Hardware is physical components of computer system which are visible and touchable. Desktop computerisa computer that sits on desktops and that contains a processor, RAM, system bus, motherboard, operating system, storage devices and input and output devices.
The common components as do most types of computer:
System unit components
The system unit is the core of a computer system. Usually it's a rectangular box placed on or underneath your desk. Inside this box are many electronic components that process information. The most important of these components is the central processing unit (CPU), or microprocessor, which acts as the "brain" of the computer. Another component is random access memory (RAM), which temporarily stores information that the CPU uses while the computer is on. The information stored in RAM is erased when the computer is turned off. Almost every other part of the computer connects to the system unit using cables. The cables plug into specific ports (openings), typically on the back of the system unit. Hardware that is not part of the system unit is sometimes called a peripheral device or device. The common components of CPU are as follows
The processor or central processing unit is the key component and controls the rest of the computer and executes programs.
Cache : Cache is a small amount of very high speed memory built into the processor for doing immediate calculations.
RAM (Random Access Memory) RAM is a memory that is being used by the computer to store the information temporarily. For example when some work is performed on some applications that work is temporarily stored in the RAM. More RAM in the computer more faster computer works
System bus: It connects all the necessary peripherals to the processor . there are other buses that connect to the system bus like SCSI for hard drives.
The mother board: the processor, cache, RAM and system bus all reside on a main printed circuit board called the mother board.
Hard Disk Drives – Disk drive is the mechanism to run the disks. All disks need a drive to get the information, read it and put it back to the disks. Hard disk is used to store the data permanently. Often the terms disk and drive used to describe the same thing but it should be clear that a disk is a storage device.
Operating system: It manages the loading and unloading of applications and files and the communication with other peripheral devices like printers.
Expansion bus: most desktops should include ‘Slots’ into which other non- standard devices can be installed.
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