Computer hardware is the physical part of a computer, including the digital circuitry, as distinguished from the computer software that executes within the hardware. The hardware of a computer is infrequently changed, in comparison with software and data, which are "soft" in the sense that they are readily created, modified or erased on the computer. Firmware is a special type of software that rarely, if ever, needs to be changed and so is stored on hardware devices such as read-only memory (ROM) where it is not readily changed (and is therefore "firm" rather than just "soft").

Most computer hardware is not seen by normal users. It is in embedded systems in automobiles, microwave ovens, electrocardiograph machines, compact disc players, and other devices. Personal computers, the computer hardware familiar to most people, form only a small minority of computers (about 0.2% of all new computers produced in 2003) Market statistics.

Personal computer hardware

---

A typical personal computer consists of a case or chassis in desktop or tower shape and the following parts:

• Motherboard or system board with slots for expansion cards and holding parts including:
  • Central processing unit (CPU)
  • Random Access Memory (RAM) - for program execution and short term data storage, so the computer doesn't have to take the time to access the hard drive to find something. More RAM can contribute to a faster PC. RAM is normally removable by being in slots on the motherboard.
  • Basic Input-Output System (BIOS) or Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) in newer computers
  • Buses :
    • PCI bus
    • PCI-E or AGP bus
    • ISA bus (outdated)
    • EISA bus (outdated)
    • USB
• Power supply - a case that holds a transformer, voltage control and fan
• Storage controllers of IDE, SATA, SCSI or other type, that control hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM and other drives; the controllers sit directly on the motherboard (on-board) or on expansion cards
• Video display controller that produces the output for the computer display
• Computer bus controllers (parallel, serial, USB, FireWire) to connect the computer to external peripheral devices such as printers or scanners
• Some type of a removable media writer:
  • CD - the most common type of removable media, cheap but fragile.
    • CD-ROM Drive
    • CD Writer
  • DVD
    • DVD-ROM Drive
    • DVD Writer
    • DVD-RAM Drive
  • Floppy disk
  • Zip drive
  • USB Flash Drive
  • Tape drive - mainly for backup and long-term storage
• Internal storage - keeps data inside the computer for later use.
  • Hard disk - for medium-term storage of data.
  • Disk array controller
• Sound card - translates signals from the system board into analog voltage levels, and has terminals to plug in speakers.
• Networking - to connect the computer to the Internet and/or other computers
  • Modem - for dial-up connections
  • Network card - for DSL/Cable internet, and/or connecting to other computers.
• Other peripherals

More on [ Computer hardware ]

Hardware News items, Blog posts | ZDNet

The real pros and cons of server virtualization
Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:15:58 -0800
PC style virtualization, derived from IBM's zVM ideas and now supported in both AMD and Intel hardware, is a revenant of data processing's failure to adapt to the age of digital computing - an expensive, user punishing, detour into 1920s management ideas in pursuit of that period's holy grail: 100%...
MobileTechRoundup show #189; Verizon DROID choices, Moblin 2.1 for netbooks
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:55:15 -0800
Today is the launch of the Motorola DROID and HTC DROID ERIS on Verizon and James has the DROID in hand. Kevin is triple booting his netbook and the new Moblin 2.1 OS looks slick enough for me to give a try on my MSI Wind soon too. We also...
Code execution hole in BlackBerry Desktop Manager
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:33:03 -0800
Research in Motion RIM has shipped a patch to cover a gaping hole in its BlackBerry Desktop Manager software. by Ryan Naraine
Peek releases $99 gadget just for Twitter
Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:23:13 -0800
Dedicated Twitterers (Tweeters?) have a new option for posting their 140-character thoughts to the web: the TwitterPeek. Looking a tad like a very thin Blackberry, Peek's Twitter-friendly gadget features a QWERTY keyboard, color screen and click scroll wheel. Available only on Amazon.com for $99, users get...
A 4 SSD array: Apricorn pt 2
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:28:50 -0800
Itching for bragging rights with the gamers next door? Want to edit uncompressed HD video without breaking the bank? I turbocharge Apricorn's internal PCI-e array card with 4 Intel X25-M SSDs. Yup, its fast! by Robin Harris
Happy hardware: tech lobbyist brings home the bacon
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:16:14 -0800
Fed money goes for energy and water industries to get more efficient. by Harry Fuller

Subscribe to Hardware RSS feed