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Section 1 - Hardware

We will now talk about the different physical components of the Computer, its hardware.

Principal Components

  • Processor (Central Processing Unit, CPU), which is the “brain” of the computer, it executes software instructions and make complex calculations.
  • Random-access memory (RAM, role: main memory of primary storage), fast electronic memory used to temporary store data and instructions to process.
  • Read-only memory (ROM), permanent electronic memory used to store software that does not need to be changed often, this kind of software is also known as firmware. In the specific case of consumer grade computers, this software is known as the BIOS (old) or UEFI (new), which is the first software that is loaded when the computer is turned on.
  • Mass Storage device (role: secondary storage), various type of media used to store information on the long term (persistent data). Usually slower than the RAM but can for a similar cost, store a vastly superior amount of data.
    • Hard Disk Drive (HDD), electro-mechanical data storage device that uses magnetic rotating physical disks to store information. Slower than alternatives, but also cheaper.
    • Solid-State Drive (SSD), data storage device without moving parts, only made of electronic circuits. Usually faster and less sensitive to physical damage than the HDD.
  • Video Card (also known as graphics card or GPU), component used to generate a feed of graphics output to a display device.
  • Power Supply (PSU), is the component that supplies electricity to the rest of the components, which is the necessary source of energy for all of them to work. Usually a power supply will convert the AC power from the wall outlet to DC power which is the common kind of electrical power used in electronics.
  • Motherboard, central component of the computer, board which connects all the other components together.

Peripherals

Peripherals are auxiliary devices used to transfer information in and out of a computer.

Hence there is 2 kinds of peripherals:

Of course some devices also have those 2 capabilities at the same time:

  • External storage device
  • Network devices
  • …