree aaree qquit
uite
ite a ffew
w ma
m
make
akers
erss of
of DVD
D
DV
VD--RW
RWss for
fo
or PCs
PC
Cs an
and
nd Son
So
ony
y an
aand
d Sam
Samsu
sung
ng are
are
f mous
fam
famo
uss aamo
mon
ong
g them
the
t em..
C -RO
CD
CDROM
OM::
A dde
devic
vice
ce used
ussed
d to
t read
rea
r ad CD
D-RO
ROM
OMs
Ms. If capa
c pabl
ca
ble
le oof writi
wrriting
ting
g to
t the
t CD-R
C
CD ROM
ROM,, then
the
t en they
they are
are
u ually
usu
usual
lly re
refe
eferr
erred
red too aass a burn
bu
urner
er
r or
o CD
CD--RW
RW.
W.
C mpa
Co
Com
pact
ct Disc
Disc
C mpa
Co
Com
pact
actt dis
disc,, oorr CD for
for sh
shor
ort,
rt, is a digi
digita
ital optic
optical
call disc
disc da
data
ta stor
sttorag
rage form
formaat.
t. Th
The
he
f rmat
for
form
at w
was
ass oorig
rigin
ginal
nally
lly de
dev
evelo
elop
oped
ed to
o sto
store
s ore aand
nd
d pla
play
y back
back ssou
ound
nd
d recor
rec
r cordi
rding
ings
gs only
onnly (CD
(CD-D ),, b
DA
DA),
butt w
wa
wass later
lat r adapt
aadaapted
tedd for
f r storag
sstorage
ge o
off data
daata ((CD
CD--RO
ROM
OM)). Seve
S
Severa
ral
o herr forma
oth
other
for
f rmats
atss w
were
weere ffurthe
further
er deri
deerive
ived
ed fr
from
rom
m th
thes
ese,
e, in
incl
nclud
ludin
ding
ng w
writ
rite--on
once
nce
a dio
aud
audio
o and
an
a d da
data
ataa sto
stora
s rage
gee (CD
(CD--R
R),
), rewr
rewrita
ritab
table
le m
med
edia
diaa ((C
CD
D-R
RW
W),
), V
Vid
ideo
deo
C mpa
Co
Com
pact
actt Disc
Discc (V
(VCD
CD)), Supe
Sup
S perr Vide
V
Vid
deoo Co
C
Com
ompa
pact
actt Dis
Disc
sc (S
SVC
VCD
CD).
).. T
The
hee C
Comp
Compa
pact
ct D
Disc
iscc iis an
a
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evolution of Laser Disc technology. Prototypes were developed by Philips and Sony
independently from the mid-to-late 1970s.
Note: Sony, Samsung, Amkette are the famous CD manufacturers.
Floppy Drive:
A device that is used to read/write to floppy diskettes. Figures of floppy diskettes
are shown below.
Note:

Quite

few

organizations

are

manufacturing Floppy Drives for PC among

which SONY, SAMSUNG, ACER are famous.
HARD DISK DRIVES
The hard disk drive is the main, and usually largest, data storage device in a
computer. The operating system, software titles and most other files are stored in the
hard disk drive. HDD (abbreviation), hard drive, hard disk, fixed drive, fixed disk,
fixed disk drive, hard drive is sometimes referred to as the "C
drive" due to the fact that Microsoft Windows designates the "C"
drive letter to the primary partition on the primary hard drive in a
computer by default. Hard disks are popular because their price to performance ratio
is very good. For very high performance, SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface)
is the ideal option, if price is not a criterion. The Latest trend is SATA 1 and SATA 2.
SATA hard disc has double the speed of hard disc. HDD of Western Digital Figure
shown below.
Note: Number of organizations use to manufacturing FLOPPY DRIVES for PC
among which SONY, SAMSUNG, WESTERN DIGITAL, ACER are famous.

