What's Inside a Computer?
What's on a Motherboard?
The CPU:
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It processes instructions that it gathers from translating the code in programs and other files!
The CPU Fan (cooler)
The CPU fan (cooler) is a fan that is inside a computer. It is used for active cooling and expels warm air from inside the computer or moves it to a heat sink.
The RAM
The RAM is a data storage for your computer. It stands for Random-Access Memory. It is one of the most common types of memory which you find in devices like computers and printers.
Northbridge & Southbridge
The Northbridge (also known as the host bridge) is one of the two chips on a PC motherboard. It is connected to the CPU, unlike the Southbridge. The Northbridge communicates with the CPU using FSB (front-side bus).
The Southbridge is a chip which connects the Northbridge to networks, hard drives, USBs and other components inside a computer. It sends data to the CPU and receives data as well.
VGA port
The Video-Graphics Array port (VGA), also known as the VGA connector, is a socket found on a Windows-based laptop or PC.
DVI Port
The Digital Visual Interface (DVI Port) allows you watch digital videos on your monitor. An interface turns coding into a visual display that we can see. Like a translator can translate a unfamiliar language into a language you know!
USB (Unversal Serial Bus)
The USB (Universal Serial Bus) transports data from one device to the other. The USB cable is a cable that is plugged into your computer and into a nother device to transport data like music, pictures, videos and files!
NIC (Network Interface Card)
The NIC (Network Interface Card) is a circuit board or card that is installed in a computer so that it can be connected to a network.
Audio Jacks
An Audio Jack is the plug you put in your computer to activate your head phones/ear phones to listen to a video or music or anything without others listening!
AGP Slot
An AGP slot (Accelerated Graphics Port) is a type of expansion slot designed for graphics cards. What are graphics cards? Graphics cards are printed circuit boards that control the output to a display screen. Click here for more information! The AGP slot makes computing more efficient.
Inside your computer - Bettina Bair