Hardware

Hardware components are physical parts of a computer system that work together to enable its functioning.
Here are some essential hardware components:

Central Processing Unit (CPU): The CPU is the "brain" of the computer, responsible for executing instructions and performing calculations.
Motherboard: The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects and allows communication between various hardware components.
Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is a type of memory that temporarily stores data and instructions that the CPU needs to access quickly.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and Solid State Drive (SSD): These are storage devices that store the operating system, software, and user data.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): The GPU is dedicated to rendering and displaying images, making it crucial for gaming and graphics-intensive applications.
Power Supply Unit (PSU): The PSU supplies electrical power to all components of the computer.
Input and Output Devices: These include devices like keyboards, mice, monitors, printers, and speakers that allow users to input data and receive output from the computer.
Expansion Cards: These are optional components that can be added to enhance the computer's capabilities, such as graphics cards, sound cards, or network cards.
Cooling System: Computers often have fans or other cooling mechanisms to prevent overheating of the components.

Up Next

Once you have a grasp of hardware, we move on to the next step, which focuses on operating systems. Here we explore how hardware and software intersect, and how the operating system manages resources, provides a user interface, and enables applications to run smoothly.