Hardware considerations
1. Processor(CPU) - The CPU is compared to the brain in the human body. CPU stands for central processing unit. It is the most important hardware in the PC. The CPU is directly inserted in the Motherboard.
The speed of the processor is measured in GHz. The faster the processor, the quicker it can preform the tasks. The processor can also be overclocked (operate faster than the manufacturer had intended it to be). It increases in speed, power usage and also heat.
The number of cores also affects the speed. For example dual core means 2 processors in one so the tasks can be split into both cores. So you can run a program on core 0 and another program in core 1. They cannot slow each other down.
Typical components of the CPU are;
Arithmetic logic unit - Preforms arithmetic and logical operations
A control unit - Extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them.
Another feature a CPU has is a cache it is like RAM but can be accessed much quicker. It is directly accessible to the CPU. It looks ahead at most used data and copies it so when you need it can be used quicker because it is stored.
2. RAM (Random access memory) - Used to store temporary instructions and data. It loses its data when the power is turned off. It can be compared to short term memory. Stores applications and information while your computer is turned on.
It is like a work space on a desk. The bigger (GB's) the more space you have to work with. The more RAM you have the more programs you can open without slowing the pc down.
Two most common types of RAM
Static is faster because it does not need to be refreshed and its cycle time is shorter because it does not need to pause.
Dynamic is cheaper and slower and used more often in PC's. It refreshes several thousands times per second.
There is DDR, DDR2 and DDR3 RAM. Around 2000 DDR was introduced. It replaced SD-RAM which was twice as slow as DDR. DDR was better than SD-RAM also because it used less energy. As technology progressed DDR2 was introduced around 2003. Just like the DDR it has become twice as fast as the DDR and also again uses less energy than the previous, the same with DDR3. RAM improved throughout the years to be faster and more efficient with power.
3. Motherboard - The motherboard is the foundation of the computer. Many of the important components in the PC is connected to it. For example it allows the RAM,CPU and graphics card function and communicate well together. Compatability is important in choosing a motherboard or the components will not work. Choosing which CPU is important to choosing your motherboard. If you buy an Intel CPU it cannot work on an AMD compatible motherboard.
4. Hard drive disk (HDD) - Where everything is stored/saved. It saves all data even when turned off. Most important thing on picking a HDD is the size. More space the better. Some HDD are faster than other. Typical laptop drives today spin at either 5400 RPM (Revolutions per Minute) or 7200RPM.
Also there are Solid state drives (SSD). These drives are faster than HDD because it has no spinning parts like in a HDD. It stores everything in microchips and relies on the embedded processor similar to the CPU it is like a brain for the SSD. SSD's are alot more expensive and does not have the size that HDD can bring. SSD's are 30% quicker at opening files, less power consumption and produces little/no heat. SSD's are also safe from the affects of magnetism. It does not erase data like it does on a HDD.
There are two types of ports on a HDD, one is called the IDE which is slower than the other type called SATA (Serial advanced technology attachment). IDE is older was created 1986 and is slower than the newer port SATA. IDE has data transfers at the rate of up to 133Mb/sec, while SATA has data transfers at the rate of 150Mb/sec to 6Gbits/sec. SATA cables are smaller than IDE which is useful because it will look less messy, easier to organise and airflow is better because the cables don't block as much space than an IDE cable would do.
5. Graphics card - Using the monitor there are millions of pixels. The graphics card has to know what to do with each individual pixel. The GPU (graphics processing unit) works with the software sends information about the image to the graphics card. The graphics card then chooses how to show this image with the pixels on the screen. It sends this information to the monitor usually by VGA or HDMI.
The GPU is very similar to the CPU but it performs the complex mathematical and geometric calculations crucial for graphics rendering. Similar to the CPU it creates a lot of heat and is usually under a heat sink or fan. Newer graphics cards tend to have a fan built within it like the picture above. To disperse the heat away and keeps the graphics card cool. The cooler it is the better it preforms like the CPU. Companies like ATI and Nvidea have features like;
The graphics card has its own RAM. It stores data for the graphics processor so it can be sent to your screen. The bigger the resolution the higher the detail the more memory required.
6. Power supply
The power supply changes the current of the socket from AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current). Without changing the AC to DC your components inside your PC would melt/burn. It is also important that you have the right power supply because if you have hardware that require a lot of watts, you need a power supply that gives enough energy for your components.
7. BIOS
The BIOS is the first thing that opens when you start a computer. It first checks if all the hardware is in place, this is called Power On Self Test (POST). Once it checks everything is running well and nothing is missing it follows the first step which most of the time is opening the operating system from the hard drive. You can change this by going into the BIOS setting and you can boot things up from things like a USB stick. You have a boot order of which you can run first, second and third. If the first one isn't working/missing it bots things up from the second. for example the hard drive doesn't work so the 2nd boot order is the DVD/CD drive. You can boot up the DVD/CD for example a windows 7 CD.
You can also change how some of your hardware works in the BIOS you can do things like overclocking which speeds up your components higher than the manufacturer intended it to be. It therefore increases in speed, power usage and heat. It is very important that you have good cooling in your PC because there is a risk of frying/burning your hardware.
8. System box
The system box holds all the PC components together. It is useful for three things. Protection, safety and air flow. The system box has to be strong and durable because the hardware can be easily broken. Also the system box has to cover the everything because if you touch the hardware there is a chance you can damage it with static electricity. It has to be cover also because it isn't safe for hardware to be exposed when its running because you could get an electric shock. It is also important that the system box is made of a material that isn't conductive to avoid getting electrocuted. Airflow is very important when picking a system box. Without good airflow the heat has nowhere to escape or no new cool air can enter the box which will result in burning/melting parts.
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