Internal Computer Components

Function

Random Access Memory (RAM) is the short-term memory of a computer that allows for quick access to information. The more RAM a computer has, the better its performance will be.

Location

Located on the motherboard in the computer case.

Key Performance Indicators

Memory capacity: Gigabytes (GB) or megabytes (MB)

Memory speed: Gigahertz (GHz) or megahertz (MHz)

RAM for Different Devices

Desktop

Can have a lot of RAM, upgradable, better performance overall

Laptop

Smaller and more limited RAM, less expandable

Tablets/Phones

Less RAM than desktops and laptops (e.g. 2 GB), non-expandable

Function

The main circuit board that holds and connects essential components of the computer, including the memory, CPU, and storage.

Location

Motherboard is located inside the computer case.

Key Performance Indicators

Clock speed (GHz)

Number of RAM ports and USB slots

Motherboard for Different Devices

Desktop

More expansion slots, relatively big

Laptop

Less expansion options, integrated into the device, smaller than desktop motherboard

Tablets/Phones

Small and compact to fit the device, limited compared to other motherboards

Function

Draws power from wall outlets, converts the power to suit the computer, and distributes it throughout the device.

Location

Power supply unit is located within the computer case.

Key Performance Indicators

The amount of electricity a computer uses is measured in watts (400 watts = 400 joules/second).

Power Supply for Different Devices

Desktop

A power supply unit converts power from a wall outlet and distributes it to the components of the desktop.

Laptop

Laptops have AC adapters that draw power from wall outlets and supply it to the internal battery.

Tablets/Phones

Tablets and phones generally use internal batteries and can be charged using AC adapters or USB cables connected to a wall outlet.

Function

The microprocessor acts as the brain of the computer by carrying out instructions.

Location

It's located inside the computer case on the motherboard.

Key Performance Indicators

Megahertz and gigahertz are a measure of how fast CPUs work.

Megahertz (MHz): Millions of instructions/second

Gigahertz (GHz): Billions of instructions/second

Example

The performance of Intel Core processors is determined by the amount of the 'cores' and 'hyperthreads' the processors have.

Intel Core i5 processors perform at a lower level than Core i9 processors, but they're cheaper.

Intel Core i9 processors are faster and more powerful than Core i5 processors, but they are more expensive.

The CPU produces heat as it works, so fans and heat sinks are usually installed in modern computer systems help cool it down.

Function

Secondary storage serves as an addition to the computer's CPU by acting as a long-term storage for data and programs.

Location

Secondary storage is located in the computer case.

Key Performance Indicators

Bytes are the measure used to determine secondary storage sizes.

1 gigabyte = 1 billion bytes

1 terabyte = 1 trillion bytes

Examples

HDDs use spinning discs to store data.

HDDs hold the advantage over SSDs in cost and capacity.

Low-cost, high-capacity storage: Mainly for storing large amounts of data.

SSDs use memory chips to store data.

SSDs hold the advantage over HDDs in speed, durability, power consumption, noise, and size.

High-performance storage solution: Popular with modern computers.

Function

Expansion cards expand a computer's capabilities and performance.

Location

Expansion cards are installed in expansion slots on the motherboard.

Examples

Enhances a computer's graphics performance: images, video, gaming

Connected to the motherboard through a PCle slot.

Enhances frame rate and resolution.

Frames Per Second (FPS)

Pixels (e.g. 1080p or 4K)

More audio capabilities: higher quality sound, audio production, surround sound

Connected to the motherboard through a PCle slot.

Enhances bit depth, sampling rate, and signal-to-noise ratio.

Bit depth: audio resolution (e.g. 32-bit)

Sampling rate: audio quality (kilohertz/kHz)

Signal-to-noise ratio: sound compared to background noise (decibels/dB)

Adds network connectivity to a computer: Ethernet, Wi-Fi

Connected to the motherboard through a PCle slot.

The data transfer rate of a network card is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Adds wireless Bluetooth technology to a computer: enables communication with Bluetooth devices

Connected to the motherboard through a USB port.

Key performance indicators include data transfer rate and Bluetooth range.

Data transfer rates: megabytes per second (MBps)

Bluetooth range is measured in feet or metres