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ww
sak
ksh
hieducattion
n.c
com
m

T umb
Th
Thum
mb Dri
Drive
ive or
o Flash
Flaash
h Driv
Dr
Drive
F oppy
Flo
Flopp
py Dri
Drive
ivess were
weere re
rep
eplac
lace
ced by
y Thu
Thum
umb
b Driv
Drive/
ve/Fl
/Flas
lash
sh Dr
Driv
rive,, w
whi
hich
ich iss rre--wr
writa
ritab
able
le and
an
nd
h ldss mem
hol
holds
me
m mor
ory
y wi
with
ithou
out
ut powe
ppower
er supp
su
upply
ply. USB
US
SB fflash
flash d
dri
rive
ive iss a ddat
ata
ta stora
sto
s orage
agee ddevic
devvice that
that
i clude
inc
inclu
des
es flash
flaash
h mem
meemor
ory
ry with
with
h an inte
integr
in egrat
rated
ted
d Univ
Un
niver
versa
rsal
al Seri
Seerial
iall Bu
Bus (U
(USB
SB)
B) inte
in
nterf
erfac
face.
e.
U B flash
US
USB
flas
f sh ddrive
drivvess ar
are
re typi
typica
ically
lly
y rem
remo
r mova
ovab
able
le aand
nd
d rew
rrewr
writa
itabl
able,
le, aand
nd
d ph
phys
p ysica
sicall
ally
ly m
muc
uch
ch
s aller
sm
small
lerr th
than
han
n an
a opti
op
ptica
ical
al disc
dissc.. M
Mo
ost
stt wei
weigh
igh
h less
le s tthan
thaan 300 ggram
graams.
s.
Ass of
of Janu
Jannuar
ary
ry 2013
20
013; driv
drrives
es ooff u
up too 5
512 gigab
g gabyt
gig
bytes
tes (GB
((GB)
B)) are
are
availa
a ailab
ava
able
le. Fig
F ure
Figur
re off S
San
SanD
nDis
isk
k Cr
Cruz
ruzer
zerr Micr
Mi
Micro
ro 4G
4GB
GB
B US
U
USB
SB flash
f sh driv
flas
drive
ve
s own
sho
show
n be
belo
elow
w.
N te:: Num
No
Note
Nu
umbe
ber
er off org
organ
o ganiz
nizat
zation
tions
ns use
use to man
maanufa
ufac
actur
turin
ring
ng Flas
Fllash
sh Driv
Drive
vess fforr PC
P aam
amon
ong
ng
w ich
wh
whic
h So
Sony
S ny, Sams
Samsu
sung
ng, Trans
T ansce
Tra
scen
end,
d, SanD
SaanDiisk ar
are
re famo
famou
ouss
I D
I/O
DEV
DEVIC
ICE
ES
A art
Ap
Apar
rt fro
from
f m pa
pass
assiv
sivee me
mem
emor
ory
ry de
devi
evice
ices,
es,, th
ther
ere
re aaree cer
certai
rtain
in co
cont
ntro
trolle
llers
ers inn the
thhe sy
syst
ystem
tem,, whic
wh
hich
ch
a sistt th
ass
assist
the
he CPU
CPU
U iin perf
peerfor
formi
ming
ing
g vvario
varrious
uss oope
pera
eratio
tions
ons.
s. Thes
T
Thhese
se aree rref
referr
ferred
red
d to
t as
a I/O
/O devi
deevice
ices.
es.
T esee devi
Th
Thes
deevice
icess in
inclu
clud
udee Inter
Interru
rrupt
ptt con
contr
ntroll
oller
ler,
r, T
Time
Tim
imer,
er,, Por
Ports
rts,, D
DM
DMA
MA
A Cont
Co
ontro
trolle
oller,
er,, F
Flo
lopp
ppy
py
D ivee Cont
Dr
Drive
Co
C ntrol
trolle
ller,
r, CRT
CR
RT
TC
Contr
Control
rolle
llerr etc.
etc
e
B ses
Bu
Buse
es & Exp
E pan
nsiion
nS
Slo
lots
ts
T esee are
Th
Thes
a e the
t e me
m
mean
anss throu
thrroug
ughh wh
whic
hich
ch co
com
omm
mun
unic
nicat
catio
tionn betw
betwee
een
en vari
vaariou
ious
us de
devi
evice
ices
es off th
the
he
c mput
com
comp
puter
terr ta
tak
akes
es plac
pllace
ce and
an
nd th
the
he type
types
es aree as
a m
men
entio
ntion
oned
ed belo
below
low. Used
Ussed
d to
t ad
add
dd / impr
improv
rove
ve
f nctio
fun
funct
tiona
nalit
ality
ty to th
thee cco
comp
mpu
puter
ter
MCA B
MC
MCA
BU
BUS
S (M
(Mic
icro
oC
Ch
Chan
ann
nnel
el Ar
Arch
rchit
hitec
itectu
cture
ure BU
BUS)
S)
Micro
Mi
Micr
ro Cha
Chann
anne
nell Arch
Ar
Archit
hitec
tectu
ture
re was
waas a prop
pro
oprie
rieta
etary
ary 16
1 or 323 -bit
bit parall
p rallel
par
llel com
comp
put
uter
ter bus
bu
us
i trodu
int
introd
duce
ced
ed by IBM
I M inn 1
1987
198
87 w
whi
hich
ich
hw
wa
wass used
uused on
on PS/2
PS
S/2 and
a d oth
oother
herr ccomp
com
mput
puter
ters
rs un
until
u till the
th
he
m -19
mi
mid1990
90s.
0s.. Inn IBM
I M pprod
