This chapter discusses the components that make up a computer system unit. It describes the motherboard as the main circuit board that contains the processor, memory chips, and adapter cards. The processor, consisting of a control unit and arithmetic logic unit (ALU), interprets and carries out instructions through a machine cycle. Memory temporarily stores data and instructions in chips such as RAM and ROM. Various ports, buses, expansion slots allow components to interface and transfer data around the system unit. The amount of RAM needed depends on the intended applications but generally more is better for performance.
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