Today computer technologies are striding by leaps and bounds, and, for example, a PC can become completely obsolete in a few years. And on outdated hardware, many modern programs will run slowly or not start at all. Someone will offer to buy and someone will offer to upgrade. In either case, you need to know the structure of the computer system unit.

General information

What are the main parts of your PC? In general, the structure of a computer assumes the presence of the following elements:

• Internal devices of the system unit.
• (usually a keyboard and mouse, but can be supplemented by many others, for example, a drawing tablet).
• Information output devices (monitor, headphones).
• Additional (card readers, TV tuners, network adapters, USB modems).

The structure of the computer system unit must be considered in detail, because it includes many important components that directly or indirectly affect the speed of the system as a whole. These components include:

• Motherboard.
• CPU.
• RAM.
• Hard drive or solid state drive.
• Video payment.
• Sound card.
• PCI devices.

Computer processor structure

It is believed that the central processing unit is the most complex digital device in a computer. It is made in the form of a silicon wafer in a case with many pins that are connected to a special socket on the motherboard. A substance is deposited on silicon, which reproduces a complex, but very small in size electrical circuit.

Several million elements (transistors, resistors) are included in the structure of a computer processor. All parts are several nanometers in size. After the device is manufactured, a radiator is installed on it to remove heat and a blowing fan. With the simultaneous operation of a large number of transistors, this cannot be avoided.

The structure of the computer processor is so high-tech that only two companies in the world compete in this market segment (Intel and AMD).

Main characteristics of the CPU

The main characteristics of a CPU are the size of the cache, the number of cores. Accordingly, the higher these parameters, the faster the device performs calculations. The clock frequency determines how many logical and arithmetic operations can be performed per second by one core, respectively, if there are two cores in the computer, then twice as many operations are performed per second.

The cache is designed to store instructions that programs send to the central processor. The exchange of information with the cache is performed at the highest speed. If its size is too small, then it will not be possible to use the full processor speed.

Motherboard structure

Of course, you need to consider the construction of the computer's motherboard. The motherboard is a complex device with a multi-layer circuitry. It contains the main sockets for connecting all other computer devices, sets of logic for all components to work interconnected, controllers of the main interfaces (sound card, input-output devices). Often the motherboard may have slots for additional devices (PSI-e, PCI, USB).

The key component of the motherboard is the chipset. This is a microcircuit that connects device controllers to the CPU for their joint functioning. The internal structure of a computer is entirely determined by the chipset. For example, it is impossible to install third-generation memory in the motherboard if the logic only supports the second, also with all other devices.

RAM

RAM (random access memory). Describing the internal structure of a computer, this element cannot be ignored. RAM stores temporary data and processor instructions for which there is not enough space in the cache. The most important characteristics of memory are frequency, volume, generation and timings. At the same time, the memory bar of the DDR2 or DDR generation cannot be installed in the DDR3 slot, because the sets of program logic are different for all these generations.

Frequency and timings are the most important indicators for determining the speed of communication with RAM. There are two reciprocal rules here. If the frequency is higher, the speed is higher. The opposite applies to timings, so lower values \u200b\u200bare preferable.

Video card

The structure of a personal computer in the modern world necessarily requires a video card. In simple terms, this device prepares and generates graphic information that is subsequently displayed on the screen.

The video adapter can be built into the computer motherboard or connected to the PCI-e connector. Adapters of the first type are almost always called budgetary ones; they allow you to work comfortably in office software packages, but not to form complex three-dimensional images. Even if such video cards can handle graphics output, their power is unlikely to be enough to confidently maintain an acceptable level of FPS (frames per second).

If we consider the video adapter connected to the PSI-e connector, we can say that this is an additional computer installed inside the system unit. Its structure also includes a processor (but not a CPU, but a GPU) with a cooling system, video memory (GDDR), a controller, a DAC and an ADC (digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters).

The fact that such a complex apparatus is included in the structure of a computer is due to the increased requirements for resources for rendering realistic three-dimensional graphics. Otherwise, you will have to forget about the beauty of modern video games.

You can study the main characteristics of a video card based on the most important parameters of the rest of the components that make up the computer. This includes the frequency of the video processor, the volume, frequency and bandwidth of the video memory. One cannot but mention the SLI and CrossFire technologies. They allow you to combine multiple video adapters to increase the power of your video system.

HDD

Disk Drive) is used to store data. It is on it that OS, games, programs are installed, it is on it that music, videos, photographs are stored. The structure of the computer is such that any device can be replaced with a similar one without problems, however, after changing the HDD, all user data is lost, therefore the highest reliability requirements are imposed on devices of this type.

Main characteristics of HDD

Capacity (measured in bytes), the larger this figure, the more data can be written to the drive. In modern conditions, it makes sense to give preference only to those representatives of the family, the capacity of which is more than 500 Gigabytes.

Spindle speed (measured in revolutions per second) determines the average speed of data access. The higher this characteristic, the faster the reading and writing of information. Remember that high revs create high noise levels.

Interface (type of connector for connecting to the system board). The structure of a personal computer in the modern world is such that it is almost impossible to choose a motherboard and a hard disk so that they do not fit each other.

The cache is a kind of random access memory. Its purpose is to smooth out the difference in read and write speeds. When choosing a device, this parameter can be ignored.

Keyboard

Everything is moving forward, everything is developing, the computing power of processors is increasing, the teaching aids and lectures on which computer science is taught are changing. The design of the computer, however, has one component that remains unchanged - the keyboard. It can be with membrane keys, semi-mechanical, mechanical or using a scissor mechanism.

The structure with a membrane mechanism includes plastic cones and three layers of film on which the contacts are located. When you press the key, the cone contracts, short-circuiting the top and bottom contacts. These keyboards are the cheapest and lightest.

In semi-mechanical keyboards, instead of short-lived sprayed-on contacts, metal contacts are installed, which are attached to the But the return of the key to its original position and the closure of the contacts is still performed by a plastic cone.

Mechanical keyboards use a spring as a return mechanism. They are considered the most durable and reliable. Their service life in normal mode ranges from 50 to 100 years. The weight is much higher than that of any others.

They are considered a type of membrane. These are most often installed in laptops. Under the key, in addition to the membrane, there are two cross bars of a rectangular shape, which provide a smooth stroke, and this in turn protects against jamming.

Power Supply

When describing the anatomy of a computer (or the structure of a computer), information about that component is often deleted. And in vain, the stability of the entire system depends on the power supply.

Its main characteristic is power. The modern market offers a choice of devices from 300 to 1600 watts. An office computer will be enough for four hundred, and the latest gaming system will require at least a kilowatt.

Keep in mind that the PB must not only provide all the components with the necessary power, but also have excess power exceeding the nominal values \u200b\u200bby 20%. This is the case because over time the characteristics of the power supplies "sag" and peak loads can damage the device.

As computer science says, the structure of a computer is absolutely independent of the chosen power supply. They are versatile and suitable for any configuration. However, more powerful power supplies have a larger size and an increased number of similar connectors. In the vast majority of cases, the number of connectors is redundant even on power supplies with the lowest wattage.

It is better not to use cheap PB, which are produced by manufacturers without a name. Low voltage is supplied to PC devices (from 3 to 12 volts), and even a slight fluctuation of this indicator can disable some "piece of iron". In addition, in practice, such power supplies produce power that is a quarter less than the data in the passport.

