Understanding Different Kinds of Computer Hardware

Different kinds of hardware have their different levels of importance, but before we delve into the types we need to first look at the term itself and understand what it means. Computer hardware simply put is the physical component of the computer. For you to be able to be reading this right now means that your computer has the physical components required for the software or programmes to work.

We will discuss briefly some of the different kinds of hardware that you will most commonly encounter such as:

Hardware

o The Circuit Board or Mother Board: This is where the main processor of your computer is located and it is on this component that most other hardware feed off.

o The Hard drive: This is your computer store house, so in other words this is where the data that helps your computer to function properly are kept. Data that you generate as you use your computer are also stored here.

o The Cd/Dvd Drive: This is also another kind of storage facility that supports a different kind of data and storage type.

o The Cooling fan: This is often times located on the top of your mother board/circuit board, and just as the name suggests serves as a coolant. When your computer is on it generates heat just like the engine of your car and it is this cooling fan that is tasked with making sure the computer does not get over heated.

o The Memory Chip: This is yet again another part of your computer brain that handles information stores information needed for the proper functioning of your computer. This also supports the general speed of your computer...so a small memory means a slow computer.

o Keyboard & Mouse: This is the component of your computer that helps you with the input of data (such as typing) and navigation. So in other words this is the means for communicating with your computer.

Listed above are some of the different kinds of hardware that you are likely to encounter more often, but there are lots of other hardware that might not be directly a part of your computer but is used along side your computer and attached by means of an external source. So if you do not have proper computer hardware you will naturally find it impossible to install software or run a program on your computer.

Optimum performance of your computer is dependent on the type of hardware you are using. These different kinds of hardware affect affects the computer in diverse ways, but the circuit board has the most influence on the speed of your computer...why? Because like I mentioned earlier the other components mostly feed off the circuit board so if the circuit is rubbish there is a tendency for your computer output to be rubbish.

Most computer hardware can be upgraded as individual components, which means if for instance you notice that your storage space is getting smaller you can purchase an extra hard drive to back up the first one or you can completely change the hard drive for another.

Understanding Different Kinds of Computer Hardware

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

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