Glossary: PC Hardware

Do you know what’s really inside your computer? Every time you power it on, countless hardware components work seamlessly together to deliver the performance you rely on. To truly understand your device, explore our Glossary: PC Hardware—a guide designed to break down the essential components and their latest specifications.

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16-Bit, 32-Bit, and 64-Bit

Often referred to as a “bit number,” the terms 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit represent the amount of data a processor can handle. A 32-bit processor, once common in older computers (with 16-bit processors now largely obsolete), can access 2
32
2^{32} memory addresses. Meanwhile, a 64-bit processor, also known as an x64-based processor, can manage 2
64
2^{64} addresses, offering significantly more capacity. To check the bit number on a Windows 10 device, navigate to “Device specifications” in the “About Your PC” settings. For a deeper understanding of these concepts, explore our Glossary: PC Hardware.

All-in-One Computer

All-in-one PCs (AIO) are an advanced version of desktop computers that integrate the entire computer casing and monitor into a single display unit for a reduced footprint. The display panel integrates all major components, including RAM, the processor, the motherboard, USB ports, and disk space, leaving the keyboard and mouse as external peripherals. Designers, video editors, and creative professionals frequently use AIOs, which often feature a wide resolution of 1920 x 1080.

BIOS

The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) initializes your PC’s hardware during booting and provides a runtime environment for the operating system and applications. Manufacturers embed it as a ROM chip on the motherboard. Although closely integrated with the PC hardware, you can easily detach and replace BIOS chips. To access the modern BIOS setup screen on a Windows device, restart the computer in safe mode.

Also read: Common BIOS Settings Explained

Cache Memory

Cache memory is a high-speed memory access area within the proximity of the CPU on the motherboard. It is a reserved section of main memory within the storage device. Most computers today come with L3 cache or L2 cache.

Chromebook

Chromebooks are Google’s proprietary laptops and AIOs designed to run with Chrome OS as an operating system. Educational institutions widely use Chromebooks, and individuals seeking a clutter-free computing experience within the Google apps ecosystem favor them. These devices feature a “molecular display,” Google’s proprietary LCD screen that delivers faster response times and brighter colors compared to conventional panels. The storage in Chromebooks is in SSD format, and the RAM can vary from 4 GB to 16 GB.

Compact Disks

A compact disk (CD) is a declining standard in PC data storage, consisting of a small plastic disk that rotates around a core to store writable data. CDs typically store between 650 and 700 MB of data, and users referred to the process of writing data onto a disk as “burning.” In the past, many Windows computers required an installation CD, but this practice has largely disappeared with the advent of Windows 10. For more insights into storage standards and other hardware terms, refer to our Glossary: PC Hardware.

CPU

The Central Processing Unit (CPU), often called the brain of a computing device, performs most of the arithmetic, logic, and input/output (I/O) functions specified by a program. An internal clock equips every CPU to determine its “Clock Speed,” or the number of operations it can execute in a single second. Modern users often use the term CPU interchangeably with microprocessors, which manufacturers design as integrated circuit semiconductor chips placed in the sockets of laptops, desktops, or AIO motherboards.

Also read: What Affects CPU Performance? Here’s All You Need to Know

Desktop PC

A desktop computer was the original type of computing device introduced for home and office use, playing a pivotal role in the personal computing revolution. Early models like the Apple-II, Macintosh, and Commodore PET, launched in the 1980s, marked the beginning of consumer-friendly desktop PCs. Today, a typical desktop PC includes essential components such as a monitor, a casing housing the processor, motherboard, RAM, USB ports, a keyboard, and a mouse. To learn more about the components that make up modern desktops, explore our Glossary: PC Hardware.

Firmware

In computing, firmware is a specialized type of software that manages low-level control of a computer’s hardware. Operating beneath the operating system, firmware provides the essential coded instructions to power on and initialize the device. A common example of firmware is the BIOS, embedded in the motherboard of IBM-compatible computers. To explore more about firmware and its role in computing, check out our Glossary: PC Hardware.

Flash Memory

Flash memory is a non-volatile, electronic, erasable storage format housed in EEPROM chips. Unlike RAM or ROM, flash memory retains data even when the device is powered off. This makes it ideal for use in devices like memory cards, USB flash drives, digital cameras, and tablets. Invented by Dr. Fujio Masuoka in the 1980s, flash memory revolutionized data storage. For more insights into this critical hardware component, refer to our Glossary: PC Hardware.

Floppy Disks

Older PCs used to have floppy disk drives (FDD) which would import data derived from floppy disks, a removable magnetic square disk, and were available in 5 ¼ (133 mm) inch and 3 ½ inch (90 mm) formats. With the latest modular PC designs having fewer movable parts, floppy disks have become outdated and are only seen in legacy computers and industrial server systems.

GPU

A GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is a crucial electronic component in a computer’s motherboard that powers the visual display of everything you see on the screen. The term was first introduced by Nvidia, a leader in GPU technology, known for innovations like the GeForce 6800 GT. GPUs are essential for rendering graphics and enhancing visual performance. To ensure your GPU operates at its best, you can download the appropriate drivers online. For a deeper dive into GPUs and other essential components, explore our Glossary: PC Hardware.

