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Computer Hardware

Computer hardware consists of the physical components of a computer such as the monitor, keyboard, storage devices, graphics and sound cards, and motherboard. Software contains the instructions that can be run by hardware. The Von Neumann architecture from 1945 describes the basic design of modern computers, including separate processing, memory, storage, and input/output components that share a common bus. This shared bus structure can limit performance and is called the Von Neumann bottleneck. The core internal computer components include the central processing unit (CPU) that performs calculations, the motherboard that connects components, storage to hold data, expansion cards to add functionality, the power supply to convert power, and a case that houses it all.

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Jenny Dela Cruz
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85 views

Computer Hardware

Computer hardware consists of the physical components of a computer such as the monitor, keyboard, storage devices, graphics and sound cards, and motherboard. Software contains the instructions that can be run by hardware. The Von Neumann architecture from 1945 describes the basic design of modern computers, including separate processing, memory, storage, and input/output components that share a common bus. This shared bus structure can limit performance and is called the Von Neumann bottleneck. The core internal computer components include the central processing unit (CPU) that performs calculations, the motherboard that connects components, storage to hold data, expansion cards to add functionality, the power supply to convert power, and a case that houses it all.

Uploaded by

Jenny Dela Cruz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Computer hardware is the physical parts or components of a computer, such as

the monitor, keyboard, computer data storage, graphic card, sound card and motherboard.[1] By
contrast, software is instructions that can be stored and run by hardware.

The template for all modern computers is the Von Neumann architecture, detailed in a 1945 paper by
Hungarian mathematician John von Neumann. This describes a design architecture for an electronic digital
computer with subdivisions of a processing unit consisting of an arithmetic logic unit and processor
registers, a control unit containing an instruction register and program counter, a memory to store both
data and instructions, external mass storage, and input and output mechanisms.[2] The meaning of the
term has evolved to mean a stored-program computer in which an instruction fetch and a data operation
cannot occur at the same time because they share a common bus. This is referred to as the Von Neumann
bottleneck and often limits the performance of the system.

CPU - The CPU (Central Processing Unit), which performs most of the calculations which enable a
computer to function, and is sometimes referred to as the brain of the computer.

Motherboard - The motherboard is the main component of a computer. It is a board with integrated
circuitry that connects the other parts of the computer including the CPU, the RAM, the disk drives (CD,
DVD, hard disk, or any others) as well as any peripherals connected via the ports or the expansion slots.

Case - The computer case encloses most of the components of the system. It provides mechanical
support and protection for internal elements such as the motherboard, disk drives, and power supplies,
and controls and directs the flow of cooling air over internal components.
Storage - A storage device is any computing hardware and digital media that is used for storing, porting
and extracting data files and objects. It can hold and store information both temporarily and
permanently, and can be internal or external to a computer, server or any similar computing device.
Data storage is a core function and fundamental component of computers.

Expansion cards - An expansion 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. Expansions cards can be used to obtain or expand on features not offered by the
motherboard.

Power supply - A power supply unit (PSU) converts alternating current (AC) electric power to low-
voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer. Laptops are capable of running from
a built-in battery, normally for a period of hours.

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