Instead of an afterword

The educational program on "the structure of a computer for dummies" is completed. It does not describe completely comprehensive information. You can go deeper in such descriptions, describing technical details, but for a simple user, the information provided in this article is sufficient. Having understood already at this level, you cannot call yourself a teapot or a beginner.

As soon as PC users do not call the system unit: a processor, an iron box under the table, and many more interesting names. Each of these names has its own grain of truth. Because, if you look inside, then it is there that you can find the processor and most often the system unit is iron and stands under the table.

System unit. What is it?

Let's look in a dictionary and find the real definition. A system unit (open case, system unit) is an element of a personal computer that protects the computer components inside from mechanical damage and external influences.

In addition, it maintains the temperature inside itself, which is necessary for stable operation, shields the electromagnetic radiation that is generated by internal elements.

System blocks for personal computers are manufactured industrially from parts based on steel, plastic and aluminum. In order to make the system unit original and unique, wood or organic glass is used.

System unit composition

The system unit includes many parts and components. Let's take a quick look at most of them.

1. The case is one of the important components of the system unit: all other parts are attached to the computer case. Cases differ in size and form factors. When choosing a case for a system unit, you should pay attention to some details.

The larger the case, the easier it will be to place the rest of the system unit in it. And the heavier it is, the thicker the walls it has, which will allow for good cooling and low noise level. Computer help Kompolife recommends using only well-known brands such as Thermaltake, Chieftec, InWin, etc.

2. The power supply is perhaps the most important part of the PC system unit. It is believed that it is better to save on any other part, but not on the power supply. It may seem a little strange, but with a high degree of probability the quality of a power supply can be determined by weight - the heavier the power supply, the better. High quality power supply components: radiators, capacitors and transformers; pretty heavy elements.

The power supply is responsible for providing electrical power to all other components of the computer. It directly depends on him how long all the other components will work. Due to an insufficient quality power supply, the operation of the entire computer can be unstable, and it can also cause damage to expensive elements.

3. Processor (CPU - Central Processing Unit) is the main computing element of a personal computer. All programs are made up of a huge sequence of micro-instructions, and it is the processor that executes these instructions.

The performance and speed of the entire PC primarily depends on the speed of the processor (this must be taken into account if you decide to reinstall windows to a more modern version). The clock speed at which the processor operates, the architecture and the number of cores determine the speed of the processor.

For many years, the global processor market has been dominated by two main competitors: AMD and Intel. And this situation is unlikely to change in the near future.

4. Motherboard - one of the components of the PC, which is among the main ones. The motherboard unites all the components of the system unit. In addition, it includes additional components: built-in video card, network adapter, sound card, input-output devices, etc.

Motherboard (mainboard)

An incorrectly selected motherboard can negatively affect the operation of the PC as a whole, despite the fact that the rest of the components will be powerful on their own.

5. Case fan - used to cool the system unit. It is optional, but desirable to maintain an acceptable internal temperature.

6. Strips of random access memory (RAM) are high-speed computer memory. After turning off the computer, all information in it is deleted.

Considering the ever-increasing needs of modern programs, games and applications, we can assume that the more RAM, the better. To date, the minimum amount of RAM installed in a new computer will be 4 Gigabytes.

7. Video card - a device that processes and displays graphic information on the monitor. Each video card has its own graphics processor, which handles information processing: 2D and 3D. The video processor significantly reduces the computational load on the CPU (central processing unit).

Without an expensive and powerful video card, you can't even dream of modern computer games. In addition, you are unlikely to get serious about video processing or professional photo editing.

8. Network card - an element of the system unit, required to connect a computer to a local network or the Internet. Recently, network cards have been integrated (built into) motherboards.

9. Optical drive (CD / DVD) - a device for reading and writing optical discs. They differ in the type of supported disks, as well as in the speed of reading and writing.

10. A hard disk (harddisk, HDD, hard drive) is a long-term memory device. Data is not deleted when the computer is turned off. The speed of the hard disk is much lower than that of the RAM, and the volume is much higher.

The operating system, installed programs, documents, photos, music and movies are stored on the hard drive. The volume of the HDD (hard disk drive) is measured in Gigabytes. It is believed that the more the better. As they say, there is never too much free space.

The front panel of the PC system unit, as a rule, contains two buttons:

• Power - used to turn on the computer;
• Reset - used when an emergency restart of the computer is required, if it freezes.

Also on the front panel you can find the following items:

• indicators - light-emitting diodes and lamps, displaying the operation of the PC: indication of the operation of the computer, indication of the state of the hard disk.
• disk drives and optical drives are devices designed to work with storage media such as floppy disks and optical disks.
• connectors - designed to connect some external devices. Most often these are USB connectors, as well as a headphone and microphone jack.

If you want to assemble a new system unit, if you want it to be made especially for you and not look like hundreds of others sold in stores, the Compolife.ru computer help center will be happy to help you make your dream come true. By contacting our service, you can be sure of the reliability and durability of the future computer. After all, its assembly and configuration will be done by professionals with many years of successful work experience!

Even more interesting and useful information

Comments (4)

compolife.ru

How the computer system unit works

Good day, dear readers. Today, any person is even remotely familiar with a personal computer. This useful device is of great help in many areas of life. Advanced users will easily distinguish the system unit from the printer, and also explain the whole difference. But for people who first encountered such a technique, it is quite difficult. In today's article, we will take a closer look at how the computer system unit works.

What is it for

Users who have never delved into the study of computer components believe that the system unit is some kind of box under the computer table that provides an image display on the monitor. And most of them call it "processor". What does the system unit do?

Its main task is to connect the components that are inside with the monitor, keyboard, mouse and other peripheral devices. Well, of course, protection from external influences on the internal elements.

Case size

There are two large types of system units: horizontal or vertical. The former are placed horizontally under the monitor, but are rare today. The second type of case is more common, it is often called Tower, which translates from English as "tower". Vertical system blocks can be divided into several more groups: big, midi and mini.

Dimensions depend on user requirements. The most common Tower mini (small), which take up minimal space, but have enough space for future updates. Large ones are needed for fans of the most modern games, so that there is space for several video cards. Compact cases are suitable for building a home personal computer that is designed for undemanding tasks.

Another important point of the system unit, on which the subsequent placement of components depends. Currently, two form factors are actively used: AT and ATX. It is important to remember that the motherboard must have the same form factor, otherwise it simply will not fit.

What is included in the system unit

As a rule, the basic configuration of the case includes a power supply unit, which eliminates the need to purchase it separately. Of course, if you want, it can be replaced without any problems. So, the main components:

• motherboard;
• power Supply;
• cPU;
• video card;
• rAM;
• hDD;

Motherboard

The most basic part of any system unit, without which work is impossible. Its main task is to connect all components and ensure joint functioning. It is the largest and most visible part of the block. The motherboard has connectors for connecting components and peripherals.

Power Supply

Responsible for the distribution of energy for each component. It has a set of connectors on the front panel, through which the rest of the system is connected. Usually comes with a case, but can be replaced with a more powerful one. In the picture above, the PSU is positioned at the bottom of the case, but most often it is located at the top.

CPU

It is considered the heart or brain of the PC. It is a silicon crystal grown and processed using special technologies. Responsible for information processing, processors from Intel and AMD are especially popular.

It is completed with a cooling system, which is represented by a fan and a radiator, or only the latter. Installs in the designated place on the motherboard. The cost depends on the tasks that will be assigned to the processor, it can go up to several thousand dollars.

