CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

A central processing unit (CPU), also called a central

processor or main processor, is the electronic circuitry within
a computer that executes instructions that make up a
computer program. The CPU performs basic arithmetic, logic,
controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations specified by
the instructions. The computer industry used the term
"central processing unit" as early as 1955.

Traditionally, the term "CPU" refers to a processor, more

specifically to its processing unit and control unit (CU),
distinguishing these core elements of a computer from
external components such as main memory and I/O circuitry.

The form, design, and implementation of CPUs have changed

over the course of their history, but their fundamental
operation remains almost unchanged. Principal components
of a CPU include the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) that performs
arithmetic and logic operations, processor registers that
supply operands to the ALU and store the results of ALU
operations, and a control unit that orchestrates the fetching
(from memory) and execution of instructions by directing the
coordinated operations of the ALU, registers and other
components.

Most modern CPUs are microprocessors, where the CPU is

contained on a single metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)
integrated circuit (IC) chip. An IC that contains a CPU may also
contain memory, peripheral interfaces, and other
components of a computer; such integrated devices are
variously called microcontrollers or systems on a chip (SoC).
Some computers employ a multi-core processor, which is a
single chip containing two or more CPUs called "cores"; in
that context, one can speak of such single chips as "sockets"
 POWER SUPPLY UNIT
A power supply unit (or PSU) converts mains
AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for the
internal components of a computer. Modern
personal computers universally use switched-
mode power supplies. Some power supplies
have a manual switch for selecting input
voltage, while others automatically adapt to
the mains voltage.

Most modern desktop personal computer

power supplies conform to the ATX
specification, which includes form factor and
voltage tolerances. While an ATX power
supply is connected to the mains supply, it
always provides a 5 Volt standby (5VSB)
voltage so that the standby functions on the
computer and certain peripherals are
powered. ATX power supplies are turned on
and off by a signal from the motherboard.
They also provide a signal to the motherboard
to indicate when the DC voltages are in spec,
so that the computer is able to safely power
up and boot. The most recent ATX PSU
standard is version 2.31 as of mid-2008.
 kEYBOARD

A computer keyboard is a typewriter-style device which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys to act as
mechanical levers or electronic switches. Following the decline of punch cards and paper tape, interaction
via teleprinter-style keyboards became the main input method for computers.

Keyboard keys (buttons) typically have characters engraved or printed on them, and each press of a key
typically corresponds to a single written symbol. However, producing some symbols may require pressing
and holding several keys simultaneously or in sequence.[3] While most keyboard keys produce letters,
numbers or signs (characters), other keys or simultaneous key presses can produce actions or execute
computer commands.

In normal usage, the keyboard is used as a text entry interface for typing text and numbers into a word
processor, text editor or any other program. In a modern computer, the interpretation of key presses is
generally left to the software. A computer keyboard distinguishes each physical key from every other key
and reports all key presses to the controlling software. Keyboards are also used for computer gaming —
either regular keyboards or keyboards with special gaming features, which can expedite frequently used
keystroke combinations.

A keyboard is also used to give commands to the operating system of a computer, such as Windows'
Control-Alt-Delete combination. Although on Pre-Windows 95 Microsoft operating systems this forced a
re-boot, now it brings up a system security options screen.

A command-line interface is a type of user interface navigated entirely using a keyboard, or some other
similar device that does the job of one.
 Computer Mouse
A computer mouse (plural mice or mouses)
is a hand-held pointing device that detects
two-dimensional motion relative to a
surface. This motion is typically translated
into the motion of a pointer on a display,
which allows a smooth control of the
graphical user interface of a computer.

The first public demonstration of a mouse

controlling a computer system was in 1968.
Mice originally used a ball rolling on a
surface to detect motion, but modern mice
often have optical sensors that have no
moving parts. Originally wired to a
computer, many modern mice are cordless,
relying on short-range radio
communication with the connected system.

In addition to moving a cursor, computer

mice have one or more buttons to allow
operations such as selection of a menu item
on a display. Mice often also feature other
elements, such as touch surfaces and scroll
wheels, which enable additional control
and dimensional input.
 Computer Monitor

A computer monitor is an output device that displays information in pictorial form. A

monitor usually comprises the display device, circuitry, casing, and power supply. The
display device in modern monitors is typically a thin film transistor liquid crystal display
(TFT-LCD) with LED backlighting having replaced cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)
backlighting. Older monitors used a cathode ray tube (CRT). Monitors are connected to the
computer via VGA, Digital Visual Interface (DVI), HDMI, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, low-
voltage differential signaling (LVDS) or other proprietary connectors and signals.

