Practical 1, Exercise 2.

Components of a computer
Read the following questions carefully and complete the table. For each component, find the most suitable or most recent model.

No. Name Function Size Connection Characteristics Photo/web page

1 Motherboard The motherboard is the main 305 x CPU, RAM, Motherboards

circuit board that connects all 244 mm ROM GPU, are always
the hardware Storage characterized by
components and houses the devices, and their chipset,
CPU, RAM slots, and other other slots for type of processor
connectors. various socket, and their
connections form factor, slots,
connectors,
power supply
and refrigeration. https://www.mouser.es/new/advantech/

2 Microprocessor It is the Central Processing 35 x 40 Motherboard, Is characterized

Unit. It acts as the control mm RAM, Cache by its working
center of the computer. Its memory, frequency,
main function is to run the Cooling measured in
computer’s operating system system, hertz, which
and apps. The CPU interprets, Power Supply determines its
processes and executes Unit (PSU), operating speed.
instructions, that usually come Data buses
from the and
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hardware and software Expansion
mputer-microprocessors-12429319212.
programs running on the slots
html
device.
3 Power supply Supplies electrical power to Standard Motherboard, It’s characterized
computer components. ATX CPU, by its Wattage
PSU is Graphics rating,
150mm x Card, Storage modularity,
86mm x Drives (HDDs connectors and
140mm and SSDs), size.
Peripheral
devices and
other
expansion
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cards.
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p-9020087-eu

4 Hard disk drive The Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 146 mm The HDD is HDDs are
primarily functions as a x 101.6 connected to characterized by
high-capacity, non-volatile data mm x the following their capacity
storage solution. It is used for 25.4 mm computer (storage size),
long-term data storage, components: rotational speed
housing the operating system Motherboard, (RPM), form
and other digital content. The PSU, data factor (physical
HDD enables data retrieval, buses and size), cache
maintains file organization, cooling (temporary
serves as secondary storage, system memory), seek
and is well-suited for time (access https://www.crucial.es/articles/about-ssd
multimedia content. It offers speed), and data /ssd-vs-hdd
compatibility with various transfer rate
devices, provides data security (read/write
options, and remains a speed).
cost-effective storage solution.
5 RAM memory RAM (Random Access 134 mm RAM RAM is
Memory) functions as the (length) (Random characterized by
computer's high-speed x 31 mm Access its capacity, type,
workspace, providing fast, (height) Memory) is speed, latency,
temporary storage for data and connected to voltage, and form
active programs. It enables the following factor.
quick access and manipulation components:
of information by the CPU, Motherboard,
boosting overall system CPU, PSU
performance and facilitating and Data https://qloudea.com/8gb-memoria-ram-t
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6 Sound card A sound card processes audio 120 mm Sound cards A sound card is
data in computers, converting x 70 mm are connected characterized by
digital signals for playback and to the audio quality,
digitizing incoming audio. It following audio channels,
enhances sound quality, components: sample rate, bit
supports multiple channels, Motherboard, depth,
and offers connectivity options, speakers or connectivity,
making it crucial for gaming, headphones, driver support,
music production, and microphone, hardware
multimedia experiences. and external acceleration, and
audio devices. latency. https://es.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/
sound-blaster-audigy-fx
7 Graphics card A graphics card, also known as 266.7 Common The
a GPU (Graphics Processing mm connections characteristics of
Unit), is a computer (length) include: a graphics card
component responsible for x 111.15 motherboard, include VRAM
rendering graphics and images mm HDMI (Video RAM),
on a monitor or display. It (height) connectors for Clock Speed,
accelerates the rendering of x 38.1 monitor CUDA Cores
2D and 3D graphics, mm output, and (NVIDIA) or
enhancing the visual (width) connectors for Stream
experience in video games, receiving Processors
multimedia content, and other power from (AMD), Cooling
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graphic-intensive applications. the PSU. System, and
al-Graphic-Mini-DisplayPort-Ultra-Quiet/
Ports.
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8 PCI slot The PCI slot, or Peripheral 312 mm The PCI slot Characteristics of
Component Interconnect, is an (length) provides PCI slot include:
expansion slot found in x 106 internal Versatility,
desktop computers and mm connections compatibility,
motherboards. Its main (height) within the data transfer
purpose is to enable the motherboard, rates, expansion
installation of expansion cards CPU, RAM, and
like graphics cards, sound and other customization,
cards, network cards, and expansion peripheral
storage controllers, which cards. support, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_
enhance or extend the dedicated Component_Interconnect
computer's capabilities by purposes and
adding hardware features. system
integration.
9 SATA connector The SATA (Serial Advanced 22.15 It connects to The
Technology Attachment) mm the SATA data characteristics of
connector serves as an (width) x port on the the SATA
interface for connecting 15.25 motherboard, connector
various storage devices, such mm establishing a include high data
as HDDs, SSD, DVD-ROM, a (length). link with transfer rates,
DVD recorder, and more, to a internal hot swappability,
computer's motherboard or storage cable length
storage controller. It facilitates devices like variability, wide
the transfer of data between HDDs and compatibility,
the storage device and the SSDs. power efficiency, https://www.ebay.es/itm/171720426198
computer, providing a and data integrity
high-speed and reliable features.
connection for data storage
and retrieval.
10 Other external External connections in a It can RJ45: RJ45: provide
connectors computer serve as ports and vary motherboard wired internet
interfaces for various widely. and NIC. connectivity.
purposes. They facilitate For PS2 Ports: USB ports: offer
communication with external example, motherboard. versatile
devices and peripherals, RJ45 (These ports connectivity for a
enabling data transfer, input, and USB are becoming wide range of
output, and connectivity to ports are less common devices.
networks. These are ports for relatively in modern PS2 ports:
connecting to the network standardi computers) support
(RJ45) and external devices, zed, Audio Jacks: keyboards and
such as the keyboard (purple while Sound card. mice.
PS2), the mouse (green PS2), audio USB Ports: Audio jacks:
headphones (audio jacks), jacks Connected to enable audio
USB memory cards, etc. come in the input and output.
various motherboard.
sizes. They support
a wide range https://www.electronicshub.org/types-of-
of external computer-ports/
devices and
peripherals.