Computer Hardware – Best described as any physical component of a computer system that contains a circuit board, integrated circuits, or other electronic components. A perfect example of hardware is the screen you are viewing this page on. Be it a computer monitor, tablet or smartphone; it’s hardware.
Without any hardware, your computer would not exist and the software could not be used. The image is a Logitech webcam, an example of an external hardware peripheral. This hardware device allows users to take videos or photos and transmit them over the Internet.
Hardware types: –
Hardware
Internal hardware External hardware
Internal Hardware: – The hardware that is inside your computer and can be found in a computer is known as internal hardware.
Eg Internal hardware: –
1. Motherboard
2. Processor
3. Fan
4. Heat sunk
5.RAM
6. Rom
7. Network card
8. Sound card
9. SMPS (switch mode power supply)
10. Modem
1. Motherboard: – It is known as the main part of the computer. Also known as the system board, it is the printed main board that contains a socket that accepts power and communicates with the CPU and RAM.
2. Processor (CPU): – A processor handles all the instructions it receives from hardware and software.
3. Fan – A hardware device that keeps the overall computer or a computer device cool by circulating air to or from the computer or component. The image is an example of a fan on a heat sink. It is located on top of the processor or CPU. That helps draw the hot air out of the processor and helps cool it down.
4. Heat sink: – A heat sink is an electronic device that incorporates a fan or palter device to keep a hot component, such as a processor, cool.
5. Network card: – It is an expansion card that allows a computer to connect to a network; such as a home network or the Internet using an Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector.
6. Sound card: – A sound card is an expansion card or IC for producing sound in a computer that can be heard through speakers or headphones. Although the computer does not need a sound device to function, they are included in every machine in one form or another, either in an expansion slot or integrated into the motherboard (integrated).
7. SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply): – A switch mode power supply (SMPS) is an electronic circuit that converts energy by switching devices that turn on and off at high frequencies, and storage components such as inductors. or capacitors to supply power when the switching device is in its non-conducting state.
8. Modem: – A modem modulates the outgoing digital signals from a computer or other digital device to analog signals for a conventional copper twisted pair telephone line and demodulates the incoming analog signal and converts it to a digital signal for the digital device.
External Hardware – Hardware outside of the computer is known as external hardware.
Eg from external hardware.
1. Keyboard
2. Mouse
3. UPS
4. Microphone
5. Printer
6. Projector
7. Joystick
8. Speaker
9. Scanner
10. Projector