Just What Is Inside That Case?

When you get your new computer, you likely do not think about your computer’s hardware. You take the tower out of the box, connect it to the monitor and power source, and turn it on. You expect it to work and most of the time it does, but every once in a while your PC hardware goes awry. Then you are going to be wondering just what is inside that box that you bought. It is more than just an on/off switch for your computer. Before you start running a PC hardware test or buying PC hardware to try to fix your computer, you should learn a little more about what is contained in that box.

The CPU: The Brains of the Computer

The CPU works like the brain of the computer. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, and this is the part of the computer that is able to receive information, process it, and then act on any commands sent its way. Your PC has a CPU in a microprocessor chip.

The faster your CPU is, the more efficiently your entire computer will run. The most common CPU speed is 32-bit protected. However, computers are now being made with 64-bit CPUs, and these tend to run much more smoothly than their slower counterparts. Some computers have dual-core CPUs, which can help larger programs run better.

The CPU gets very hot, and if it is not properly cooled with your computer’s fans, you will be buying PC hardware sooner rather than later. A CPU that gets too hot will be ruined, so make sure that your computer’s fans are running.

RAM: The Computer’s Memory

If you are having trouble with your computer, yet your PC hardware test shows that nothing is wrong, the problem may be that you do not have enough RAM. RAM stands for Random-Access Memory, and this is the memory in your computer. RAM is part of the computer’s motherboard, and it is used to hold the data and programs you have on your computer temporarily until the CPU is finished processing them. If you do not have enough memory space, your computer will run sluggishly and have trouble with large programs, because there will be nowhere for the data to go while you are using it. When you turn off your computer, the information stored in the RAM disappears.

Most computers can have more RAM added to them. When you shop for online PC hardware, look for additional gigs of RAM if you feel that a lack of memory is causing your problems. Make sure there is a place in your computer where you can stick the RAM once you purchase it, however. Many motherboards have limited receptors for RAM.

Hard Drive: Your Computer’s Permanent Storage

While the RAM stores data temporarily, your computer’s hard drive is the permanent storage unit on your PC. Hard drives come in a variety of capacities, so you will want to make sure that yours is large enough to house your operating system and the games and programs you wish to have on your computer. You can upgrade your hard drive if you think the one that came with your computer is too small. This is a common reason to shop for online PC hardware.

You need to protect the information on your computer’s hard drive. Many people choose to purchase PC hardware security programs to help them do this. Installing a firewall is one way to take care of PC hardware security. This will protect you from hackers who would like to look at what you have stored on your hard drive.

Motherboard: Grand Central Station

The motherboard on your computer is like Grand Central Station. All of the hardware on your computer is going to be connected to the motherboard, and many pieces are actually located on it. The main function of the motherboard is to allow the CPU to communicate with the other pieces of hardware on the computer.

Video Cards: Allowing You to See

Your computer’s video card is the piece of hardware that allows your computer to display images and text on the computer screen. Most video cards have RAM built into them, allowing them to store some temporary information as it is being displayed on the screen. The better your video card is, the clearer and crisper your picture is going to be. Of course, the capabilities of the video card are limited by the monitor you have, so keep this in mind when buying PC hardware.

Troubleshooting PC Hardware

If you are having trouble with your computer, you need to find out where the problem is. If you know that you do not have any viruses or other bad files on the computer, then it is time to start taking a look at your hardware. Unless you know a lot about computers, do not try to do this on your own. Take your computer to a repair shop, and have them run a PC hardware test. They can usually see very quickly where the problem lies, and you can then choose how to proceed with fixing your computer.