Hardware Components

Internal & External components of the computer

Abby Davis

Internal Component Optical drive

When dealing with computers ‘optical’ stands for lasers, which can “see” and read data on optical discs, such as CDs and DVDs. These drives use the lasers to read bumps and dips as 1’s and 0’s, which in turn the computer can read and understand

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Internal Component Hard Drive-

This is where all of the data is stored on your computer. It houses all of the files and folders on your computer. An interesting fact of a hard drive is that it’s stored magnetically, so it stays on the hard drive even after the computer is turned off.

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Internal Component RAM- Stands for Random Access Memory. It is the most common type of memory found in computers.

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Internal ComponentPower Supply-Converts AC to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer

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Internal ComponentsExpansion slot(s)- Slot located inside the computer that is on the motherboard, and it allows more boards to be connected to it.

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CPU Central Processing Unit-

This processes all the data that flows through the system unit

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Drive BayDrive bays are an area for adding hardware to a computer. Some can be removed, but most are fixed to the inside of the case.

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Device power connectorThey are used to supply and distribute power to internal devices in a computer

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IDE/SCSI interface connector

SCSI stands for small computer system interface. This connector is used to attach peripheral devices to computers. IDE stands for integrated Drive Electrics. This is a standard interface for IBM compatible hard drives. The difference between IDE and SCSI is that IDE’s controllers are on each drive.

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Clock battery Another way of saying ‘clock battery’ is

CMOS battery. This is the battery that maintains the time, date and other settings on the CMOS memory.

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Motherboard The motherboard contains all of the

components that control the computer Microprocessor Memory chips Many other chips

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External Component Power Switch- This is the switch on the

computer that turns it on and off.

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External Component Network port- Is an opening on a

computer network equipment that the networking cables can plug into.

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External Component Monitor port- This is a port on the back of

your computer that you plug in the monitor into the tower.

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External Component USB port- (USB stands for Universal Serial

Bus) This port can be used to connect many different peripheral devices up to the computer, such as mice, modems, keyboards, cameras, and jump drives.

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External Component FireWire port- This is very common

connection type in Apple computers. There are two types, 400 and 800.

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