Which part of a computer system describes the hardware?

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Introduction to Types of Computer Hardware
Different Types Of Computer Hardware
Advantages of computer hardware
Recommended Articles
References[edit | edit source]

Introduction to Types of Computer Hardware

For the working of the Types of Computer Hardware, it needs both hardware and software components. For every computer system, there can be several hardware components attached to the system as per the requirements. The computer hardware contains mechanical elements and electronic elements of the computer. The hardware of the computer system includes monitor, CPU, keyboard, mouse, printer, sound system, RAM, hard disk and many more. Hardware is used for taking input data from the user, store the data and display the output and execute the commands given by an individual.

Different Types Of Computer Hardware

Given below are the types of computer hardware:

1. RAM

RAM (Random Access Memory) is a type of computer hardware that is used to store the information and then process that information. The processing speed of RAM is much faster than a hard disk but Ram is a volatile device which means when a computer system is shut down all the information stored is wiped out from RAM whereas hard disk is non-volatile which means it stores the data permanently in it. The data can be easily stored in RAM and can be easily fetched from RAM. The fetch process of data is very fast in Ram compare to hard disk. There are two types of RAM SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Dynamic random access memory). The use of SRAM is in a cache memory of CPU. And the DRAM is mostly used in modern computers.

2. Hard disk

The hard disk is another type of computer hardware that is used to store the data in it. The hard disk can be preinstalled in CPU or can be used as an external device. The hard disk is the non-volatile component which means the data is stored permanently in hard disk and it does not wipe out when the system is shut down. The hard disk contains electromagnet surface which is used to store huge chunks of data and can be accessed easily. The hard disk has the capacity to store trillions of bytes of data in its storage. In the internal of hard disk, it has a collection of stacked disks which have electromagnetic surface used to store data in it. Every hard disk has a certain processing speed which varies from 4200-15000 rpm. The higher the rpm more is the processing speed of a hard disk. The high processing speed is used in supercomputers.

3. Monitor

For the computer hardware, the hardware is another device that is used to display the output, videos and other graphics as it is directly connected to the CPU. The video displayed by the monitor uses the video card. The monitor can be compared to the television set but the difference is the resolution and graphics displayed by the monitor are of much high quality compare to the television set. The desktop is connected via a cable and gets fitted in a computer video card which is installed in the motherboard of the computer system. For laptops, tablets the monitor is pre-built in the system and there is no separate hardware installed in these devices. There are two types of computer monitors which are CRT and LCD. The CRT was used as an old model of computers. The LCD is used in a modern computer as they are thinner and lighter and easy to use compared to CRT monitors.

4. CPU

CPU (Central processing unit) is the core hardware part of the computer system which is used to interpret and execute most of the commands using other computer parts i.e. software and hardware. The CPU is a core part of any PC, laptops, tablets, and notebooks. The CPU is also called the brain of the computer as every operation is executed in the CPU only. The CPU is made of computer chip which contains billions of small transistors installed on it. All the calculations are performed inside these transistors. The other hardware components which are monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, sound system are connected o CPU.

5. Mouse

It is a hand operator input device that is used to point something on the screen. The mouse can be wired or wireless. If the mouse is wired it is connected to the CPU directly. The mouse can uses the laser o ball to scroll up or down on the screen. Any movement done from the mouse sends instructions directly to the computer to move the cursor on the screen.

6. Keyboard

The keyboard is another type of computer hardware that is used to give input text, commands to the computer. The keyboard can be wired or wireless. The keyboard contains, alphabets, numbers, special characters and other buttons to give input to the computer. It is the input device that takes input to the user and processes the commands.

7. Printer

The printer is a type of hardware that is used to print something which is seen on the computer and then transfer that displayed information to paper. The printers can be differentiated based on size, processing speed, and other factors.

Advantages of computer hardware

Following are the advantages pointed below.

It will help to establish an effective mode of communication that can help the organizations to improve their business standards.
It will help to make the task automated and help to store the huge chunks of data that can be beneficial for the organization or individual.
The user can use the hardware to give the instruction to command and can obtain the output as per the given i9nstruction.
The processing speed of a hardware device is fast which will help to execute more operations at one time.
The hardware devices are multiprocessing which means the user can use more than one hardware device at the same time.
The hardware can be installed very easily in a computer system and also can be upgraded as per the user requirements.

