Basic Parts of a Computer

The basic parts of a desktop computer are the computer

case, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power cord. Each part plays
an important role whenever you use a computer.

The computer case is the metal and plastic box that contains the main
components of the computer, including the motherboard, central processing unit
(CPU), and power supply. The front of the case usually has an On/Off
button and one or more optical drives.

The monitor works with a video card, located inside the computer case, to display
images and text on the screen. Most monitors have control buttons that allow you
to change your monitor's display settings, and some monitors also have built-in
speakers.
Newer monitors usually have LCD (liquid crystal display) or LED (light-emitting
diode) displays. These can be made very thin, and they are often called flat-panel
displays. Older monitors use CRT (cathode ray tube) displays. CRT monitors are
much larger and heavier, and they take up more desk space.

The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with a computer. There are
many different types of keyboards, but most are very similar and allow you to
accomplish the same basic tasks.

The mouse is another important tool for communicating with computers.

Commonly known as a pointing device, it lets you point to objects on the
screen, click on them, and move them.
There are two main mouse types: optical and mechanical. The optical mouse uses
an electronic eye to detect movement and is easier to clean. The mechanical
mouse uses a rolling ball to detect movement and requires regular cleaning to
work properly.

Mouse alternatives
There are other devices that can do the same thing as a mouse. Many people find
them easier to use, and they also require less desk space than a traditional mouse.
The most common mouse alternatives are below.
  Trackball: A trackball has a ball that can rotate freely. Instead of moving the
device like a mouse, you can roll the ball with your thumb to move the
pointer.
 Touchpad: A touchpad—also called a trackpad—is a touch-sensitive pad
that lets you control the pointer by making a drawing motion with your finger.
Touchpads are common on laptop computers.
Inside a Computer
Motherboard

The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that
holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion
cards to control the video and audio, and connections to your computer's ports
(such as USB ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of
the computer.
CPU/processor
The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside
the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of the
computer, and its job is to carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click
the mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to the CPU.
The CPU is usually a two-inch ceramic square with a silicon chip located inside.
The chip is usually about the size of a thumbnail. The CPU fits into the
motherboard's CPU socket, which is covered by the heat sink, an object that
absorbs heat from the CPU.
A processor's speed is measured in megahertz (MHz), or millions of instructions
per second; and gigahertz (GHz), or billions of instructions per second. A faster
processor can execute instructions more quickly. However, the actual speed of the
computer depends on the speed of many different components—not just the
processor.

RAM is your system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs

calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed.
This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off. If you're
working on a document, spreadsheet, or other type of file, you'll need to save it to
avoid losing it. When you save a file, the data is written to the hard drive, which
acts as long-term storage.
RAM is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). The more RAM you
have, the more things your computer can do at the same time. If you don't have
enough RAM, you may notice that your computer is sluggish when you have several
programs open. Because of this, many people add extra RAM to their computers to
improve performance.

The hard drive is where your software, documents, and other files are stored. The
hard drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still saved even if you
turn the computer off or unplug it.
When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some of the data from
the hard drive onto the RAM. When you save a file, the data is copied back to
the hard drive. The faster the hard drive, the faster your computer can start
up and load programs.

The power supply unit in a computer converts the power from the wall outlet to
the type of power needed by the computer. It sends power through cables to the
motherboard and other components.

Basic Components of Computer

A computer device is made up of various elements which help in its effective
functioning and processing. There are five basic components of the computer which
help in making this processing of data easier and convenient.
5 Components of a Computer System
Given below are the 5 components of a computer along with their purpose and
functions.
 Input Unit
A computer will only respond when a command is given to the device. These
commands can be given using the input unit or the input devices.
For example: Using a keyboard we can type things on a Notepad and the computer
processes the entered data and then displays the output of the same of the screen.
The data entered can be in the form of numbers, alphabet, images, etc. We enter
the information using an input device, the processing units convert it into computer
understandable languages and then the final output is received by a human-
understandable language.

 Output Unit
When we command a computer to perform a task, it reverts for the action
performed and gives us a result. This result is called output. There are various
output devices connected to the computer. The most basic of which is a monitor.
Whatever we write using a keyboard or click using a mouse, is all displayed on the
monitor.
Thus, the output unit gives us the final result once the entire processing is done
within the mechanism of a device.
For example: when we visit an ATM, we enter our details like language, pin, amount
to be withdrawn, etc. and then the final money which the cash dispenser releases is
our outcome. In this case, the cash dispenser acts as an output unit.
 Memory Unit
When we enter the data into the computer using an input device, the entered
information immediately gets saved in the memory unit of the Central Processing
Unit (CPU). Because of the presence of some existing programming, the Memory
Unit transmits the data further to the other parts of the CPU.
Similarly, when the output of our command is processed by the computer, it is
saved in the memory unit before giving the output to the user.

 Control Unit
This is the core unit which manages the entire functioning of the computer device. It
is one of the most essential components of the computer system.
The Control Unit collects the data entered using the input unit, leads it on for
processing and once that is done, receives the output and presents it to the user. It
can be said to the centre of all processing actions taking place inside a computer
device.
Basically, the instructions taken, interpretation of entered data, issuing signals to
execute the data and then finally retrieving the data is all done in the Control Unit.
 Arithmetic & Logical Unit
As the name suggests, all the mathematical calculations or arithmetic operations
are performed in the Arithmetic and Logical Unit of the CPU.
It can also perform actions like a comparison of data and decision-making actions.
The ALU comprises circuits using which addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
and other numerical based calculations can be performed.
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Classification of Computers by Size
 Supercomputers
 Mainframe computers
 Minicomputers
 Personal computers (PCs) or microcomputers
Supercomputers
Supercomputer – a powerful computer that can process large amounts of data and
do a great amount of computation very quickly.
Supercomputers are used for areas related to:
 Science
 Engineering
 Education
 Defence
 Aerospace
Supercomputers are useful for applications involving very large databases or that
require a great amount of computation.

Mainframe computers
Mainframe computer – a high-performance computer used for large information
processing jobs.
Mainframe computers are primarily used in :
 Institutions
 Research
 Academics
 Health care
 Libraries
 Large businesses
 Financial institutions
 Stock brokerage firms
 Insurance agencies

Minicomputers

Minicomputer – a mid-range computer that is intermediate in size, power, speed, storage

capacity, etc., between a mainframe and a microcomputer.
Minicomputers are used by small organizations.

“Minicomputer” is a term that is no longer used much. In recent years, minicomputers are often
referred to as small or midsize servers (a server is a central computer that provides information
to other computers).

Personal computers

Personal computer (PC) – a small computer designed for use by a single user at a time.

A PC or microcomputer uses a single chip (microprocessor) for its central processing unit
(CPU).

“Microcomputer” is now primarily used to mean a PC, but it can refer to any kind of small
computer, such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, smartphone, or wearable.

Types of personal computers

Desktop computer – a personal computer that is designed to stay at one location and fits on
or under a desk. It typically has a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a tower (system unit).

Laptop computer (or notebook) – A portable personal computer that is small enough to
rest on the user’s lap and can be powered by a battery. It includes a flip down screen and a
keyboard with a touchpad.
Tablet – A wireless touchscreen PC that is slightly smaller and weighs less than the average
laptop.

Smartphone – A mobile phone that performs many of the functions of a personal computer.