A Look Inside a Computer

Have you even wondered what the inside of a computer really looks like? The

example computer described in this section gives a good overview of the components

of a modern PC. However, opening a computer and attempting to find

and identify the various pieces can be frustrating, even if you are familiar with

the components and their functions.

printed circuit board that connects all of the components in the

computer, including the CPU, and RAM and ROM memory, as well as an assortment

of other essential components. The components on the motherboard

tend to be the most difficult to identify. Above you see an Intel D850 motherboard

with the more important components labeled.

The I/O ports at the top of the board allow the computer to communicate

with the outside world. The I/O controller hub allows all connected devices to

function without conflict. The PCI slots allow for expansion boards belonging to

various PCI devices. The AGP connector is for plugging in the AGP graphics card.

There are two RAM memory banks and a memory controller hub. There is no

processor plugged into this motherboard, but we see the socket where the CPU

is to be placed. All computers have an internal battery, as seen at the lower lefthand

corner. This motherboard has two IDE connector slots, and one floppy disk

controller. The power supply plugs into the power connector.

A note of caution regarding looking inside the box: There are many safety

considerations involved with removing the cover for both you and your computer.

There are many things you can do to minimize the risks. First and foremost,

make sure the computer is turned off. Leaving it plugged in is often

preferred, as this offers a path for static electricity. Before opening your computer

and touching anything inside, you should make sure you are properly

grounded so static electricity will not damage any components. Many of the

edges, both on the cover and on the circuit boards, can be sharp, so take care

when handling the various pieces. Trying to jam misaligned cards into sockets

can damage both the card and the motherboard, so be careful if you decide to

add a new card or remove and reinstall an existing one.

Courtesy of Intel Corporation

If you remove the cover on your computer, you will no doubt first notice a

big metal box with a fan attached. This is the power supply. You will also see

various drives, including a hard drive, and perhaps a floppy drive and CD-ROM

or DVD drive. There are many integrated circuits — small, black rectangular

boxes with legs attached. You will also notice electrical pathways, or buses, in

the system. There are printed circuit boards (expansion cards) that plug into

sockets on the motherboard, the large board at the bottom of a standard desktop

PC or on the side of a PC configured as a tower or mini-tower. The motherboard

is the