Video card

Without this component, you will not be able to work with graphics programs, and games will not start. Almost any modern processor has a built-in graphics adapter, which is sufficient for simple tasks. But gamers will have to buy a separate graphics card. How to connect? Of course, to the motherboard, which has special slots. There are many models on the market aimed at different user tasks.

RAM

Needed to store information processed by the processor. True, the RAM works while the PC is turned on, after turning it off - everything disappears. The more, the better. A lot of memory ensures high speed of user data processing. Random access memory is small strips that are inserted into special slots. Besides the volume, the type of memory is an important characteristic.

HDD

Unlike RAM, hard drives are needed to store permanent user data. Their main characteristic is the volume, which today is measured in gigabytes and terabytes. Hard disk space depends on the user's tasks. Recently, SSDs (drives without mechanical parts) are replacing HDDs. They work faster, do not make noise and practically do not get warm.

On this we will end. We will talk about how to connect the components of the system unit together next time. Share the article with your friends. Until next time!

In conclusion, I suggest watching a cool video about self-assembly of a computer system unit from the Good Choice!

tvojkomp.ru

system unit

Computer device. The composition of the PC system unit.

In this article, ITart computer service specialists will tell you what elements a personal computer consists of, what devices are in the system unit and what functions they perform. This information will be useful to those who want to assemble or upgrade a computer on their own.

In a general sense, the concept of "personal computer" means a system unit, in which all computational work takes place, and the input / output devices connected to it (monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer). In this article, we will focus on the system unit and the key elements that make up it in the most detail.

The system unit includes:

1. Motherboard

This board is perhaps the most important element of the system unit, since it interacts with each other of all computer nodes. The motherboard contains devices such as a processor, memory, video card and additional PCI cards (network card, sound card).

Among the non-removable elements of the motherboard, the most significant is the chipset. This is a set of microcircuits that provide data transfer between all nodes of the computer. The chipset consists of a north june bridge.

South bridge

The south bridge connects hard drives, various storage devices, and all peripherals with the north bridge.

North bridge

The north bridge provides interaction of the graphics controller and memory with the central processor, as well as communication of the processor with all devices for which the south bridge is responsible. Also, the north bridge determines the type of RAM (DDR, SDRAM and others), its maximum allowable size and the speed of data exchange with the processor.

2. Processor

The processor is the main brain of the computer. It performs all arithmetic and logical operations. The performance of the computer as a whole largely depends on the frequency of its operation. Also, the performance of a computer depends on the number of processor cores, and the command system, which determines how many cycles a particular operation will take.

3. RAM

Often this element is simply called computer memory, since it is directly used by the central processor to store data processed in the computation process, and therefore its size significantly affects the computer's performance. The data in the RAM is stored only while the computer is turned on, and after each reboot, the RAM is reset to zero.

4.hard drive

Responsible for long-term storage of data on the computer. It takes much longer to access the information stored on the hard disk than in the case of RAM, so the volume of the hard disk only affects how many programs or files you can store on your computer, and not the performance and speed of your computer. ... However, the hard disk contains a paging file that is used by the operating system to compensate for the lack of RAM when needed, and the size of this file can still affect the computer's performance. And of course, if you hammer the hard disk partition on which the operating system is located, it will certainly entail serious problems in operation, such as freezes, slow computer performance, and so on.

5. Video card

Responsible for the formation of a video signal and sending it to the computer monitor. This is a rather complex device that has its own processor and RAM. Often, an additional cooler is located on the video card, although in some models passive cooling is still used, which only implies the presence of a radiator that absorbs heat from the video card. A good video card, coupled with a large amount of RAM and a powerful processor, is able to provide maximum performance to your computer, and allow you to easily run new video games or engage in the creation of 3D graphics and video processing.

6.Optical drive

This device is designed to read and write information on CD-disks. More functional models have the ability to read and write various disc formats such as DVD and Blu-Ray. However, due to the gaining great popularity of flash memory, optical disks are gradually going out of fashion, and if we talk about office computers, they often lack an optical drive as unnecessary. Perhaps, after a while, these devices will completely go out of use, as in their time floppy disk drives (hard drives), but at the moment, all films, music and video games are distributed on store shelves in the format of compact discs.

7. Power supply

This element is in the last place in our list, but it plays an important role in the operation of the PC, since this device provides power to all the components of the computer, and the correct choice of power supply is the key to the reliable operation of your computer.

Thus, in this article, we examined the standard configuration of the average personal computer system unit. Also, the system unit may contain additional PCI devices, such as an audio card, a network card, a wi-fi adapter, etc.

The content of the system unit largely depends on the computing system as a whole, its tasks, goals and form factor. In the case of rational use, the system unit is more in line with the needs of the computing system. Depending on the computing system, the system unit may contain various hardware components:

Computing unit in the form of a main / system / motherboard with a processor installed on it, RAM. They can also be installed with expansion cards (video card, sound card, network card).

Power Supply

Peripheral bays filled with storage devices - hard disk (s), SSD, optical drive, etc.

The front panel can be equipped with power and reset buttons, power and storage indicators, headphone and microphone jacks, data transfer interfaces (USB, FireWire).

Types of cases (chassis) for system units [edit | edit source]

Main article: Form factor (technique)

A case that protects the internal components of the computer from external influences and mechanical damage, maintains the required temperature regime inside, shields the electromagnetic radiation generated by the internal components, can be represented by standard chassis of various shapes and proportions (dimensions are indicated in millimeters):

Horizontal:

• Desktop (533 × 419 × 152)

  FootPrint (406 × 406 × 152)

  SlimLine (406 × 406 × 101)

  UltraSlimLine (381 × 352 × 75)

Vertical:

• MiniTower (152 × 432 × 432)

  MidiTower (173 × 432 × 490)

  BigTower (190 × 482 × 820)

  SuperFullTower (various sizes)

StudFiles.net

System unit: composition and main characteristics

Sometimes, speaking on computer topics, people often call a computer a system unit, and this raises many questions regarding the composition and main characteristics of all devices in it. Many users do not know anything about the functionality and structure of a computer device, so the reader is invited to fill in the knowledge gaps. An article on the topic: "System unit: composition and main characteristics" will allow the user to always be savvy in matters of computer topics.

Metal box with bulbs

The collection of all computer components responsible for the operation of a personal computer is called a system. Accordingly, the union of all elements on one platform, acting as one independent unit, is called a system unit. In simple terms, everything that is in a metal or plastic case, including the frame itself, is called a system. The composition of the system unit of a personal computer is known to almost any user: processor, motherboard, memory, video card, power supply and other components.

The basic functionality of the case is not only to unite all the elements of a computer, but also to provide free interaction - that is, physical access of all components to each other. In the market, it is customary to distinguish between cases by form factor, which determines the size of the device (height, width and depth). Form factor examples: ETX, ATX, midle-ATX, mini-ATX, micro-ATX, Barabone, Notebook, Server, and others.

The heart of the system

The most important component, many users consider the processor, which is a mandatory part of the PC system unit. This opinion is wrong. The task of the central processor is data processing, that is, complex mathematical calculations: addition, division, subtraction, multiplication. The role of the heart in a personal computer is played by a power supply unit, which not only supplies electricity to all elements of the platform, but also guarantees the quality of its supply (voltage and current strength).

