Acknowledgement

I would like to express my special thanks and gratitude to my

Computer teacher Mrs. Kirti Nigam, who gave me the golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project on Computer- Hardware
and components, which also he`lped me in doing a lot of research
and I came to know about so many new things. I am really
thankful to her. Secondly, I would also like to thank my parents
and family members who helped me in finishing this project within
the limited time.
 Computer-hardware and components
Introduction
A computer is a machine. Computer hardware includes the
physical parts of a computer such as the computer case, central
processing unit (CPU), monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data
storage, graphics card, sound card, speakers and motherboard.
By contrast, software is the set of instructions that can be
stored and run by hardware. Hardware is so-termed because it is
"hard" or rigid with respect to changes, whereas software is "soft"
because it is easy to change.
Hardware is typically directed by the software to execute any
command or instruction. A combination of hardware and software
forms a usable computing system, although other systems exist
with only hardware. It is of two types that are:-
1. External hardware
2. Internal hardware
External hardware components
Monitors
A computer monitor is an output device that displays information
in pictorial form. A monitor usually comprises the visual
display, circuitry, casing, and power supply. There three types of
monitors that are:-

1. CRT Monitors:- A CRT monitor contains millions of tiny red,

green, and blue phosphor dots that glow when struck by an
electron beam that travels across the screen to create a
visible image. The illustration below shows how this works
inside a CRT.
 2. LCD Monitors:- LCD monitor is a flat panel display
technology commonly used in TVs and computer monitors. It
is also used in screens for mobile devices, such
as laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
3. LED Monitors:- Short for light-emitting diode monitor,
an LED monitor or LED display is a flat screen, flat-panel
computer monitor or television. It has a very short depth and
is light in terms of weight.

Keyboards
A keyboard is an input device that allows a person to enter letters,
numbers, and other symbols (these are called characters in
a keyboard) into a computer. Using a keyboard to enter lots of
data is called typing. A keyboard contains many mechanical
switches or push-buttons called ‘keys’. There are keyboards
according to the keys that are:-
1. QWERTY
2. AZERTY
3. QWERTZ
4. HCESAR
There are keyboards according how they are connected to the
monitor or Laptop:-
1. Wired keyboard
2. Wireless keyboard
There are also designed keyboards according to their use:-
1. Multimedia keyboard
2. Internet keyboard
3. Gaming keyboard
Mouse
A mouse is a small handheld input device that controls a
computer screen's cursor or pointer in conjunction with the way it
is moved on a flat surface. The mouse term name originates from
its likeness to a small, corded and elliptical shaped device that
looks like a mouse tail. Some mouse devices have integrated
features, such as extra buttons that may be programmed and
assigned with different commands.
There are different types of mouse according how the cursor on
the screen moves:-
1. Mechanical mouse
2. Optical mouse
There are different types of mouse according how they are
connected to the monitor or Laptop:-
1. Wired mouse
2. Wireless mouse

Speakers

Speakers are one of the most common output devices used with
computer systems. Some speakers are designed to work
specifically with computers, while others can be hooked up to any
type of sound system.

Printer
A printer is an output device that prints paper documents. This
includes text documents, images, or a combination of both. There
are three types of printers that are:-
1. Inkjet printers
 2. Laser printers
3. Dot-matrix printers

Internal hardware components

Processor
A processor, or "microprocessor," is a small chip that resides
in computers and other electronic devices. Its basic job is to
receive input and provide the appropriate output. While this may
seem like a simple task, modern processors can handle trillions of
calculations per second. The central processor of a computer is
also known as the CPU, or "central processing unit." There are
three components inside the CPU that help perform a task that
are:-
1. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
2. Control Unit (CU)
3. Registers
RAM
RAM. Stands for "Random Access Memory" and is pronounced
"ram." RAM is a common hardware component found in electronic
devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and
smartphones. In computers, RAM may be installed as memory
modules, such as DIMMs or (SO-DIMMs sodimm).

ROM
ROM stands for "Read-Only Memory." ROM is memory
containing hardwired instructions that the computer uses when it
boots up, before the system software loads.
 Hard Disk
A magnetic disk on which you can store computer data. The
term hard is used to distinguish it from a soft, or floppy, disk. Hard
disks hold more data and are faster than floppy disks. A hard disk,
for example, can store anywhere from 10 to more than, 100
gigabytes whereas most floppies have a maximum storage
capacity of 1.4 megabytes.

Motherboard
A motherboard is one of the most essential parts of
a computer system. It holds together many of the crucial
components of a computer, including the central processing unit
(CPU), memory and connectors for input and output devices.

BIOS
BIOS Stands for "Basic Input/Output System." The BIOS is a
program pre-installed on Windows-based computers (not on
Macs) that the computer uses to start up. The CPU accesses the
BIOS even before the operating system is loaded. The BIOS then
checks all your hardware connections and locates all your
devices. If everything is OK, the BIOS loads the operating system
into the computer's memory and finishes the boot-up process.

Modem
Modem is short for "Modulator-Demodulator." It is
a hardware component that allows a computer or another device,
such as a router or switch, to connect to the Internet. It converts
or "modulates" an analog signal from a telephone or cable wire
to digital data (1s and 0s) that a computer can recognize. There
are two types of Modem:-
1. Internal Modem
2. External Modem

Storage Devices
There are four types of storage devices that are:-
1. CD:- It stands for "Compact Disc." CDs are circular discs that
are 4.75 in (12 cm) in diameter. It can store songs, pictures
etc. It can store up to 700 MB of data.
2. DVD:- It stands for “Digital versatile disk.” A DVD is a type
of optical media used for storing digital data. It is the same
size as a CD, but has a larger storage capacity. Some DVDs
are formatted specifically for video playback, while others
may contain different types of data, such as software
programs and computer files. It can store up to 17 GB of
data.
3. Blu-ray disk:- Blu-ray is an optical disc format such as CD
and DVD. It was developed for recording and playing back
high-definition (HD) video and for storing large amounts of
data. It can store up to 25 GB or 50 GB.
4. Pen drive:- A pen drive, or a USB flash drive, is a portable
data-storage device. Pen drives have replaced the floppy
drives of old and have become the most popular data-
storage devices among consumers. Micro, lightweight and
handy, a pen drive can be easily carried from place to place
by students, professionals, academicians and independent
tech consultants. It can store up to 1 GB to 1 TB of data.
 Connection Ports
There are 8 types of connection ports that are:-
1. PS/2 Port
2. Ethernet Port
3. Audio Jack Socket
4. VGA Port
5. USB Port
6. Serial Port
7. Parallel Port
8. HDMI Port

Power Supply Unit

A power supply is a hardware component that supplies power to
an electrical device. It receives power from an electrical outlet and
converts the current from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct
current), which is what the computer requires.
A computer needs power to run. It has a power supply unit or
SMPS (Switched mode power supply ) which supplies power to all
it’s components.

Conclusion
A computer is made up of two components, the hardware and
software. Without one another, the computer would have no
function. The hardware is the physical element needed to run a
computer, whereas, the software is needed in order for the
computer to run and coordinates instructions between the
software and hardware. Utility programs are programs that
perform general housekeeping tasks for the computer, such as
system maintenanceand file compression (Evans, Martin, &
Poatsy, 2016).