Computer Hardware:

Understanding and knowing the basic components of the computer hardware is one of the
fundamentals in computer troubleshooting. Listed below is the most important part of computer
hardware in order to complete one computer unit to be able to do the task in accordance with the
desire of the computer user. A functional computer needs the following;

1. Mainboard or the Circuit Board - found here is the different micro - parts of computer including
the electrical system that connecting all hardware part of the computer structure.
2. Central Processing Unit (CPU) – from its own word it is the one that processing the commands
surrounds or exist in a computer.
3. Computer Memory – it serves as the temporary storage wherein your open program or
computer application such as web browser (ex: Google chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet
Explorer) or office application such as excel, PowerPoint and word are temporarily store at your
computer that when you restart the computer, your open application or changes in your file will
be lost if you did not save it to your permanent storage such as hard drive or flash drive, CD’s,
DVD and other storage device.
4. Hard Disk Drive – It is your permanent storage device where you can store your file permanently
such as documents, pictures, music and videos. Operating system and other computer
application is also found in the hard disk drive of the computer unit.
5. Video Card – used for access to display output of data going to computer monitor. Most of the
mainboard of the computer has already built-in or integrated access for display however there
are computer users especially those gamers, photo and video editors uses an additional video
card in order to produce batter graphic display.
6. Power Supply - receives electric power to circulate to the whole computer unit with accurate
power input based on the requirements of a computer system.
7. Input Device – This is used to inter command or instruction by a user to a computer such as
Keyboard for typing and mouse to hover around the graphical user interface. There are other
types of input device such as microphone that can be used for voice command to a computer.
8. Output Device – primary output device is the computer monitor wherein it display the result of
every command inputted by the user to a computer system. There are also other output device
such as speaker that releases the voice or sounds from the computer, printer that can produce
tangible output and projector that enlarge the visual display of a computer.
9. DVD or CD player – used to read the DVD or CD’s and also can be used to record data in to a CD
or DVD.
10. Computer casing – even without the computer casing the complete hardware components will
still run. However, in order to organize your computer hardware you should put all of them
inside your Personal Computer.
Now you already completed the basic computer hardware parts which are the most important
in order to run a computer system. If you are planning to buy a new computer this article is your
best reference in order to consider what you should know before buying a new computer