When buying a computer, the user is obliged to correctly calculate the energy consumption of all components of the system unit and select the necessary power supply unit that will cope with the task at hand. Ignoring this recommendation and purchasing a low-quality power supply unit may render all the elements of the computer unusable. Naturally, the cost of one power supply unit is incommensurate with the losses in case of failure of all computer spare parts.

Basic input-output system

It is impossible to assemble a computer without a motherboard, which is also part of the system unit. This device is designed to combine all elements of the platform, as well as to manage the health of the installed components. The motherboard has built-in software called BIOS. It is he who provides the operating environment with information about the elements included in the system unit. The composition, serial number of the device, name and many other data can be found in this software.

In addition to all kinds of controllers and interfaces, the motherboard integrates all kinds of sensors that monitor the system's performance. In case of any problems, the device is able to notify the user with sound signals, however, this is solved at the level of special sounds that can only be decoded by IT specialists (we are talking about POST codes). Like the device case, the motherboard has a form factor and is defined by the same dimensions and markings.

Motherboard features

In the computer market, there is a segmentation of components by cost and use. So, a user who chooses an inexpensive computer for himself will find a decent device in the budget class, and fans of resource-intensive games need to choose spare parts for a PC in an expensive one. The basic difference between the existing segments for all computer hardware that makes up a computer system unit is performance and compatibility.

Also, motherboards can be basic and integrated. In the latter case, special controllers are installed on the basis of the motherboard, which are capable of emulating peripheral devices (sound card, video adapter, Wi-Fi module, etc.). Integration of components significantly reduces the cost of the system unit as a whole, however, buyers are not welcomed, since embedded components use the processing capacity of the processor, slowing down its operation.

Computer brains

Considering the basic devices that make up the system unit, the user will certainly get acquainted with the RAM modules. This component in the computer is a processor assistant. Working in sync, both devices in the system perform calculations and fully manage all data, including the operating system and running applications. The more memory you have, the faster your computer will be.

The memory modules themselves differ in production technology (DDR4, DDR3, DDR2), as well as in the data exchange rate (measured in frequencies: 1333 MHz, 2133 MHz, and so on). The higher the indicator, the faster the speed, however there are some limitations. For best performance, it is recommended that the memory and processor run at the same frequency (synchronous).

Ready information warehouse

After processing, data needs to be stored somewhere, so a hard drive is mandatory in the computer system unit. Drives are magnetic and solid-state and differ in the amount of data they can hold and the speed of operation. It so happened that solid-state drives have tremendous speed, but their production technology is too expensive, so the volume of such drives leaves much to be desired. Magnetic disks are cheaper to manufacture, however, they have serious speed limitations. It is this limitation that is the weak link in the operation of the entire system unit.

Many professionals recommend combining the two types of drives. Use a fast SSD drive for the operating system, and a slow one - HDD - use it as data storage. This solution is appreciated by many users.

Feedback from the computer owner

Finding out which devices are part of the system unit, do not forget about the connecting link that allows the user to control the computer, as well as see the results of their actions. We are talking about a video adapter that is installed on the baseboard and allows you to transmit video in real time to an information display (monitor, TV). Video cards are discrete and integrated and differ in performance and functionality.

Naturally, the integrated adapter is limited in its capabilities and is used in the computer only for displaying the image on the screen. But the discrete device is of greater interest to the user. With its own GPU and RAM, the device is capable of performing its own calculations, which are needed in all games.

Global world network

The system unit also includes a network adapter, which can also be integrated into the motherboard or be an independent device that is installed in a computer in a special connector. The market trend is that an integrated solution costs a penny, so many owners have already got used to the idea that a network controller simply must be on a motherboard.

The controllers themselves differ in data transfer speed and functionality. There are three speed standards: 10, 100 and 1024 megabits per second. And the functionality concerns only additional features: network loading, providing information about network loading and remote management of the adapter.

Sound accompaniment

When discussing what is included in the system unit, many users forget about the sound card, which is a peripheral device, not an element of the motherboard. The adapter responsible for sound, like a discrete video adapter, is equipped with its own processor, memory and audio signal processing controllers. Remotely, the sound card resembles a miniature amplifier from a home theater, which has both a receiver and a digital converter on board.

When choosing a system unit on the market that includes a discrete audio adapter, you need to be prepared for the disproportionately high cost of the computer as a whole. Quality always comes at a price. Many manufacturers have integrated a sound adapter onto the motherboard. This decision was met positively by the majority of users, since the difference in sound, when compared with an expensive device, cannot be noticed without having a musical ear.

Expansion boards and their functionality

You can judge the purpose of the computer by its insides, for this you need to remove the case cover and determine which devices are part of the system unit. For example, in a database server, you can find many hard drives and a RAID controller. This device is capable of organizing connected disks and creating a backup storage on their basis.

In the editor's computer, you can find a video capture card or a professional TV tuner. Such a device allows the received signal to be converted into data and stored on hard drives. Game lovers can see several discrete video cards, and the system administrator prefers to install an optical drive and many network cards in the system unit.

Finally

As practice shows, there is nothing complicated in a computer - it is an ordinary constructor consisting of basic parts (required elements) and peripherals. You just need to know what the final result (purpose) should be and then it will not be difficult for anyone to assemble the system unit with their own hands. The composition, however, will have to be determined based on financial capabilities, because the computer market requires considerable investments from buyers.

A personal computer is a complex electronic device designed to perform a wide range of tasks. This can be various calculations, calculations, listening to music, watching videos, various office tasks of the game, and much more.

A personal computer can be stationary or mobile. Mobile computers include laptops, netbooks, and tablets. A desktop computer has also recently undergone changes, but in most cases it is a system unit, a monitor, input devices (keyboard and mouse), audio devices (speakers, headphones and a microphone), as well as other peripheral devices (printer, scanner, etc. .). For the normal functioning of a personal computer, only a system unit, a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse are needed. Next, we'll take a closer look at each of these devices.

System unit

The main unit of a personal computer is the system unit. It is a case, most often a metal vertical box, on the front panel of which there are power buttons and disk drives. All necessary connectors and cables are brought out to the back wall. The system unit consists of a power supply, a motherboard (it is also a motherboard or "motherboard"), a hard disk (HDD), a video card, a processor (CPU), random access memory (RAM), disk drives (CD / DVD), a sound card and a network boards. Often, the network and sound cards are integrated into the motherboard, that is, the radio elements of the board are soldered directly on the motherboard.

Power Supply

The power supply is made in the form of a separate box, which is located at the top of the rear of the system unit and has several power cables for all elements of the system unit.

See also: Types of Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

Power Supply

Motherboard

The motherboard is the largest printed circuit board in the system unit, on which all the main components of the computer (CPU, RAM, video card) are installed, it also has connectors for connecting a hard disk and floppy drives, as well as USB port cables and connectors going to the rear panel of the case ... The motherboard is coordinating the work of all devices in the computer.

Motherboard

CPU

A processor is a microcircuit designed to perform basic computing operations. The processors are manufactured by two companies AMD and Intel. Depending on the manufacturer of the processor, the connector (the place of its installation) also differs, so when choosing a motherboard, you should not forget this. You just don't plug an AMD processor into an Intel processor motherboard.

CPU

Video card

The video card is a separate printed circuit board installed in the PCI Express slot of the motherboard and is designed to display the image on the monitor screen. It processes the information received and converts it into an analog and digital video signal, which is fed to the monitor through a connector via a cable. A video card usually has a processor (GPU) and video RAM.

