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Computer hardware
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Main page Computer hardware includes the physical parts or components of a computer, such as the central processing unit, monitor, keyboard,
Contents computer data storage, graphic card, sound card, speakers and motherboard.[1] By contrast, software is instructions that can be stored and run
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by hardware. Hardware is so-termed because it is "hard" or rigid with respect to changes or modifications; whereas software is "soft" because
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it can be easily updated or changed. Intermediate between software and hardware is "firmware", which is software that is strongly coupled to
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the particular hardware of a computer system and thus the most difficult to change but also among the most stable with respect to consistency
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Hardware is directed by the software to execute any command or instruction. A combination of hardware and software forms a usable
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computing system.
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About Wikipedia Contents [hide] PDP-11 CPU board
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1 Von Neumann architecture
Recent changes
Contact page 2 Sales
3 Types of computer systems
Tools 3.1 Personal computer
What links here 3.1.1 Case
Related changes
3.1.2 Power supply
Upload file
3.1.3 Motherboard
Special pages
Permanent link
3.1.4 Expansion cards
Page information 3.1.5 Storage devices
Wikidata item 3.1.5.1 Fixed media
Cite this page 3.1.5.2 Removable media
3.1.6 Input and output peripherals
Print/export
3.1.6.1 Input
Create a book
3.1.6.2 Output device
Download as PDF
Printable version 3.2 Mainframe computer
3.3 Departmental computing
In other projects 3.4 Supercomputer
Wikimedia Commons 4 Hardware upgrade
Wikibooks
5 Recycling
Wikiversity
5.1 Toxic computer components
Languages 5.2 Environmental effects

‫اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬ 5.3 National services

Español 6 See also

िह ी 7 Sources
Bahasa Indonesia 8 External links
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த ழ் Von Neumann architecture [ edit ]
‫اردو‬
Main article: Von Neumann architecture
中文

89 more The template for all modern computers is the Von Neumann architecture, detailed in a 1945 paper by Hungarian mathematician John

Edit links von Neumann. This describes a design architecture for an electronic digital computer with subdivisions of a processing unit consisting
of an arithmetic logic unit and processor registers, a control unit containing an instruction register and program counter, a memory to
store both data and instructions, external mass storage, and input and output mechanisms.[2] The meaning of the term has evolved to
mean a stored-program computer in which an instruction fetch and a data operation cannot occur at the same time because they share
a common bus. This is referred to as the Von Neumann bottleneck and often limits the performance of the system.[3]

Von Neumann architecture scheme

Sales [ edit ]

For the third consecutive year, U.S. business-to-business channel sales (sales through distributors and commercial resellers) increased, ending up in 2013 at nearly 6 percent
at $61.7 billion. The growth was the fastest sales increase since the end of the recession. Sales growth accelerated in the second half of the year peaking in fourth quarter with
a 6.9 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2012.[4]

Types of computer systems [ edit ]

Personal computer [ edit ]

The personal computer, also known as the PC, is one of the most common types of computer due to its versatility and relatively low
price. Laptops are generally very similar, although they may use lower-power or reduced size components, thus lower performance.

Case [ edit ]
Main article: Computer case

The computer case encloses most of the components of the system. It provides mechanical support and protection for internal
elements such as the motherboard, disk drives, and power supplies, and controls and directs the flow of cooling air over internal Basic hardware components of a
components. The case is also part of the system to control electromagnetic interference radiated by the computer, and protects internal modern personal computer, including a
parts from electrostatic discharge. Large tower cases provide extra internal space for multiple disk drives or other peripherals and monitor, a motherboard, a CPU, a
RAM, two expansion cards, a power
usually stand on the floor, while desktop cases provide less expansion room. All-in-one style designs from Apple, namely the iMac, and
supply, an optical disc drive, a hard
similar types, include a video display built into the same case. Portable and laptop computers require cases that provide impact disk drive, a keyboard and a mouse
protection for the unit. A current development in laptop computers is a detachable keyboard, which allows the system to be configured
as a touch-screen tablet. Hobbyists may decorate the cases with colored lights, paint, or other features, in an activity called case
modding.