Hard Drive

A hard drive or hard disk drive (HDD) is an electro-mechanical data storage medium which uses a magnetic head next to a flat circular plate coated with magnetic material.Concentric tracks in the plate, called “platters,” store the data in a Read-only Memory (ROM) format, distinguishing it from Random-Access Memory (RAM).The hard disk comes into play when you save data in your computer or install a program. It can carry a capacity of up to 1 TB or more.

Hardware

PC hardware refers to the physical parts of a computer, which consist of the cabinet (case), CPU, motherboard, monitor, mouse, keyboard, graphics card, hard disk, speakers, USB ports, PC cards, and more. This is what separates it from software, which refers to a collection of codes installed on the computer’s hard drive. The firmware, on the other hand, is a specialized class of software that helps the initialization of the PC by interfacing with the hardware components.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is an audio-visual interface which transmits high-definition audio and video between a port on your PC and another device, such as a smart TV, projector, DVD player, andBlu-Ray player using a connector and cable. The HDMI standard was designed by a consortium of companies, including Hitachi, Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and more. Most modern computers come equipped with HDMI ports which look just like a thinner version of a USB port. A specialized HDMI cable is used to transfer data.

Keyboard

A keyboard is a primary input hardware where information is typed on its keys, which work as an electronic switch to enter the desired symbol. Modern keyboards sometimes illuminate the letters and are called “backlit keyboards.” If the keyboard is a software which simply runs as a program on the screen, it’s called an on-screen keyboard.

Laptop

A laptop integrates all essential PC hardware, including the display monitor, keyboard, trackpad (as a mouse replacement), RAM, CPU, GPU, motherboard, hard disk drive/SSD, and ports, into a portable personal computing device. Users can interchangeably run Windows and Linux on the same laptop hardware, while Apple designs MacBooks specifically to support its operating system and programs.

MacBook

MacBook is the latest evolution of Apple’s historic Macintosh computers in laptop format. It runs the macOS operating system. Mac Mini and MacBook Air are other common Mac devices. Apple distinguishes MacBooks from other laptops by equipping them with unique features such as the Retina display, a touch bar, and the recently introduced M1 chip. Apple’s MacBook devices are the largest alternative to conventional laptop devices available in the market.

Monitor

A monitor on a PC or laptop is an output hardware device that displays computer program interactions in a visual format. An AIO or laptop integrates the monitor with the remaining cabinet (case), while a standalone desktop PC separates the monitor from the rest of the components.

Motherboard

A motherboard is a printed circuit board inside a computer cabinet which physically connects the circuits to RAM, CPU, GPU, and other peripherals of the computer. It allocates power, facilitates booting, and can get heated easily on older devices. A motherboard contains expansion slots, such as PCI Express, fan connectors, heat sink, and more.

PCI Express

PCI Express, or PCI-e (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) is a high-speed serial computer bus standard, which is seen as expansion slots on the motherboard. It is the most standard internal interface, allowing high bandwidth communication between the motherboard and the peripheral devices.

Printer

A printer is an external machine connected to a desktop or laptop computer on an internal LAN. Its objective is to print text or pictures based on the commands executed on a printing software. Usually modern-day printers come combined with photocopiers and scanners.

RAM

RAM (Random-Access Memory) is a place in the computer attached to the motherboard, which governs faster access time for temporarily used programs and is expressed in GB. Each computer has a maximum RAM capacity that it can expand to. All details on how to purchase RAM have been covered here.

Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi offers a low-cost, credit-card-sized single-board computer (SBC) that users can plug into a computer monitor or TV display to explore budget computing. It supports mainstream projects requiring a computing display unit. You can do many things with a Raspberry Pi, such as using it as a video-conferencing station, as a desktop computer, or deploying it in IoT projects.

SATA

SATA (Serial AT Attachment) is the current standard for transferring data components inside the computer. It is a serial link on a bus, which contains at least one cable with four wires that form a point-to-point connection between devices. SATA hard drives are very common inside desktops, AIOs, and laptops. The successor to SATA is Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe), which is characterized by higher transmission speeds.

Sound Card

A sound card or audio adapter is used in recording and playing back sound by converting digital data on your computer to analog sound waves, which you can hear clearly. It can also be used to record audio with a microphone. Without the sound card, obviously, you can’t hear music or enjoy YouTube videos or games.

SSD

SSD (Solid State Drives) are flash storage similar to USB drives but much faster as they use NAND memory and are becoming a replacement for hard-disk drives (HDD). Another example is Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHD), which use a cache buffer of SSD but come with the storage advantage of HDD.

Trackpad and Mouse

A trackpad and a mouse are hardware interfaces which allow you to scroll on a computer screen. There is an important difference, though: in a trackpad, your finger does the scrolling, whereas the mouse uses a surface on which it rests. In a mouse, you tap the left or right button to execute an action, whereas a trackpad lets you interface directly with the laptop device hardware.

Webcam

A webcam is a video camera attached to a computer. In laptops, it is built in, such as a VGA camera, where it can be connected as an external camera on a regular desktop device.

USB Flash Drive

USB (Universal Serial Bus) refers to a form of flash memory (see above) that runs as a plug-and-play interface on a computer. It has currently two commonly used versions: USB 2.0 and USB 3.1, which vary in dimensional thickness. Most modern computers have USB ports for both standards.