Last updated on June 17th, 2024 at 11:46 am
While studying information technology, computer hardware is one of the terms that often come up. It is a key component of a computer system that we encounter every day while dealing with computers. In fact, the hardware components are the ones that you can see and touch. In this article, we will look specially at the following:
- What is computer hardware;
- Differences between external and internal hardware; and
- Categories of computer hardware.
Input devices
Input devices are a group of peripheral devices that we use to enter data into a computing system. Some forms of input devices include a keyboard, scanner, barcode reader, etc.
Output devices
Output devices allow you to access data on a computer system. Some output devices we use are printers, projectors, headphones, etc.
Storage Devices
Storage devices are necessary whenever you use your computer to do different types of tasks, be it for school or work.
It’s important to always back up your work after you have finished using different storage devices. Some examples of storage devices are flash drives, DVDs, CDs, etc.
Processing Devices
The processing device is the “brain of the computer” that does all the actual work on. When you hear the term processing, what comes to mind?
Processing is the absorbing of data and then manipulating it to make sense. So, processing devices are the tools that we use to manipulate data. This means that the equipment will manipulate the information given to it, changing it and giving us an output that makes sense.
Examples of processing devices are the central processing unit, the arithmetic and logic unit, and the control unit.
Components required to build a PC
Have you grown tired of searching for the correct computer specifications to suit your needs? Have you gotten to the point where you stopped to ask yourself whether it is worth searching again or if you should look into the idea of building your own system?
While building a computer is the only way to ensure that you get what you are looking for in a personal computer, there are many components required to build a personal computer. Many of these components and their specifications are dependent on what you plan to use the computer for. Be it for gaming, school, work, etc. If you have gotten this far and are still asking the question, what are the components required to build a PC? Keep reading.
The main components required to build a PC are:
- CPU-central processing unit;
- RAM-random access memory;
- Motherboard;
- PSU-power supply unit;
- System cooling; and
- An operating system.