Power supply [ edit ]

Main article: Power supply unit (computer)

A power supply unit (PSU) converts alternating current (AC) electric power to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the
computer. Laptops are capable of running from a built-in battery, normally for a period of hours.[5]

Motherboard [ edit ]
Main article: Motherboard

The motherboard is the main component of a computer. It is a board with integrated circuitry that connects the other parts of the
Inside a custom-built computer:
computer including the CPU, the RAM, the disk drives (CD, DVD, hard disk, or any others) as well as any peripherals connected via power supply at the bottom has its own
the ports or the expansion slots. cooling fan

Components directly attached to or to part of the motherboard include:

The CPU (central processing unit), which performs most of the calculations which enable a computer to function, and is sometimes referred to as the brain of the computer.
It is usually cooled by a heatsink and fan, or water-cooling system. Most newer CPUs include an on-die graphics processing unit (GPU). The clock speed of CPUs governs
how fast it executes instructions, and is measured in GHz; typical values lie between 1 GHz and 5 GHz. Many modern computers have the option to overclock the CPU
which enhances performance at the expense of greater thermal output and thus a need for improved cooling.
The chipset, which includes the north bridge, mediates communication between the CPU and the other components of the system, including main memory.
Random-access memory (RAM), which stores the code and data that are being actively accessed by the CPU. For example, when a web browser is opened on the
computer it takes up memory; this is stored in the RAM until the web browser is closed. RAM usually comes on DIMMs in the sizes 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB, but can be much
larger.
Read-only memory (ROM), which stores the BIOS that runs when the computer is powered on or otherwise begins execution, a process known as Bootstrapping, or
"booting" or "booting up". The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) includes boot firmware and power management firmware. Newer motherboards use Unified Extensible
Firmware Interface (UEFI) instead of BIOS.
Buses that connect the CPU to various internal components and to expand cards for graphics and sound.
The CMOS battery, which powers the memory for date and time in the BIOS chip. This battery is generally a watch battery.
The video card (also known as the graphics card), which processes computer graphics. More powerful graphics cards are better suited to handle strenuous tasks, such as
playing intensive video games.

Expansion cards [ edit ]

Main article: Expansion card

An expansion card in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer
system via the expansion bus. Expansions cards can be used to obtain or expand on features not offered by the motherboard.

Storage devices [ edit ]

Main article: Computer data storage

A storage device is any computing hardware and digital media that is used for storing, porting and extracting data files and objects. It can hold and store information both
temporarily and permanently, and can be internal or external to a computer, server or any similar computing device. Data storage is a core function and fundamental
component of computers.

Fixed media [ edit ]

Data is stored by a computer using a variety of media. Hard disk drives are found in virtually all older computers, due to their high capacity and low cost, but solid-state drives
are faster and more power efficient, although currently more expensive than hard drives in terms of dollar per gigabyte,[6] so are often found in personal computers built post-
2007.[7] Some systems may use a disk array controller for greater performance or reliability.

Removable media [ edit ]

To transfer data between computers, a USB flash drive or optical disc may be used. Their usefulness depends on being readable by other systems; the majority of machines
have an optical disk drive, and virtually all have at least one USB port.

Input and output peripherals [ edit ]

Main article: Peripheral

Input and output devices are typically housed externally to the main computer chassis. The following are either standard or very common to many computer systems.

Input [ edit ]

Input devices allow the user to enter information into the system, or control its operation. Most personal computers have a mouse and keyboard, but laptop systems typically
use a touchpad instead of a mouse. Other input devices include webcams, microphones, joysticks, and image scanners.

Output device [ edit ]

Output devices display information in a human readable form. Such devices could include printers, speakers, monitors or a Braille embosser.

Mainframe computer [ edit ]

Main article: Mainframe Computer

A mainframe computer is a much larger computer that typically fills a room and may cost many hundreds or thousands of times as much as a personal computer. They are
designed to perform large numbers of calculations for governments and large enterprises.

Departmental computing [ edit ]

Main article: Minicomputer

In the 1960s and 1970s, more and more departments started to use cheaper and dedicated systems for specific purposes like process control
and laboratory automation.

Supercomputer [ edit ]
Main article: Supercomputer

A supercomputer is superficially similar to a mainframe, but is instead intended for extremely demanding computational tasks. As of June 2016,
the fastest supercomputer in the world is the Sunway TaihuLight, in Jiangsu, China.[8]
An IBM System z9
The term supercomputer does not refer to a specific technology. Rather it indicates the fastest computations available at any given time. In mid
mainframe
2011, the fastest supercomputers boasted speeds exceeding one petaflop, or 1 quadrillion (10^15 or 1,000 trillion) floating point operations per
second. Super computers are fast but extremely costly so they are generally used by large organizations to execute computationally
demanding tasks involving large data sets. Super computers typically run military and scientific applications. Although they cost millions of dollars, they are also being used for
commercial applications where huge amounts of data must be analyzed. For example, large banks employ supercomputers to calculate the risks and returns of various
investment strategies, and healthcare organizations use them to analyze giant databases of patient data to determine optimal treatments for various diseases and problems
incurring to the country.