Video card

RAM

Random access memory is one or more small boards installed in special sockets on the motherboard (DDR). Random access memory provides temporary storage of intermediate data during computer operation. RAM is characterized by access speed and memory size. To date, the fastest memory is DDR3.

RAM

HDD

A hard disk is a permanent storage of data, it can be both user data and system or temporary data. The hard disk contains the operating system, without which normal computer operation will be impossible. Also, the operating system can use the hard drive to save the contents of RAM (for example, in hibernation mode). It is a closed metal parallelepiped hard disk that is connected to the motherboard via a SATA connector.

HDD

Drive

An optical drive looks like a hard drive, but has a slide-out optical drive tray on the front panel. Serves as a drive for reading and writing optical discs.

The system board can also be equipped with other additional devices, such as a Wi-Fi module or a TV tuner.

Monitor

The computer monitor serves for graphical presentation of information that is clearly understandable to the PC user. Recently, only liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have been produced. Monitors can be equipped with digital and / or analog video connectors (DVI, HDMI).

Keyboard

The keyboard is an essential input device for any computer. The keyboard is a group of keys for entering symbolic information. Also, many modern keyboards are equipped with additional keys, for example, to control media players and various programs.

See also: how to choose a keyboard

Keyboard

Mouse

The mouse is designed to move the system pointer over the objects of the operating system - windows. Usually a mouse has two buttons and a scroll wheel. Technically, mice can be optical and laser. The latter have a higher accuracy and quality of work.

Additional peripheral devices of a personal computer act as assistants and are designed to expand the capabilities of a personal computer. Audio speakers (speakers) are designed to reproduce sound, a printer - to receive a paper copy of any electronic document or image, a scanner - allows you to create an electronic image from paper, etc. Other peripheral specialized and diagnostic devices can be connected to the computer, which practically infinitely expand the scope of its application.

A personal computer, despite its apparent complexity at first glance, is quite simple to work with and requires only a little patience and perseverance of the user in studying it. Remember that the computer was created to facilitate our work with you and increase productivity, so there is no need to doubt its ability to perform this or that task.

minterese.ru

What is included in a personal computer. System unit device

The composition of a computer system is usually understood not only as the components of the basic configuration of a PC, but also the internal component of the system unit, which is most often meant when speaking of a computer. But this article will cover both concepts.

Composition of the computer system

So, for example, several components can be distinguished into the minimum composition of a computer:

• System unit - it contains the internal nodes of a personal computer;
• Monitor - allows the output of data: texts, images and other information;
• Keyboard - used to enter information;
• Mouse - at least with its help you can control the operation of computer programs.

(The computer mouse is not included in the basic PC configuration!)

These components satisfy only the minimum composition of a personal computer and therefore the configuration is very often called basic.

As necessary, the component parts of the computer can and even need to be expanded, for example, you cannot do without computer speakers, or an MFP (multi-functional device - a printer, scanner and copier in one) will be your assistant not only in the office, but also at home, but these components are called peripheral and already refer to the extended configuration of the computer.

A laptop will be a good example of a minimal or otherwise basic component of a computer, since it also includes an integrated keyboard, a mouse - presented in the form of a touchpad or trackball and a monitor located right in its lid.

If everything is quite simple and clear with the composition of the computer system, then the structure of the system unit needs more detailed consideration.

System unit device

Since one of the options for representing a personal computer has already been considered above, it will be correct to consider the second. Why is the PC system unit considered in more detail? The fact is that the box, also called the system unit, is not a single whole, as it might seem at first glance, and its internal component can be completely different for each computer. You will say that the monitor also consists of different microcircuits and other complexities, and you will be right, but the difference is that the system unit is a modular system.

Everyone probably knows the Lego constructor, many interesting crafts can be made from its parts, and the system unit, you can change its composition as needed, of course I mount the components not where you want, unlike the constructor, but in special expansion slots of the system boards.

System unit case

The design of the case determines not only the appearance of the system unit, but with it the comfort of home and even its filling, namely the form factor of the motherboard, and with it the number of connected components. The cooling system depends entirely on your computer case, it should be quiet but efficient.

System (motherboard) board

It is called both the system board and the motherboard, the semantic load on these terms is exactly the same, when it is called one way or another, they mean the same thing. Thanks to the motherboard, all components of the system unit are mechanically fastened straight and with the help of special cables, and together with them their power and internal interconnection. There are also various controllers on it.

Processor and its cooling system

The microprocessor, which is part of the processor, performs most of the computing operations. Modern processors need good power consumption, and the temperature of some representatives even allows the kettle to boil, so you can't do without a cooling system:

Radiator - provides passive cooling for the processor, but one radiator can no longer cope with large heat emissions and therefore a special fan is usually attached to it for air cooling. And in general, it will probably not be possible to find a radiator separately from the fan.

There are alternative cooling systems, but these are usually required to exploit the overclocking potential of the CPU.

RAM module

Also, RAM is called RAM - random access memory, it is necessary to store temporary data, a good example is the clipboard when copying and then pasting. The processor transfers information to the RAM and, as necessary, takes it from there. A feature of RAM is almost lightning-fast performance, which makes it possible to exchange data with the processor at its own processing speed. It should be borne in mind that long-term storage of data is practically not achievable, RAM is a volatile component of a personal computer, when the power of the PC is turned off, all information will irrevocably disappear.

On the board of the module there are several microcircuits working as a whole, and for installation in the motherboard, for increasing the RAM, no tools are required, this operation can be easily done by yourself.

Hard disk and solid state drive

HDD, from English hard (magnetic) disk drive - provides an opportunity for long-term storage of information data, the operating system is usually installed in the hard disk partition. It is not mounted on the motherboard, in contrast to the operating board; a special cable is required to connect it. The cables that are used are determined by the hard drive itself, and this is either IDE or SATA (1,2,3). There is no IDE connector on modern motherboards.

Both individually and together with HDDs, modern personal computers are increasingly using a solid-state drive - SSD, which is based on flash memory, well suited for increasing the speed of a computer due to the high exchange of data with other components, compared to HDD. but at the same time they are more expensive. Therefore, to save money, small SSDs are used to install and operate the operating system, and a hard disk is used to store data. Recommended reading article: "What is better than SSD or HDD?".

Video adapter (Video card)

Video card is a graphics card, a device responsible for building (outputting) information on a monitor display. Modern motherboards come with integrated graphics adapters, which perform well both in office applications for watching high-quality video, and in non-resource-intensive games. For high-performance video tasks, the board is purchased separately, is mounted on the motherboard, and the variety of models is in perfect different price segments.

Optical disc drive

In the configuration of a modern computer, the optical drive is used less and less often compared to its previous popularity. Serves for reading and writing discs of various formats. It connects to the motherboard with a ribbon cable, just like a hard drive or solid-state drive.

Floppy disk drive and card reader

The floppy drive is no longer used for assemblies of modern computers, but it can still be found in older PCs. Older motherboards had a special connector.

On modern computers, it is more expedient to use a card reader that can read and write information from different types of flash drives.

Sound adapter, modem and LAN controller

The sound adapter is used to record and play sound; headphones, speakers and a microphone are connected to it. A modem is needed to connect and access the Internet, a network controller or network card is used to connect to the network and, like a modem, to access the Internet.

As part of the motherboard today, both a sound adapter and a network card are already built-in, but you can buy them in addition to expand the capabilities.

