Parts to Build My Own Computer
All that is required for a computer to function is the presence of the motherboard, video card and memory. Of course, most computers come with so much more. The multitude of parts associated with computers can overwhelm the novice wishing to build his own personal computer; however, understanding the basic components that go into a computer system helps streamline the process. Those who build their own computer become much more proficient at troubleshooting computer malfunctions.
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Case And Power Supply
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The case houses all the components of the computer and is sold with a power supply. The motherboard form factor will dictate the size and type of case needed. When selecting a case, decide how many drive bays are necessary, and whether a tower or desktop model would suffice. Power supplies that come with the case suit normal day-to-day use of the computer. For more intensive applications such as games, invest in a more stable, Energy Star-compliant power supply, such as those manufactured by Antec.
Motherboard
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The motherboard, which is the largest circuit board within the computer, serves as the backbone and core of the entire system. It controls all devices and the processor. Motherboards have connecting slots for video cards, sound cards, network cards, disk drives and the CPU. Motherboards are manufactured in a variety of form factors, the most common being ATX, ITX, NLX and WTX. The form factor determines what types of processors, device cards and drives will fit on the board.
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CPU
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The central processing unit serves as the engine and brain of the computer. The CPU accomplishes most of the data processing. Intel and AMD manufacture the majority of CPUs used in computers today. Centrino, Pentium Core 2 Duo and Pentium Core 2 Quad are examples of processors on the market.
RAM Or Memory
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RAM, better known as computer memory, acts as temporary storage for computing processes. It is the place that holds the instructions while the CPU processes them. Temporary storage disappears when the computer is turned off. RAM comes in a variety of types and sizes, depending on the type of motherboard used. DIMM, DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and RDRAM are examples of RAM types available on the market.
Device Cards And Peripherals
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Device cards consist of the peripherals, which can include the video card, sound cards, network cards and modem cards. These circuit boards plug into motherboard slots and provide the interface by which to connect input/output, or I/O devices. Some devices are directly built into the motherboard; others must be purchased separately. Gamers, for example, may opt to install more powerful graphics accelerators or sound devices that better support their applications. If users desire wireless networking, a separate adapter may be needed.
Hard Disk Drive
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Hard disk drives provide high capacity storage for the computer. This is where the operating system, applications and files are stored in a computer. Hard disk drives come in a variety of types, including serial-ATA, Firewall or parallel-ATA.
Removable Disk Drives
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Removable media drives include floppy disk drives, Zip drives and optical media. Optical media operate at various speeds. Samples of optical media include compact disc drives, DVD drives, combination CD/DVD rewritable drives and Blu-ray DVD drives. Most computers will require a DVD-RAM (read-only memory) drive.
Software
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To use a computer in day-to-day functions, the computer must come with an operating system and the appropriate software to perform these functions. Productivity software, such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, typify the applications most users will need. Device drivers, which must be installed correctly or peripherals to work, is software that tells the operating system how to use the device.
Input/Output Devices
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Mice, keyboards and SD cards are used to feed information into a computer. The monitor and removable media are examples of output devices. A mouse, keyboard and monitor are needed to operate the computer.
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