CPU Motherboard RAM Power Supply Storage Optical Drives GPU 2
The CPU is the brain of a computer CPU receives instructions from software programs stored in memory Instructions are read and the tasks performed Results are written back to memory CPU also commands the other components of the computer 3
Performance of the CPU is based on clock speed - measured in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz) CPU performance is one of the biggest factors in the speed of your PC Upgrading your CPU can be expensive and difficult: CPUs can be very expensive, anywhere from below $100 to well over $1,000, but most CPU s suited to normal home use are below $500 Compatibility is very important with CPUs. Upgrading an old computer to a newer CPU may require replacing other components as well. 4
Performance of the CPU is based on clock speed - measured in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz) CPU performance is one of the biggest factors in the speed of your PC Most common CPU manufacturer is Intel, but AMD is also common. Most consumer PC s will have one of these manufacturers. 5
RAM is a type of data storage/memory Serves as temporary storage and working space for software All programs you run will use some RAM RAM can be accessed at much higher speeds than many other types of memory 6
RAM is measured in a number of ways: Capacity is measured in Gigabytes (GB) Access speed is measured in Megahertz (MHz) Amount of RAM can greatly impact performance of your computer. Upgrading the amount of RAM is easy and relatively inexpensive RAM can be purchased for less than $25, with cost rising with capacity and speed Minimal compatibility issues 7
There are many manufacturers of RAM. Some common companies include: Apple Corsair Crucial Dell G.Skill Hewlett Packard Kingston Lenovo OCZ Mushkin Patriot PNY Samsung 8
Provides long term, bulk storage of software and files Two types of storage devices are commonly used Hard Disk Drives (HDD) Most common storage type Cheapest option for data storage Capacity in the Terrabyte (TB) range are relatively inexpensive Used in all types of electronics Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, etc. Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHD) Solid State Drives (SSD) Considerably more expensive than comparable HDD Data access speeds are considerable faster than HDD storage Generally more durable than HDD Often used in laptops and tablets Typically these storage devices are installed inside the computer, but external versions are also available 9
Performance of the storage device is measured primarily in two ways: Capacity is measured in Gigabytes (GB) Transfer speed is measured in GB/sec The storage capacity of the device has little impact on your computers performance, but allows you to store more programs and filed (music, photos, video, etc.) Upgrading your PC s storage device is very easy Compatibility is almost a non-issue Many options are available for different needs and budgets One exception is upgrading your boot drive this usually provides the best performance boost, but requires either transferring or reinstalling your operating system 10
Many manufacturers offer HDD and SDD devices, but your data is important so choose carefully. Some reputable manufacturers for each include: HDD SSHD SSD 11
The GPU processes the visual output of the computer and outputs video to the monitor or other display devices The GPU can be either a standalone device (as pictured above) or integrated into the Motherboard (discussed later). Many GPUs support multiple monitors Some computers have multiple (2-4) GPUs to improve performance 12
Performance of the GPU is measured in a few ways: Clock speed in MHz Memory capacity in GB Memory Clock Speed in MHz Most users do not require significant performance from GPU for normal use Video games or 3D rendering are most common applications needing high end GPUs A midrange dedicated GPU can help your CPU play HD videos or other graphics intensive programs Upgrading GPU is not difficult, but requires some research and can be expensive: Compatibility between GPU and motherboard must be verified Advanced configurations with multiple GPUs requires additional research Midrange GPUs can be purchased for $100 or less. Performance cards will run from $100-$500 or more for high end performance cards or specialty cards Some laptops may not be capable of upgrading the GPU 13
There are two common GPU designers: ATI and NVIDIA Each designer s cards are made by a number of licensed manufacturers, with slightly different designs. Most manufacturers make both ATI and NVIDIA cards. Common manufacturers include: 14
CD, DVD, and Bluray drives are used to read and write data discs, either for storage of files or installation of software. CD/DVD drives are common for both desktops and laptops. Bluray drives are becoming more common, but are not typically found standard in most computers As flash storage and downloadable software has become more popular, some computers no longer have optical drives. 15
The PSU provides power to the various portions of the computer. In general, the PSU doesn t impact performance, but care must be taken to ensure the PSU supplies enough power for all the components in the PC. Overloading the PSU can lead to: System instability System Crashes Damage to the PSU and possibly other components it powers High end PSUs have built in protection that will shut them down under overload conditions 16
PSU capacity is rated in Watts There is also a voluntary certification program, 80 Plus, that rates the PSU s energy efficiency Upgrading the PSU may be necessary if significant upgrades are made to other components of the PC (i.e. CPU, GPU, HDD/SSD, etc.). Care should be taken to ensure replacement PSU has all power connections needed for your system components, and the power capacity is larger than your system requires Some common PSU manufacturers include: 17
The motherboard is the foundation of the computer it connects all the major hardware of your computer and provides the inputs for keyboard, mouse, and other input devices. 18
The most important component of the motherboard is the chipset The chipset controls the interconnection of the various components that interact through the motherboard. The chipset is separated into two components: Northbridge: handles CPU, dedicated GPU, and memory Southbridge: handles storage devices, optical drives, and other interfaces 19
Generally, there is little performance difference between chipsets, so motherboards are generally differentiated by features rather than performance. Number of expansion slots (PCI Exp./PCI) Input/output options (Video, audio, USB, etc.) Number of inputs for optical drives or storage devices Cooling technology Other features such as monitors for internal PC temperatures or performance boosts 20
A. PCI Slot B. PCI-E 16x Slot C. PCI-E 1x Slot D. Northbridge E. Power Connection F. CPU-Fan G. Socket H. Memory Slots I. ATX Power Connector J. IDE Connection K. Southbridge L. SATA Connections M. Front Panel Connections N. FDD Connection O. External USB Connections P. Battery 21
The most important criteria will always be compatibility the chipset must be compatible with all components, so care should be taken to ensure the motherboard will work with all other components Motherboards are not typically upgraded, and it can be difficult to find new motherboard models that retain compatibility with all components of older computers 22
Common Motherboard Form Factors ATX Most common form factor Large selection of manufacturers and models Numerous expansion slots and available features Micro ATX Miniaturized version of ATX (25% shorter) Popular for small form factor desktops Fewer expansion slots, but comparable features to ATX Mini-ITX Uncommon, but growing in popularity for niche use Most common for Media centers, settop boxes, and mobile gaming systems VERY limited expansion capability typically can only support a single GPU Limited feature sets 23