Modems, internal in the form of a board and external in the form of a peripheral device, although they are losing their popularity, are still used to connect to the Internet via a telephone line. More popular these days are 3G / 4G modems using a mobile connection.

Power Supply

The name speaks for itself, its main function is to supply electric current to all internal components of the computer system unit. Since the stability of the system's operation depends on its power, one should treat the choice with understanding or even make its purchase with a small margin, which will come in handy with a further upgrade (modernization) of the system unit components.

The composition of the personal computer and the system unit is not limited to these components, the configuration can be expanded, or components can be replaced as needed, and the line between understanding these terms has become a little clearer.

ProComputer.su

How the computer works - all the shelves for beginners - Useful about computers and programs

Page created: 2010-12-21, updated: 2017-06-04

A personal computer is a universal technical system.

Its configuration (equipment composition) can be flexibly changed as needed.

However, there is a concept of a basic configuration that is considered typical. This kit usually comes with a computer.

The basic configuration is subject to change.

Currently, four devices are considered in the basic configuration:

• system unit;
• monitor;
• keyboard;
• mouse.

Personal Computer

In addition to computers with a basic configuration, multimedia computers equipped with a CD-ROM device, speakers and a microphone are becoming more common.

Reference: "Yulmart" is by far the best and most convenient online store, where they will consult you for free when buying a computer of any configuration.

The system unit is the main unit within which the most important components are installed.

System unit

Devices located inside the system unit are called internal, and devices connected to it from the outside are called external.

External accessories for input, output and long-term storage of data are also called peripherals.

How the system unit works

System unit - insides

In appearance, the system units differ in the shape of the case.

Personal computer cases are produced in horizontal (desktop) and vertical (tower) versions.

Cases with vertical design are distinguished by their dimensions:

• full-size (big tower);
• mid-size (midi tower);
• small (mini tower).

Among the cases with horizontal design, there are flat and extra flat (slim).

The choice of this or that type of case is determined by the taste and needs of computer modernization.

The most optimal case type for most users is a mini tower case.

It has a small size, it is convenient to place it both on the desktop and on the bedside table near the desktop or on a special holder.

It has enough space to accommodate five to seven expansion cards.

In addition to shape, an important parameter for the case is called the form factor, which determines the requirements for the devices being placed.

Currently, cases of two form factors are mainly used: AT and ATX.

The form factor of the case must be consistent with the form factor of the main (system) board of the computer, the so-called motherboard.

PC cases are shipped with a power supply, and thus the power supply capacity is also one of the chassis parameters.

Computer power supply

For mass models, a 200-250 W power supply is sufficient.

The system unit includes (fits):

• Motherboard
• CPU
• RAM
• ROM chip and system BIOS
• Non-volatile CMOS memory
• HDD
• Floppy disk drive

Motherboard

Motherboard - the main board of a personal computer, which is a sheet of fiberglass coated with copper foil.

By etching the foil, thin copper conductors are obtained that connect the electronic components.

Motherboard (system) board

The motherboard contains:

• processor - the main microcircuit that performs most of the mathematical and logical operations;
• buses - sets of conductors through which signals are exchanged between the internal devices of the computer;
• random access memory (random access memory, RAM) - a set of microcircuits designed for temporary storage of data when the computer is turned on;
• ROM (read only memory) - a microcircuit designed for long-term data storage, including when the computer is turned off;
• microprocessor kit (chipset) - a set of microcircuits that control the operation of the computer's internal devices and determine the main functionality of the motherboard;
• connectors for connecting additional devices (slots).

CPU

Processor (microprocessor, central processing unit, CPU) - the main microcircuit of the computer, in which all calculations are performed.

It is a large microcircuit that can be easily found on the motherboard.

CPU

The processor has a large copper finned heatsink cooled by a fan.

CPU fan - cooler

Structurally, the processor consists of cells in which data can not only be stored, but also changed.

The internal cells of the processor are called registers.

It is also important to note that data in some registers is not treated as data, but as commands that control the processing of data in other registers.

Among the processor registers there are those that, depending on their content, are capable of modifying instruction execution. Thus, by controlling the transfer of data to different registers of the processor, you can control the processing of data.

The execution of programs is based on this.

With the rest of the computer's devices, and primarily with the RAM, the processor is connected by several groups of conductors, called buses.

There are three main buses: the data bus, the address bus and the command bus.

Address bus

Intel Pentium processors (namely, they are most common in personal computers) have a 32-bit address bus, that is, it consists of 32 parallel lines. Depending on whether there is voltage on one of the lines or not, they say that one or zero is set on this line. The combination of 32 zeros and ones forms a 32-bit address that points to one of the memory cells. A processor is connected to it to copy data from a cell to one of its registers.

Data bus

This bus is used to copy data from RAM to processor registers and vice versa. In computers built on the basis of Intel Pentium processors, the data bus is 64-bit, that is, it consists of 64 lines, along which 8 bytes are processed at once for processing.

Command bus

In order for a processor to process data, it needs instructions. He must know what to do with the bytes that are stored in his registers. These commands come to the processor also from the RAM, but not from the areas where the data arrays are stored, but from where the programs are stored. Commands are also represented as bytes. The simplest commands fit into one byte, but there are also those that require two, three or more bytes. Most modern processors have a 32-bit instruction bus (for example, the Intel Pentium processor), although there are 64-bit processors and even 128-bit ones.

During operation, the processor serves the data in its registers, in the field of RAM, as well as data in the external ports of the processor.

It interprets some of the data directly as data, some of the data as address data, and some as commands.

The set of all possible instructions that a processor can execute on data forms the so-called processor instruction set.

The main parameters of processors are:

• operating voltage
• digit capacity
• operating clock frequency
• internal clock multiplier
• cache size

The operating voltage of the processor is provided by the motherboard, therefore different motherboards correspond to different brands of processors (they must be chosen together). As processor technology develops, the operating voltage gradually decreases.

The bit capacity of the processor shows how many bits of data it can receive and process in its registers at a time (per clock cycle).

The processor is based on the same clock principle as in a regular watch. The execution of each command takes a certain number of measures.

In a wall clock, oscillations are set by a pendulum; in manual mechanical watches, they are set by a spring pendulum; in an electronic clock for this there is an oscillatory circuit that sets the clock of a strictly defined frequency.

In a personal computer, clock pulses are set by one of the microcircuits included in the microprocessor set (chipset) located on the motherboard.

The higher the frequency of clock cycles coming to the processor, the more commands it can execute per unit of time, the higher its performance.

The exchange of data within the processor is several times faster than the exchange with other devices, such as RAM.

In order to reduce the number of calls to the RAM, a buffer area is created inside the processor - the so-called cache memory. This is, as it were, "super-operative memory".

When the processor needs data, it first accesses the cache memory, and only if the required data is not there, it is called into the RAM.

Receiving a block of data from the main memory, the processor writes it simultaneously to the cache memory.

"Successful" cache hits are called cache hits.

The higher the hit rate, the larger the cache memory, so high-performance processors are equipped with an increased cache memory.

Often, the cache memory is distributed over several levels.

The first-level cache is executed in the same die as the processor itself, and has a volume of the order of tens of KB.

The L2 cache is located either in the processor die or in the same node as the processor, although it is executed on a separate die.

L1 and L2 caches operate at a frequency consistent with the processor core frequency.

The L3 cache is executed on high-speed SRAM chips and is located on the motherboard near the processor. Its volumes can reach several MB, but it works at the frequency of the motherboard.

