Did you pull the cover off of your computer and stare wondering what all of those parts are? There are just a few basic PC components in most home computers. Here are the key pieces you should be aware of if you want to upgrade or fix your computer.
Power Supply – This will be one of the easiest components for you to identify. It is the component you plug your power cord into and has all of the power feeds leading to the other components in your PC. This is one of the most common points of failure in a computer. You can quickly replace your power supply if you pay attention to where all the wires go.
Hard Drive – All of your programs, applications, pictures, document, videos, and other files are stored on your hard drive. There are two basic types of hard drives. The cheapest type, with the most storage capacity, is a mechanical hard drive. These drives use spinning magnetic plates to store information. The second type is a Solid State Drive (SSD). This type of drive has no internal moving parts which increase the speed of access and reliability of the drive. SSD drives cost a little more, but their speed and reliability advantages make them the preferred choice.
System Board – This is also known as the motherboard, or mainboard, of the computer. It holds the computers processor (CPU), memory chips, and any expansion cards. Also, the motherboard provides connectivity through USB ports, network connections, and HDMI ports. Most system boards include a connection for your monitor which could be a VGA, DVI, or HDMI port, or all of them.
CPU – The central processing unit is what does the work on your computer. The processor sits in a socket on the system board. Most CPUs are built by either Intel or AMD. A slow processor will make videos and games drag painfully, while a fast processor makes them zip with ease.
Memory – Memory modules are plugged into sockets on the system board. The amount of memory affects how many applications you can run simultaneously and how fast your computer can function. A minimum of 4GB of memory is suggested, but 8 to 16GB of memory is preferred if you want a fast running computer. Memory is one of the most common upgrades to improve performance.
Video Processor (Graphics Card) – If you are serious about gaming, video creation, or graphic design, you are going to want a powerful video processor. The built-in graphics processors on most system boards are painfully slow. High powered video cards using Nvidia or AMD processors can change your video performance from sluggish to Hollywood movie quality.
Keyboards, Mice, and Monitors
The components outside your computer can play an important role, too. High-quality monitors are easy on the eyes and are quick to respond during gameplay and while watching videos. A good mouse and keyboard make using your computer a pleasure.
These are the key PC components you will find both inside your computer and outside. If you are looking for better performance consider upgrading your memory, video card, and switching to an SSD drive.