Abstract

We use computers to play games, write letters, watch movies, and many other tasks, but do we know what is inside the computer? Lets explore what is inside the compter and how it works.

Desktop Case
Desktop Case

Under the Covers

The inside of a desktop computer is an interesting place to explore.

How about we start with an explanation of the guts of a desktop computer.

So what is an intergrated circuit

As you have noticed, the motherboard contains a number of black boxes known as Integrated Circuits or ICs. These chips do most of the work in a computer and many other devices.

An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or “chip”) of semiconductor material, normally silicon. The integration of large numbers of tiny transistors into a small chip results in circuits that are orders of magnitude smaller, cheaper, and faster than those constructed of discrete electronic components. Integrated circuit.

IC
IC

If we want to go further discovering what an IC is we should explore Integrated Circuits.

Motherboard

Motherboard specifically refers to a PCB with expansion capability and as the name suggests, this board is often referred to as the “mother” of all components attached to it, which often include peripherals, interface cards, and daughtercards: sound cards, video cards, network cards, hard drives, or other forms of persistent storage; TV tuner cards, cards providing extra USB or FireWire slots and a variety of other custom components. Motherboard

As you can see from the examples we have that this is piece of fiberglass which has lines (traces) that connect the different components.

On the motherboard are both ICs and connectors. The connectors are present to allow you to connect other devices to the motherboard. Lets have a look at some of the devices that attach to the connectors.

Computer Processing Unit (CPU)

CPU
CPU

A central processing unit (CPU) is the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions. Central processing unit.

The CPU is the heart of the computer. This is the chip that executes the program to perform the work done by the computer. It controlls all the other functions performed by the computer.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

RAM
RAM

RAM (Random Access Memory) is the scratch pad of the computer. The CPU uses this space to store the code is executes and the data it needs. Ram only remembers when it has power applied to it.

Hard Disk

To Be Continued. This article is not complete yet


Written by John F. Moore

Last Revised: Wed Jan 3 20:19:18 EST 2018

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