Conclusion

There are many types of hardware devices present in the market. Choosing the right hardware device with the correct specification gives the best performance result. The hardware devices vary in size, specification and it should be chosen as per the compatibility of the computer system. Different type of hardware device has a different role. And a complete set of hardware devices makes an effective computer system.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to Types of Computer Hardware. Here we discuss the basic concept with 7 different types of computer hardware along with respective advantages. You can also go through our other suggested articles to learn more–

Every computer is composed of two basic components: hardware and software.

hardware includes the Physical features, which are every part that you can either see or touch, for example: monitor, case, keyboard, mouse, and printer.
The part which activates the physical components cs alled software. It includes the features that responsible for directing the work to the hardware. Software can be divided int othe programs and data.

von-Neumann architecture of the computer[edit | edit source]

Von-Neumann computer consists of two main components: memory and CPU. The rest of the computer can be viewed as input/output devices for the two main components. This concept has not yet been overcome and even the latest computers still come from von-Neumann architecture.

von- Neumann architecture

Application Software[edit | edit source]

An application software is a computer program designed to perform a group of coordinated functions, tasks, or activities. Examples of an application include a word processor, a spreadsheet, an accounting application, a web browser, a media player or a console game[1]. Applications may be connected with the computer and its system software or may be published separately, and may be coded as proprietary or open-source.

Operating System[edit | edit source]

Operating system is defined as a system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. All cpplication softwareomputer programs require an operating system to function. Operating system controls computer's hardware, run the computer's programs and organizes files.

CPU[edit | edit source]

Central processing unit. Unit that bring the instruction from memory to be executed and decodes.

Storing device[edit | edit source]

Any hardware that can hold information, temporarily or permanently. We distinguish two types of storage: a primary storage device (RAM), and a secondary storage device (hard drive). Secondary storage can be removable, internal, or external storage.

Examples of permanent computer storage:

1. Magnetic storage devices: hard drive, floppy diskette etc.

2. Optical: blu-ray disc, CD-rom disc etc.

3. Flash memory devices: memory card, memory stick, SSD

RAM[edit | edit source]

It stands for random access memory, it keeps the data and general purpose program that the compter is executing at the moment. RAM is not permanent, its contain can be changed and it is erased when the computer is off.

Motherboard[edit | edit source]

It is the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components. It has a socket for the CPU, RAM and expansion part (sound cards, graphic cards ETC) and also connects together the CPU, memory, hard drives, optical drives, video card and more.

Bits and bytes[edit | edit source]

Bit is the smallest storage unit in the computer. A bit can store just 0 or 1, which is called binary, and therefore can be stored by physical devices or systems that has two separate states. For example 2 positions, or states of an electrical switch, the two states being ‘on‘ and ‘off‘. A bit can also be described as true/ false, no/ yes etc. Notice that a bit has only two coding options, or 2 values. One bit is too small to be used, and thus computers use a larger storage unit called bytes.

Bytes- are made of bits. 8 bits are used to create 1 byte. Notice that a Byte has 28 coding options, 256 values. RAM, hard drives and flash drives, are all types of storages measured by Bytes.

Other storage units:

1 KB (kilobytes)= 1024 Bytes
1 MB (megabytes)= 1024 KB
1 GB (gigabyte)= 1024 MB
1 TB (terabyte)= 1024 GB
1 PB (petabyte)= 1024 TB

Data[edit | edit source]

is any set of characters that has been gathered and translated for some purpose, usually analysis. It can be any character, including text and numbers, pictures, sound, or video. If data is not put into context, it doesn't do anything to a human or computer. Within a computer's storage, data is a collection of numbers represented as bytes that are in turn composed of bits.

Information[edit | edit source]

a meaning change data into information. For instance letter A, is only a data for an illiterate person but an information for someone who can read.

Knowledge[edit | edit source]

is a familiarity, awareness or understanding of someone or something, such as facts, information, descriptions or skills, which is acquired through experience or education by perceiving, discovering, or learning. Knowledge can refer to a theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Algorithm[edit | edit source]

is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based on conducting a sequence of specified actions. A computer program can be viewed as an elaborate algorithm. In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm usually means a small procedure that solves a recurrent problem.