Computer Parts

Modem

A device or program that enables a computer to transmit data over telephone or cable lines. It establishes and maintains the connection with the Internet provider's service and converts the signals from and to the router appropriately.

Heat Sinks

A device used to absorb and pull away excessive or unwanted heat.

Power Supply

A hardware component that supplies power to an electrical device. It receives power from an electrical outlet and converts the current from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current), which is what the computer requires.

Router

A hardware device that allows you to connect several computers and other devices to a single Internet connection, which is known as a home network or WiFi network.

Optical Drive

A type of computer disk drive that reads and writes data from disks through laser beaming technology. This type of drive allows a user to retrieve, edit and delete the content from disks such as CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray disks.

Computer Case

Also known as a computer chassis, tower, system unit, cabinet or base unit. It is the enclosure that contains most of the hardware components of a computer.

Sound Card

An expansion card that attaches to your PCI slot on the motherboard that enables the computer to input, process, and deliver sound that can be heard through speakers or headphones. It converts digital data to analog sound waves you can hear.

Graphic Card

Connects to the motherboard of a computer system and generates output images to display. Also referred to as graphics cards. They include a processing unit, memory, a cooling mechanism and connections to a display device.

Keyboard and Mouse

External input devices connected to a computer.

Software

Internet browser, Windows, graphics programs and games are all examples of what?

Liquid Cooling

Involves a closed system of tubes that carries the liquid from one component involved in cooling to another. These systems are generally referred to as loops. There are some parts common to all of these systems: pumps, tubing, water blocks, and radiators.

Hardware

Monitor, sound card, printer, speakers and motherboard are all examples of what?

Hard Drive Fans

Often used in systems with heat-production challenges from a lot of hard drive usage.

Motherboard

One of the most essential parts of a computer system. It holds together many of the crucial components of a computer, including the central processing unit (CPU), memory and connectors for input and output devices.

Cooling

The dissipation of large amounts of heat, which is created while a computer system is running. Heat is generated inside the computer tower by various hardware such as CPU, video card or even the hard drive.

Processor

The logic circuitry that responds to and processes the basic instructions that drive a computer. Has generally replaced the term central processing unit (CPU).

Hard Drive

The primary computer storage device, which spins, reads and writes one or more fixed disk platters. It permanently stores and retrieves information.

Input Devices

These are considered what type of device?

Output Devices

These are considered what type of device?

Case Fans

They cool the surrounding area by circulating fresh air through the case by drawing out hot air, drawing in cooler air, or both.

Memory

This is the same RAM. It is volatile memory that stores information on an integrated circuit used by the operating system, software, and hardware. When power is turned off it will erase the contents it has gathered. You can add it in the PCI slots on the motherboard.

CPU fans

Used in conjunction with heat sinks to prevent overheating of the components in central processing units.

Monitor

Used to provide visual output from a computer. They use CRT and LCD technology.

Random Access Memory

What does RAM stand for?

Windows

What is the name the operating system we use on the computers?