COMPUTER PARTS

Parts of a Computer

1.    Monitor

A monitor displays information in visual form, using text and graphics. The portion of the monitor that displays the information is called the screen.

There are two basic types of monitors:

CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors         LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors.

LCD monitors are also called TFT and have the advantage of being much thinner and lighter. CRT monitors, are cheaper and more affordable.

2.    Modem/Router

Used to connect your computer to the Internet. A modem is a device that sends and receives computer information over a telephone line or high-speed cable. Modems are sometimes built into the system unit, but higher-speed modems are usually come as separate components.

3.    System Unit

Case - The case houses the microchips and circuitry that run the computer. Desktop models usually sit under the monitor and tower models beside. They come in many sizes, including desktop, mini, midi, and full tower. There is usually room inside to expand or add components at a later time. By removing the cover off the case you may find plate covered, empty slots that allow you to add cards. There are various types of slots including IDE, ASI, USB, PCI and Firewire slots.

Depending on the type notebook computers may have room to expand . Most Notebooks also have connections or ports that allows expansion or connection to exterior, peripheral devices such as monitor, portable hard-drives or other devices.

This is the core of a computer system. It usually it's as an upright 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 your computer.

Another component is random access memory (RAM) also called memory, 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.  You can increase your computer memory by installing more memory modules on the system board.

4.    Mouse

A mouse is a small device used to point to and select items on your computer screen. It's small, oblong, and connected to the system unit by a long wire that resembles a tail.  Mice in different types optical & non-optical, USB & PS2, Scroll & serial. Some newer mice are wireless. 

5.    Speakers

Speakers are used to play sound. They may be built into the system unit or connected with cables. Speakers allow you to listen to music and hear sound effects from your computer.

6.    Printer

Printers - The printer takes the information on your screen and transfers it to paper or a hard copy. There are many different types of printers with various levels of quality. The three basic types of printer are; dot matrix, inkjet, and laser.

• Dot matrix printers work like a typewriter transferring ink from a ribbon to paper with a series or 'matrix' of tiny pins.
• Ink jet printers work like dot matrix printers but fires a stream of ink from a cartridge directly onto the paper.
• Laser printers use the same technology as a photocopier using heat to transfer toner onto paper.
• Thermal Printer (or direct thermal printing) produces a printed image by selectively heating coated thermochromic paper, or thermal paper as it is commonly known, when the paper passes over the thermal print head.

7.    Keyboard

A keyboard is used mainly for typing text into your computer. Like the keyboard on a typewriter, it has keys for letters and numbers, but it also has special keys:

• The function keys, found on the top row, perform different functions depending on where they are used.
• The numeric keypad, located on the right side of most keyboards, allows you to enter numbers quickly.
• The navigation keys, such as the arrow keys, allow you to move your position within a document or webpage.

Front View of the Computer (Varies from model to model)

1	License (located on top of the chassis towards the rear)	Microsoft® Windows® License
2	CD/DVD drive	Use the CD/DVD drive for playing a CD/DVD.
3	CD/DVD drive panel	This panel covers the CD/DVD drive.
4	CD/DVD eject button	Press to eject a disk from the CD or DVD drive.
5	optional CD/DVD drive bay	Can contain an optional CD/DVD drive.
6	optional CD/DVD eject button	Press to eject a disk from the optional CD or DVD drive.
7	FlexBay drive	Can contain an optional floppy drive or optional Media Card Reader.
8	USB 2.0 connectors	Use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras, or for bootable USB devices.  It is recommended that you use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards.
9	IEEE 1394 connector (optional)	Attach high-speed serial multimedia devices, such as digital video cameras.
10	headphone connector	Use the headphone connector to attach headphones and most kinds of speakers.
11	microphone connector	Use the microphone connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.
12	front panel door grip	Slide up the front panel door grip to cover the FlexBay drive, four Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, one headphone connector, and one microphone connector.
13	power button, power light	Press the power button to turn on the computer. The light in the center of this button indicates power state.   NOTICE: To avoid losing data, do not use the power button to turn off the computer. Instead, perform an operating system shutdown.
14	drive activity light	The drive activity light is on when the computer reads data from or writes data to the hard drive. The light might also be on when a device such as a CD player is operating.

Back View of the Computer

1	power connector	Insert the power cable.
2	voltage selector switch	For selecting voltage rating.
3	power supply LED	Indicates power availability for power supply.
4	back panel connectors	Plug USB, audio, and other devices into the appropriate connector.
5	card slots	Access connectors for any installed PCI and PCI Express cards.
6	padlock rings	Padlock rings are for attaching a commercially available theft-deterrent device. The padlock rings allow you to secure the computer cover to the chassis with a padlock to prevent unauthorized access to the inside of the computer. To use the padlock rings, insert a commercially available padlock through the rings, and then lock the padlock.
7	security cable slot	Security cable slot lets you attach a commercially available antitheft device to the computer. For more information, see the instructions included with the device.

Back Panel Connectors

1	network activity light	Flashes a yellow light when the computer is transmitting or receiving network data. A high volume of network traffic may make this light appear to be in a steady "on" state.
2	network adapter connector	To attach your computer to a network or broadband device, connect one end of a network cable to either a network port or your network or broadband device. Connect the other end of the network cable to the network adapter connector on the back panel of your computer. A click indicates that the network cable has been securely attached. NOTE: Do not plug a telephone cable into the network connector. On computers with a network connector card, use the connector on the card.
3	link integrity light	Green — A good connection exists between a 10/100-Mbps network and the computer. Off — The computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network.
4	center/subwoofer connector	Use the orange connector to attach a speaker to a Low Frequency Effects (LFE) audio channel. LFE audio channel is found in digital surround sound audio schemes that carries only low frequency information of 80 Hz and below. The LFE channel drives a subwoofer to provide extremely low bass extension. Systems not using subwoofers can shunt the LFE information to the main speakers in the surround sound set-up.
5	line-in connector	Use the blue line-in connector to attach a record/playback device such as a cassette player, CD player, or VCR. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
6	front L/R line-out connector	Use the green line-out connector (available on computers with integrated sound) to attach headphones and most speakers with integrated amplifiers. On computers with a sound card, use the connector on the card.
7	Microphone	Use the pink connector to attach a personal computer microphone for voice or musical input into a sound or telephony program. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.
8	side L/R surround connector	Use the gray connector to provide enhanced surround audio for computers with 7.1 speakers. On computers with a sound card, the microphone connector is on the card.
9	rear L/R surround connector	Use the black surround connector to attach multichannel-capable speakers.
10	USB 2.0 connectors (4)	Use the back USB connectors for devices that typically remain connected, such as printers and keyboards. It is recommended that you use the front USB connectors for devices that you connect occasionally, such as joysticks or cameras.
11	VGA video connector	Connect the monitor's VGA cable to the VGA connector on the computer. On computers with a video card, use the connector on the card.