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The Five Main Parts of A Computer

The five main parts of a computer are the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), hard drive, video card, and motherboard. The CPU performs calculations and manipulates data, RAM temporarily stores information while the computer is on, the hard drive stores data permanently, the video card provides the image on the monitor, and the motherboard connects the components and allows them to communicate.

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46 views5 pages

The Five Main Parts of A Computer

The five main parts of a computer are the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), hard drive, video card, and motherboard. The CPU performs calculations and manipulates data, RAM temporarily stores information while the computer is on, the hard drive stores data permanently, the video card provides the image on the monitor, and the motherboard connects the components and allows them to communicate.

Uploaded by

RandL Digital Shop
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Five Main Parts of a Computer

Computers may look very different, but the components installed are
standard. The major difference among most machines is the brand of
hardware installed. The hardware components—video card, processor,
memory, motherboard and hard drive—are the same for all computer
systems.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The CPU is the "brains" of the computer. The central processing unit provides
the calculations and manipulation of data sent from the user. Each time the
user clicks a key, executes an application or browses the Web, the CPU reads
the code involved and returns the response to the user. The CPU works
closely with memory, which is the component that sends stored data to the
unit.
Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM is variable in a computer. Older computers had only a few dozen


megabytes of RAM installed. When personal computers became popular in the
1990s, computers had 32 megabytes of memory. Motherboards and software
now require at least one gigabyte to function. RAM contains the information
during the time the computer is on. After the machine is turned off, the
information in RAM is lost.
Hard Drive

Unlike RAM, the hard drive stores data even after the machine is turned off. A
hard drive is the storage unit for the machine. Saved documents and
applications are stored on the hard drive using magnetism. The hard drive is
made up of small platters with a moving head. The platters spin as the head
moves back and forth to retrieve and store data.
Video Card

The video card provides the image seen on the monitor. The video card is
attached to a monitor using a VGA cable. Some video cards have two monitor
connections. This allows the user to attach two monitors to the computer, so
the desktop can be spread across both monitors for better usability.
Motherboard

Each component is attached to the motherboard. The motherboard receives


power from the computer's power supply. The motherboard allows all the
components to communicate, including the CPU. The motherboard also
contains controllers, which are circuits that help the operating system work
with hardware such as the hard drive.

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