rodu
ducts
cts,
ts, it supe
supers
ersed
seded
dedd tthe ISA
IS
SA buss and
a d was
w
waas itsel
itsself
lf sub
subse
s bseq
eque
uent
ntly
tly
s perse
sup
super
rsede
eded
ed byy the
t PCI
PCI bus
buss aarch
rchit
hitec
tectu
cture
re.M
MC
CA
A bu
bus
us is av
avai
vaila
ilable
blee eeithe
eith
her in
i 116 bit
bit or
o 322 bit
b
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versions. It was developed in a new line of computers called the PS/2 (personal
system 2).
EISA BUS
EISA has a 32-bit Address and Data bus and 10MHZ CLK speed. Extended
Industry Standard Architecture (in practice almost always shortened to EISA and
frequently pronounced "eee-suh") is a bus standard for IBM PC compatible
computers. It was announced in September 1988 by a consortium of PC clone
vendors as a counter to IBM's use of its proprietary Micro Channel architecture
(MCA) in its PS/2 series.
VL BUS / VESA LOCAL BUS
The VESA Local Bus (usually abbreviated to VL-Bus or VLB) was mostly used in
personal computers. VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) Local Bus
worked alongside the ISA bus; it acted as a high-speed conduit for memory-mapped
I/O and DMA, while the ISA bus handled interrupts and port-mapped I/O. It is a 32bit bus which was positioned local to the CPU and hence its name. Therefore it could
support high bus speeds (that of the CPU).
PCI BUS
PCI has many benefits over other bus types. First of all, it supports 64 bit and 32-bit
data paths. So it can be used both for 486 and Pentium based systems. PCI can run up
to 33MHZ speed and has the advantage of being isolated from the CPU. INTEL
developed this bus.
PCMCIA: (PC Memory Card International Association)
The PCMCIA was first designed for expanding the memory in small, handled
computers. PCMICIAS bus width is only 16 bits, but a 32-bit version is on its way.
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There are three types of cards namely - Type 1 (3.3 m thick) - used for memory card.Type 2 (5 mm thick)- used for modem and LAN adapter.- Type 3 (10.5 mm0 thick) used for most common applications like PC hard disk Cards.
ADD ON CARDS or Expansion Cards: Used to add / improve functionality to the
computer. These are cards plugged on to the main board, the mother board (The one
that houses the CPU & RAM / ROM Bios). Each performs specific functions of
interfacing the Motherboard to peripheral device like mouse, Monitor etc. Some Addons are discussed below.
Sound Card: Used to input and output sound under program
control. Sound cards provide better sound quality than the built
in sound control provided with most computers. Figure of Sound
Card shown below but nowadays sound cards exists in built-in
present day Motherboard. Figure of Sound Card shown here.
Display Adapter:
These interface the main board or Motherboard with the monitor and there are several
types of cards. The variations are in resolution, number of
colors supported.Used to convert the logical representation of
an image to a signal that can be used as input for a monitor.
Figure of Display card shown below but nowadays Display
card exists built-in with latest (present) day Motherboard. The
figure of Display card shown here.
Network Card:
A Network Card also known as a network interface card (NIC), (or network
adapter or LAN adapter) is a computer hardware
component that connects a computer to a computer
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network. It is used to provide a computer connection over a network. Transmit data at