Motherboard bus interfaces

The connection between all the motherboard's own and connected devices is performed by its buses and logical devices located in the microcircuits of the microprocessor set (chipset).

The architecture of these elements largely determines the performance of the computer.

Bus interfaces

ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) is an outdated system bus of IBM PC-compatible computers.

EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) - Extension of the ISA standard. It features an enlarged connector and increased performance (up to 32 MB / s). Like ISA, this standard is now considered obsolete.

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect - literally: the interconnection of peripheral components) is an I / O bus for connecting peripheral devices to the computer's motherboard.

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) - Developed in 1997 by Intel, a specialized 32-bit system bus for a video card. The main task of the developers was to increase performance and reduce the cost of the video card by reducing the amount of built-in video memory.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) - This standard defines the way a computer interacts with peripheral equipment. It allows you to connect up to 256 different serial devices. Devices can be switched on in chains (each next device is connected to the previous one). The USB bus performance is relatively low, up to 1.5 Mbit / s, but for devices such as a keyboard, mouse, modem, joystick and the like, this is sufficient. The convenience of the bus is that it practically eliminates conflicts between different equipment, allows you to connect and disconnect devices in “hot mode” (without turning off the computer) and allows you to combine several computers into a simple local network without the use of special hardware and software.

The parameters of the microprocessor kit (chipset) to the greatest extent determine the properties and functions of the motherboard.

Currently, most motherboard chipsets are based on two microcircuits called "Northbridge" and "Southbridge".

The North Bridge controls the interconnection of four devices: processor, RAM, AGP port and PCI bus. Therefore, it is also called a four-port controller.

The South Bridge is also called a functional controller. It performs the functions of a hard and floppy disk controller, ISA-PCI bridge, keyboard, mouse, USB bus controller, etc.

RAM

Random access memory (RAM) is an array of crystalline cells capable of storing data.

RAM

There are many different types of random access memory, but in terms of the physical principle of operation, a distinction is made between dynamic memory (DRAM) and static memory (SRAM).

Dynamic memory cells (DRAM) can be represented as microcapacitors capable of storing charge on their plates.

This is the most common and economically available type of memory.

The disadvantages of this type are associated, firstly, with the fact that both during charging and discharging of capacitors, transients are inevitable, that is, data recording is relatively slow.

The second important drawback is associated with the fact that the charges of the cells tend to dissipate in space, and very quickly.

If the RAM is not constantly "recharged", data loss occurs after a few hundredths of a second.

To combat this phenomenon, the computer constantly regenerates (refreshes, recharges) the RAM cells.

The regeneration is carried out several tens of times per second and causes an unproductive consumption of the resources of the computing system.

Static memory cells (SRAM) can be thought of as electronic microelements - triggers consisting of several transistors.

The trigger does not store the charge, but the state (on / off), so this type of memory provides higher performance, although it is technologically more complex and, accordingly, more expensive.

Dynamic memory chips are used as the main RAM of a computer.

Static memory chips are used as auxiliary memory (called cache memory) designed to optimize processor performance.

Each memory cell has its own address, which is expressed as a number.

One addressable cell contains eight binary cells in which 8 bits can be stored, that is, one data byte.

Thus, the address of any memory cell can be expressed in four bytes.

RAM in a computer is located on standard panels called modules.

The RAM modules are inserted into the corresponding connectors on the motherboard.

Structurally, the memory modules have two versions - single-row (SIMM-modules) and double-row (DIMM-modules).

The main characteristics of RAM modules are memory size and access time.

Access time shows how long it takes to access memory cells - the less, the better. Access times are measured in billionths of a second (nanoseconds, ns).

ROM chip and system BIOS

At the moment the computer is turned on, there is nothing in its RAM - neither data nor programs, since the RAM cannot store anything without recharging the cells for more than hundredths of a second, but the processor needs commands, including at the first moment after turning on.

Therefore, immediately after switching on, the start address is set on the processor address bus.

This happens in hardware, without the participation of programs (always the same).

The processor addresses the set address for its first command and then begins to work according to programs.

This source address cannot point to RAM, which has nothing in it yet.

It points to another type of memory - read only memory (ROM).

The ROM chip is capable of storing information for a long time, even when the computer is turned off.

Programs located in ROM are called "wired" - they are written there at the stage of manufacturing a microcircuit.

The set of programs located in ROM forms the basic input-output system (BIOS - Basic Input Output System).

Basic Input / Output System BIOS

The main purpose of the programs in this package is to check the composition and operability of the computer system and provide interaction with the keyboard, monitor, hard disk and floppy disk drive.

The programs included in the BIOS allow us to observe diagnostic messages on the screen that accompany the computer startup, as well as interfere with the startup process using the keyboard.

Non-volatile CMOS memory

The operation of standard devices, such as a keyboard, can be supported by programs included in the BIOS, but such means cannot provide work with all possible devices.

For example, BIOS manufacturers know absolutely nothing about the parameters of our hard and floppy disks, they do not know either the composition or properties of an arbitrary computing system.

In order to start working with other hardware, the programs included in the BIOS need to know where to find the required parameters.

For obvious reasons, they cannot be stored either in RAM or in permanent storage.

For this purpose, the motherboard has a "non-volatile memory" microcircuit called CMOS by manufacturing technology.

It differs from RAM in that its contents are not erased when the computer is turned off, and it differs from ROM in that data can be entered and changed into it independently, in accordance with what equipment is included in the system.

This microcircuit is constantly powered by a small battery located on the motherboard.

The charge of this battery is enough for the microcircuit not to lose data, even if the computer will not be turned on for several years.

The CMOS chip stores data about floppy and hard disks, about the processor, about some other devices on the motherboard.

The fact that the computer clearly keeps track of the time and calendar (even when turned off) is also due to the fact that the system clock is constantly stored (and changed) in the CMOS.

Thus, the programs written in the BIOS read data on the composition of the computer's hardware from the CMOS chip, after which they can access the hard disk, and, if necessary, the flexible one, and transfer control to those programs that are written there.

HDD

The hard disk is the main storage device for long-term storage of large amounts of data and programs.

In fact, it is not a single disc, but a group of coaxial discs that are magnetically coated and rotate at high speed.

Hard disk (hard drive)

Thus, this "disc" has not two surfaces, as a normal flat disc should have, but 2n surfaces, where n is the number of individual discs in a group.

Above each surface is a read-write head.

At high rotational speeds of the discs (90 r / s), an aerodynamic cushion is formed in the gap between the head and the surface, and the head hovers above the magnetic surface at a height of several thousandths of a millimeter.

When the current flowing through the head changes, the strength of the dynamic magnetic field in the gap changes, which causes changes in the stationary magnetic field of the ferromagnetic particles that form the coating of the disc. This is how data is written to the magnetic disc.

The read operation takes place in reverse order.

The magnetized particles of the coating, passing at high speed near the head, induce an EMF of self-induction in it.

The electromagnetic signals generated in this case are amplified and transmitted for processing.

The hard disk is controlled by a special hardware-logical device - the hard disk controller.

Currently, the functions of disk controllers are performed by microcircuits included in the microprocessor kit (chipset), although some types of high-performance hard disk controllers are still supplied on a separate board.

The main parameters of hard drives are capacity and performance.

Floppy disk drive

information on a hard disk can be stored for years, but sometimes it is necessary to transfer it from one computer to another.

