Parts of a
Computer
Focused on the System Unit
Basic Parts of a Computer
Monitor Modem System Unit
Speaker
Printer
Mouse
Keyboard
Model I
The System Unit
CD/DVD
drive
Power
Hard
Supply
Drive
Chip Mother
Board
Power
Fan
Cord
Video Card
Ribbon
Modem Card
Cables
Sound Card Extra
Case
Model II
The System Unit
CD-ROM
Power Supply
Case
Power Cables
Case Hard Disk Drive
v
Fan
CPU and
Floppy Disk Drive
Fan
Input/ Data Cables
Output
RAM Mother Board
Daughter Board Battery
Back
The System Unit
Power
Keyboard/Mouse
Serial Port
Printer (parallel)
Video Port
USB
Phone/Modem/Ethernet
Audio
Slots for add-in
cards
The System Unit
Central Processing Unit
Interprets and
carries out
basic
instructions
that operate a
computer.
The System Unit
Heat Sink
Components
with fins that
cools
processor
The System Unit
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Memory chips that can
be read from and
written to by processor.
Also called main
memory or primary
storage, most RAM is
volatile, information
inside it is lost when
computer’s power is
turned off.
e.g.
EDO RAM, RD RAM,
DVD RAM disc
The System Unit
Read-Only Memory (ROM)
Memory chips that store
permanent data and
instructions. Non-
volatile memory,
information in ROM is
not lost when
computer’s power is
turned off.
e.g.
CDROM, DVDROM
The System Unit
Basic Input Output System (BIOS)
The first
program to run
when you turn
on your
computer. It is
stored in ROM
chip on the
mother board.
The System Unit
Complementary Metal
Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)
Stores date,
time and
computer
start-up
information.
Maintain by a
small battery
after you turn
the computer
off.
The System Unit
Adapter Card
Enhances
system unit or
provides
connections to
external devices
called
peripherals ;
also called
expansion card.
The System Unit
Expansion Slot
An opening or
socket on the
motherboard
that can hold
adapter card.
The System Unit
Port
Connects
external devices
to the system
unit.
The System Unit
Northbridge Chipset
It is the main
chipset of the
motherboard
wherein it
manages and
controls the
video,
processor and
RAM of the
computer
The System Unit
Southbridge Chipset
It is one of the
chipset of the
motherboard
wherein it
manages and
controls the
IDE, USB, PC
slots and other
peripherals of
the computer.
