Motherboards tie everything in your computer
together. Wonder what all those parts are on your motherboard? See a
labeled picture on the next.
A typical motherboard contains areas for computer
memory, CPU, AGP, PCI and more. See a close up of motherboard slots on
the next .
Computer hardware, such as memory, PCI and AGP
connect to the motherboard through slots. Have you ever seen a
motherboard bridge? See the next...
The chipset is the "glue" that connects the
microprocessor to the rest of the motherboard and therefore to the rest
of the computer. On a PC, it consists of two basic parts -- the north
bridge and the south bridge. Take a look at computer memory next
Computer memory has a big effect on system
performance. Pictured above is SIMM memory, or single in-line memory
module, which is a type of RAM memory module. See DIMM memory on the
next...
DIMM, or dual in-line memory module, has a 64-bit
path to memory chips, whereas the SIMM has only a 32-bit. The next type
of memory is often found in notebooks, printers and networking
equipment.
The basic input-output system BIOS is the first
thing you see when you turn on your computer. BIOS gives important
instructions to the computer hardware on the next..
This hard drive has three platters, also called
hard disks, and six read/write heads. See how the hard disk is read on
the next..
The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus
provides direct access to system memory for connected devices. PCI
slots can be used for network, graphics and sound cards. See a PCI card
on the next ...
Just about any computer that you buy today comes
with Universal Serial Bus connectors let you attach everything from mice
to printers.
Here you can see a heat sink and fan in a laptop, similar to the hardware in a desktop.
SODIMM, or small outline dual in-line memory
module, is made with integrated circuits and is about half the size of
DIMM modules. See where RAM is located inside a desktop computer next.
A RAM upgrade can greatly extend your computer's
lifespan. The next picture is of a type of memory that your computer
uses on start-up.
A microprocessor -- also known as a CPU or central
processing unit -- is a complete computation engine that is fabricated
on a single chip. See a high-performance processor on the next page
that was originally used in supercomputers.
64-bit processors have entered the mainstream,
such as this eight-generation Athlon processor. However, you need the
hard drive on the next page to store all the information processed by
your computer.
A hard disk is a sealed aluminum box, which has
been opened in this photo. The controller electronics are attached to
one side, controlling the read/write mechanism and the motor that spins
the platters. See a close up of the disk and platters next.
The arm on a hard disk holds the read/write heads
and has to be incredibly fast and precise. There is one arm per
read/write head, and all of them are lined up to form one unit. See
what connects your hard drive to your PC in the next picture.
The Integrated Drive Electronics interface is the
most popular way to connect a hard drive to a PC. See the drive that
connects your peripherals next.
PCI cards use 47 pins to attach to a PCI slot.
Pins are thin metal feet that allow computer chips to be attached to a
circuit board. The next piece of hardware replaced the PCI as the
standard way to connect a graphic card.
An AGP, or accelerated graphics port, allows the
operating system to designate RAM for use by the graphics card (like the
one above) on the fly. Take a closer look at a graphics card on the
next page.
Like a motherboard, a graphics card is a printed
circuit board that houses a processor and RAM. If you are into computer
games, you probably want this next piece of hardware.
PCI Express or PCIe eliminates the need for the
AGP by accepting more data and supplying more power to video cards.
However, the item in the next picture has been replacing PCIe as the new
standard.
This PC power supply has been removed from its PC
case. The small, red switch at right, above the power-cord connector, is
for changing line voltages in various countries. See the interior of
the power supply next.
PC power supplies use switcher technology to
convert the AC input to lower DC voltages. The 3.3- and 5-volts are
typically used by digital circuits, while the 12-volt is used to run
motors in disk drives and fans. See power supply transformers next.
In this photo you can see three small transformers
(yellow) in the center. To the left are two cylindrical capacitors. The
large finned pieces of aluminum are heat sinks. Take a closer look at a
heat sink next.
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