Originally, computer monitors were used for data processing while television sets were used
for entertainment. From the 1980s onwards, computers (and their monitors) have been
used for both data processing and entertainment, while televisions have implemented some
computer functionality. The common aspect ratio of televisions, and computer monitors,
has changed from 4:3 to 16:10, to 16:9.

Modern computer monitors are easily interchangeable with conventional television sets.
However, as computer monitors do not necessarily include integrated speakers, it may not
be possible to use a computer monitor without external components
 Computer Motherboard

A motherboard (sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, main circuit board,

system board, baseboard, planar board or logic board,[1] or colloquially, a mobo) is the
main printed circuit board (PCB) found in general purpose computers and other
expandable systems. It holds, and allows, communication between many of the crucial
electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory,
and provides connectors for other peripherals[2]. Unlike a backplane, a motherboard
usually contains significant sub-systems such as the central processor, the chipset's
input/output and memory controllers, interface connectors, and other components
integrated for general purpose use and applications.

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.

Similarly, the term mainboard is applied to devices with a single board and no additional
expansions or capability, such as controlling boards in laser printers, televisions, washing
machines, mobile phones and other embedded systems with limited expansion abilities.
 Random Access Memory
A random-access memory device allows data items to be read or
written in almost the same amount of time irrespective of the
physical location of data inside the memory. In contrast, with
other direct-access data storage media such as hard disks, CD-
RWs, DVD-RWs and the older magnetic tapes and drum
memory, the time required to read and write data items varies
significantly depending on their physical locations on the
recording medium, due to mechanical limitations such as media
rotation speeds and arm movement.

RAM contains multiplexing and demultiplexing circuitry, to

connect the data lines to the addressed storage for reading or
writing the entry. Usually more than one bit of storage is
accessed by the same address, and RAM devices often have
multiple data lines and are said to be "8-bit" or "16-bit", etc.
devices.

In today's technology, random-access memory takes the form of

integrated circuit (IC) chips with MOS (metal-oxide-
semiconductor) memory cells. RAM is normally associated with
volatile types of memory (such as dynamic random-access
memory (DRAM) modules), where stored information is lost if
power is removed, although non-volatile RAM has also been
developed.[3] Other types of non-volatile memories exist that
allow random access for read operations, but either do not allow
write operations or have other kinds of limitations on them.
These include most types of ROM and a type of flash memory
called NOR-Flash.

The two main types of volatile random-access semiconductor

memory are static random-access memory (SRAM) and dynamic
random-access memory (DRAM). Commercial uses of
semiconductor RAM date back to 1965, when IBM introduced
the SP95 SRAM chip for their System/360 Model 95 computer,
and Toshiba used DRAM memory cells for its Toscal BC-1411
electronic calculator, both based on bipolar transistors.
Commercial MOS memory, based on MOS transistors, was
developed in the late 1960s, and has since been the basis for all
commercial semiconductor memory. The first commercial
DRAM IC chip, the Intel 1103, was introduced in October 1970.
Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM) later
debuted with the Samsung KM48SL2000 chip in 1992
 Processor

A processor, or "microprocessor," is a small chip that resides in computers and other electronic devices. Its
basic job is to receive input and provide the appropriate output. While this may seem like a simple task,
modern processors can handle trillions of calculations per second.

The central processor of a computer is also known as the CPU, or "central processing unit." This processor
handles all the basic system instructions, such as processing mouse and keyboard input and running
applications. Most desktop computers contain a CPU developed by either Intel or AMD, both of which use
the x86 processor architecture. Mobile devices, such as laptops and tablets may use Intel and AMD CPUs,
but can also use specific mobile processors developed by companies like ARM or Apple.

Modern CPUs often include multiple processing cores, which work together to process instructions. While
these "cores" are contained in one physical unit, they are actually individual processors. In fact, if you view
your computer's performance with a system monitoring utility like Windows Task Manager (Windows) or
Activity Monitor (Mac OS X), you will see separate graphs for each processor. Processors that include two
cores are called dual-core processors, while those with four cores are called quad-core processors. Some
high-end workstations contain multiple CPUs with multiple cores, allowing a single machine to have eight,
twelve, or even more processing cores.

Besides the central processing unit, most desktop and laptop computers also include a GPU. This processor
is specifically designed for rendering graphics that are output on a monitor. Desktop computers often have a
video card that contains the GPU, while mobile devices usually contain a graphics chip that is integrated into
the motherboard. By using separate processors for system and graphics processing, computers are able to
handle graphic-intensive applications more efficiently.
 System Fan
Alternatively referred to as
a system fan, a case fan is
located inside a computer,
attached to the front or back of its
case. Case fans help bring cool air
into and blow hot air out of the
case. They are available in a wide
variety of sizes, but 80mm, 92mm,
and 120mm (12cm) with a width of
25mm are the most common.
Below is an example of how a
computer case fan may look.