10/100/1000 Mb/s. Realtech is one of famous manufacturer of NIC. Figure of
Network Card is shown here.
PCI Express (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express)
It is new generation of graphics cards, officially abbreviated as PCIe. Most computer
use the PCI-express graphic card now.
EGA (Enhanced Graphics Adapter)
The Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) is an IBM PC computer display standard
specification. EGA produces a display of 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 64
at a resolution of up to 640350 pixels (640 X 350 modes). The EGA card includes a
16 kb ROM to extend the system BIOS for additional graphics functions.

VGA (Video Graphics Adapter)

Advanced versions of SVGA / TVGA which start from a resolution of 640 X 480
pixel PCs usually use a VGA (Video Graphics Array) analog
connector (also known as a D-Sub connector) that has 15 pins in
three rows. Because a VGA (analog) connector does not support the use of digital
monitors, the Digital Video Interface (DVI) standard was developed. Typically blue
in color. Figure of VGA Adapter shown here.
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
Introduced in the Celeron / P II based systems, this caters to the demanding
multimedia applications with its high performance. The Accelerated Graphics Port
is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a video card to a computer's
motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics.
Originally it was designed as a successor to PCI type connections since 2004.
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Ports: PORTS are used for connecting peripheral devices to your computer, which
are described in detail in below.
SERIAL PORT
Communication external to the computer is done serially (bit after bit) through
this port. It is used to connect communication devices like
mouse, modem etc. Often used to connect an older mice,
older external modems and older digital cameras, etc, to the
computer. The serial port has been replaced by USB in most cases 9-pin
connector. Small and short, often gray in color. Transmits data at 19 Kb/s. Figure
of SERIAL PORT shown here.
PARALLEL PORT
8 Bit data transfer takes place between the computer and
an external device. It is typically used to connect a
printer. Most often used to connect a printer to the
computer. 25-pin connector. Long and skinny, often pink in color. Transmits data at
50-100 Kb/s. Figure of SERIAL PORT shown here.
USB PORT
Universal Serial Bus now used to connect almost all peripheral devices
to the computer. USB 1.1 transmits data at 1.5 Mb/s at low speed, 12
Mb/s at full speed. USB 2.0 transmits data at 480 Mb/s. Figure of
USB PORT shown here.

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GAME PORT: It is used to connect a joystick for playing games. IDE

(Integrated/Intelligent Drive Electronics) Interface: This interface is used to
communicate with IDE Hard disks.
Fire wire / IEEE 1394 Port: Often found on Apple Computers.
Often used with digital camcorders. Fire wire transmits data at
400 Mb/s. Fire wire 1394B (the new fire wire) transmits data at
3.2 Gb/s. Figure of Fire wire / IEEE 1394 Port shown here.
PS/2 Port: Sometimes called a mouse port was developed by IBM.
It is used to connect a computer mouse or keyboard. Most
computers come with two PS/2 ports. Figure of PS/2 Port shown
here.
Ethernet Port: This port is used for networking and fast internet connections. Data
moves through them at speeds of either 10 megabits or 100 megabits
or 1 gigabit (1,000 megabits) depending on what speed the network
card in the computer supports. Little monitor lights on these devices
flicker when in use. Figure of Ethernet Port shown here.
MODEL QUESTIONS
1. Personal computer hardware are -------- components. (physical)
2. A Power Supply Unit converts alternating current (AC) into low-voltage DC
power.
3. ------------- is a circuit board that allows the CPU to interact with other parts of the
computer (Motherboard)
4. ------------- is used to store information. (Memory)

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5. CPU or Processor is the ----------- of any computer. (brain)

6. There are two memory types One is RAM and another is ROM
7. RAM is -------------- (non-permanent). (volatile memory)
8. DRAM (Dynamic RAM) is similar to a capacitor.
9. SRAM (Static RAM) is used as ------------ memory. (CACHE)
10. DDR has doubles the rate of data transfer of standard SDRAM
11. ROM can be programmed using a programmer and then it acts as a ---------device. (read only)
12. Floppy drives replace ---------- flash drive is re-writable and holds memory
without a power supply. (Flash drive)
13. ----------- is a computer hardware component that connects computer to a
computer network. (Network Card)
14. --------- sometimes called a mouse port, was developed by IBM (PS/2 PORT)
15. ----------- devices are required for users to communicate with the computer.
(Input / Output)

SK. Faiz Ahmed, Nellore.

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