Personal Computer Hardware

The term Personal Computer Hardware refers to all tangible parts of a PC, the components are: electric, electronic, electromechanical and mechanical. These cables, cabinets or boxes, peripherals of all kinds and any other physical element involved; software is intangible and is called software. The history of Personal Computer Hardware can be classified into four generations, each characterized by a change of technological importance. A first delineation could be made between basic hardware, the minimum required for normal operation and complementary which performs specific functions. A computer system consists of a central processing unit (CPU / CPU) responsible for processing the data, one or more peripheral input, allowing the entry of information and one or more output devices, which enables to give output (usually as visual or auditory ) to the data processed.

Classification of Personal Computer Hardware

One way to classify the Personal Computer Hardware is to divide in two categories: first, the core, which covers all essential components required to provide the minimum functionality to a computer and on the other hand, the complimentary hardware which, as the name suggests, is used to perform specific functions beyond the basics, not strictly necessary for the operation of the computer.

The central processing unit (CPU), RAM, output and data storage constitutes the basic hardware.

Personal Computer Hardware : The Parts

Central Processing Unit

CPU or  Central Processing Unit  is the fundamental component of the computer, responsible for interpreting and executing instructions and processing data. In modern computers, the CPU function is performed by one or more microprocessors. Helpful articles :

• What Microcomputer Actually is ?
• Processor “ How It Works
• Server Virtualization and Intel VT-x Processor
• Processor Technologies “ Parallelism, Hyper-Threading

Motherboard

Motherboard or Mainboard holds and connects all the components. Important articles related to Motherboard are :

• Components of a motherboard
• Northbridge and Southbridge of a Motherboard
• Chipset of a Motherboard 

Memory

Memory or most commonly referred as RAM itself is a compact chipset. ROM is however a different entity.

Hard Disk

Hard Disk Drive is a magnetic storage medium of computer, on which data is written on the surface of a rotating disk. Detailed articles on Hard Disk Drive :

• Overview, Structure and Function of HDD
• RAID or Redundant Array of Independent Disks

Other Components of a Typical Personal Computer Hardware
To get more detailed articles on other Personal Computer Hardware parts, please search on this website (top right corner of this web page) – like with networking card, USB Modem etc.