Hardware upgrade [ edit ]

When using computer hardware, an upgrade means adding new hardware to a computer that improves its performance, adds capacity or new features. For example, a user
could perform a hardware upgrade to replace the hard drive with a SSD to get a boost in performance or increase the amount of files that may be stored. Also, the user could
increase the RAM so the computer may run more smoothly. The user could add a USB 3.0 expansion card in order to fully use USB 3.0 devices, or could upgrade the GPU for
extra rendering power. Performing such hardware upgrades may be necessary for older computers to meet a programs' system requirements.

Recycling [ edit ]

Because computer parts contain hazardous materials, there is a growing movement to recycle old and outdated parts.[9] Computer
hardware contain dangerous chemicals such as: lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium. According to the EPA these e-wastes have a
harmful effect on the environment unless they are disposed of properly. Making hardware requires energy, and recycling parts will
reduce air pollution, water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.[10] Disposing unauthorized computer equipment is in fact
illegal. Legislation makes it mandatory to recycle computers through the government approved facilities. Recycling a computer can be
made easier by taking out certain reusable parts. For example, the RAM, DVD drive, the graphics card, hard drive or SSD, and other
similar removable parts can be reused.

Toxic computer components [ edit ]

The central processing unit contains many toxic materials. It contains lead and chromium in the metal plates. Resistors, semi-
conductors, infrared detectors, stabilizers, cables, and wires contain cadmium. The circuit boards in a computer contain mercury, and
chromium.[11] When these types of materials, and chemicals are disposed improperly will become hazardous for the environment.

Environmental effects [ edit ]

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency only around 15% of the e-waste actually is recycled. When e-waste byproducts leach into ground water, are
burned, or get mishandled during recycling, it causes harm. Health problems associated with such toxins include impaired mental development, cancer, and damage to the
lungs, liver, and kidneys.[12] That's why even wires have to be recycled. Different companies have different techniques to recycle a wire. The most popular one is the grinder
that separates the copper wires from the plastic/rubber casing. When the processes is done there are two different piles left; one containing the copper powder, and the other
containing plastic/rubber pieces.[13] Computer monitors, mice, and keyboards all have a similar way of being recycled. For example, first each of the parts are taken apart then
all of the inner parts get separated and placed into its own bin.[14]

National services [ edit ]

Recycling a computer is made easier by a few of the national services, such as Dell and Apple. Both companies will take back the computer of their make or any other make.
Otherwise a computer can be donated to Computer Aid International which is an organization that recycles and refurbishes old computers for hospitals, schools, universities,
etc.[15]

See also [ edit ]

Computer architecture Information

Electronic hardware technology portal

Glossary of computer hardware terms

History of computing hardware
List of computer hardware manufacturers
Open-source computing hardware

Sources [ edit ]

1. ^ "Parts of computer" . Microsoft. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. 9. ^ "How to recycle your old computer" . Digital Trends. 18 December 2016. Archived
Retrieved 5 December 2013. from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
2. ^ von Neumann, John (1945). "First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC" (PDF). 10. ^ Inc, Chris Keenan - Newtech Recycling. "Newtech Recycling Specializes in Computer
Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 August 2013. Disposal, Laptop Disposal, Desktop Disposal Mainframe Disposal and Server
3. ^ Markgraf, Joey D. (2007). "The Von Neumann bottleneck" . Archived from the Disposal" . www.newtechrecycling.com. Archived from the original on 29 March
original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011. 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
4. ^ "US B2B Channel sales reach nearly $62 Billion in 2013, According to The NPD 11. ^ "The Toxic Components of Computers and Monitors" . Archived from the original
Group" . NPD Group. 4 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
5. ^ "How long should a laptop battery last?" . Computer Hope. Archived from the 12. ^ "What's Going On with Electronic Waste? – Electronics TakeBack Coalition" .
original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
6. ^ Domingo, Joel. "SSD vs. HDD: What's the Difference?" . PCMag. Archived from 13. ^ "Wire Recycling" . All-Recycling-Facts.com. Archived from the original on 10 July
the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017. 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
7. ^ Edwards, Benj. "Evolution of the Solid-State Drive" . PCWorld. Archived from the 14. ^ "Computer equipment recycling – Essential Guide" . ComputerWeekly. Archived
original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017. from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
8. ^ Alba, Davey. "China's Tianhe-2 Caps Top 10 Supercomputers" . IEEE. Archived 15. ^ Schofield, Jack (19 February 2015). "How can I safely recycle my old PCs?" . The
from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013. Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 . Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved
26 April 2017.

External links [ edit ]

Media related to Computer hardware at Wikimedia Commons

Learning materials related to Computer hardware at Wikiversity

· · Basic computer components [show]

· · Major fields of computer science [show]

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Categories: Computer hardware Digital electronics

This page was last edited on 5 September 2018, at 10:54 (UTC).

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