Hardware of a PC

How to put all the components together in order to build a PC

Someone building a PC

A example of how a PC can be build (divided in 3 parts).

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The main components

CPU

The CPU or the processor is the heart of the computer.

The two main brands are Intel and AMD

GPU

The GPU or the Graphic Card is the processor dedicated in processing the graphics.

The two main brands are Nvidia and AMD (Before ATI)

RAM memory

The RAM memory allows stored data to be accessed directly in any random order.

There are many types and lots of brands

Motherboard

It's the main board where all the components are connected.

Example of a modern motherboard

Different parts of a "mobo"

PSU

A power supply unit (PSU) converts the "normal" electricity making ready for the use of the internal components of a computer.

Example of a PSU

Optical Disc Drive

The Optical Disc Drive is the device which is used to read/write CDs, DVDs and even Blu Ray discs

Example of a Optical Disk Drive

HDD

A HDD is a data storage device used for storing digital information using rotating discs.

The inside of a HDD

SSD

A SSD is a data storage device using integrated circuit assemblies as memory to store data persistently.

Example of a SSD

Case

A computer case is the enclosure that contains the main components of a computer.

There are a variety of cases, each with their pros and cons: connections, refrigeration, management of cables...

Peripherics

A peripheral is a device that is connected to a host computer, but not part of it. It expands the host's capabilities but does not form part of the core computer architecture.

Input, which provide input to the computer from the user (mouse, keyboards, etc.)

Output, which provide output to the user from the computer (monitors, printers, etc.)

Storage, which store data (external hard drives, flash drives, etc.)