Despite its name, the hard drive is a delicate device that is sensitive to overload, shock and shock.

Theoretically, it is possible to transfer information from one workplace to another by transferring a hard disk, and in some cases this is done, but nevertheless, this technique is considered non-technological, since it requires special accuracy and certain qualifications.

For the rapid transfer of small amounts of information, so-called floppy disks (floppy disks) are used, which are inserted into a special drive - a floppy drive.

Floppy disk drive

The drive inlet is located on the front panel of the system unit.

Since 1984, 5.25-inch high-density (1.2 MB) floppy disks have been produced.

5.25-inch drives are not used these days, and the corresponding drives are not shipped in the basic configuration of personal computers after 1994.

3.5-inch floppy disks have been produced since 1980.

Nowadays, 3.5-inch high-density disks are considered standard. They have a capacity of 1440 KB (1.4 MB) and are labeled with the letters HD (high density).

On the lower side, the flexible disk has a central bushing, which is gripped by the drive spindle and rotated.

The magnetic surface is covered with a sliding shutter to protect it from moisture, dirt and dust.

If the floppy disk contains valuable data, it can be protected from erasure and overwriting by sliding the security latch to create an open hole.

Floppy disks are considered unreliable storage media.

Dust, dirt, moisture, temperature fluctuations and external electromagnetic fields are very common causes of partial or complete loss of data stored on a floppy disk.

Therefore, using floppy disks as the main storage medium is unacceptable.

They are used only for transporting information or as an additional (backup) storage medium.

CD-ROM drive

The abbreviation CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) is translated into Russian as a read-only storage device based on a CD.

CD-ROM drive

The principle of operation of this device is to read numerical data using a laser beam reflected from the surface of the disk.

Digital CD recording differs from magnetic disc recording at a very high density, and a standard CD can store approximately 650 MB of data.

Large amounts of data are typical for multimedia information (graphics, music, video), therefore CD-ROM drives are referred to as multimedia hardware.

Software products distributed on laser discs are called multimedia publications.

Today, multimedia publications are gaining an ever stronger place among other traditional types of publications.

For example, there are books, albums, encyclopedias and even periodicals (electronic journals) published on CD-ROM.

The main disadvantage of standard CD-ROM drives is the inability to write data, but in parallel with them there are both CD-R (Compact Disk Recorder) and CD-RW rewritable devices.

The main parameter for CD-ROM drives is the read speed.

Currently, the most widespread are CD-ROM readers with a performance of 32x-50x. Modern samples of write-once devices have a performance of 4x-8x, and re-write devices - up to 4x.

sd-company.su

System unit.

In the previous lesson Lesson # 22. What a computer consists of. Appearance. dismantled what the computer externally consists of, and now let's get inside the device.

The system unit consists of:

The case protects the internal components of the computer from external influences and mechanical damage, maintains the required temperature regime inside, and shields the electromagnetic radiation generated by the internal components.

Motherboard. A motherboard (English motherboard, MB; also mainboard, slang. Mom, mother, motherboard) is a complex multilayer printed circuit board, which is the basis for building a computing system (computer).

Power Supply. (BP) - a secondary power source designed to supply computer nodes with DC electrical energy by converting the mains voltage to the required values.

HDD. in computer slang "winchesster" is a random access memory device (information storage device) based on the principle of magnetic recording. It is the main storage device for most computers.

Random access memory. random access memory; RAM; (in the comp. jarg. RAM) - a volatile part of the computer memory system, in which, during the operation of the computer, the executable machine code (programs), as well as input, output and intermediate data processed by the processor are stored.

Video card. (also a video card, video card? pter, graphic ad? pter, graphic card, graphic card, graphic accelerator, 3D card) - a device that converts a graphic image, stored as the contents of computer memory (or the adapter itself), in a form suitable for further display on the monitor screen.

Drive. a computer device that allows reading and writing information to a removable storage medium in the form of a disk. The main characteristics of the drive are the type and capacity of the removable media used, the read / write speed, the type of interface and the form factor (embedded (internal) or external).

Network Card. an optional device that allows the computer to communicate with other devices on the network. Currently, in personal computers and laptops, the controller and components that perform the functions of a network card are quite often integrated into motherboards for convenience, including driver unification and reducing the cost of the entire computer as a whole.

CPU. English central processing unit, CPU, literally - central processing unit) - an electronic unit or an integrated circuit (microprocessor) that executes machine instructions (program code), the main part of the hardware of a computer or a programmable logic controller. Sometimes referred to as a microprocessor or simply a processor. Usually many system units are called a processor. Do not confuse a system unit with a processor. These are two different things in a computer. The system unit is where the computer components are installed. A processor is a small device smaller than a matchbox. You see the processor in the picture.

Radiator.

Serves to protect the processor from overheating during operation. On high-power processors, heat sinks can weigh up to 3 kilograms. They are usually made of duralumin. They have a ribbed structure.

(fan). Typically installed over the processor heatsink, it creates airflow directed towards the heatsink during operation. Thus, accelerating the process of cooling the processor.

The assembled system case looks like the picture shown.

The figure shows the system unit of one of the powerful computers. In general, it is sufficient to use a computer with average capabilities.

I hope that I was able to explain to you what a system unit is and how is a system unit different from a processor?

Find out here why you need to become a reader of this blog?

The most important block is the system one.Actually, this is the computer, at least, its most important component.

The system unit contains the main devices for receiving, transmitting, processing and storing information. It is to it that all, without exception, computer devices are connected, for example, a monitor, keyboard, printer.

All the main components of a computer that can be replaced, removed or added are either inside the system unit or connected to it from the outside. Thus, all the strength and power of the computer is located precisely in the system unit.

System unit (also called systemist or body) Is a case that houses the various functional components of a computer.

The outer shell, namely the body, is usually made on the basis of steel, aluminum and plastic, less often organic glass or wood is used.

As a rule, there are many holes on the case, and this is not at all accidental. These openings are provided for good ventilation, which is essential for the smooth operation of your computer.

Power and Reset buttons

It is necessary to pay attention to two buttons that are located on the front panel of the system unit: the computer power button POWER (large, clearly visible) and usually next to it a small button to restart the computer RESET (in the picture on the left).

Reset and Power buttons

The RESET button is small, but remote. If the computer "freezes", does not react in any way to any of your commands, then you can try using a pencil to press this button in order to restart the computer.

However, there is no such miracle RESET button on some system units, and it certainly is not on a laptop.

Decktop and Tower system units

System units differ in different form factors (sizes) and, accordingly, in their appearance.

Tower system unit

There are the following types of cases:

The first to appear was a desktop-type system unit. Monitors were then relatively small and they were placed directly on desktops. Then it turned out that many users did not want to clutter up their workplace and towers began to come to the fore. Subsequently, they took leading positions.

The towers are divided into four subtypes, which differ in height. In ascending order, these are:

1. micro (Micro Tower),
2. mini (Mini Tower),
3. midi (Midi Tower - medium) and
4. complete (Big Tower).

As practice shows, in most cases, Midi Tower and Big Tower cases are purchased. This is due to the fact that the energy consumption and the amount of heat generated by modern components require an appropriate size of the case and its internal organization.

Desktops have survived either on very old computers, or sometimes can be found on new models. Old CRT monitors (cathode ray tubes) with a large diagonal when placed on a desktop could damage it with their weight.

Decktop with LCD monitor

The advent of LCD monitors (liquid crystal), which are significantly lighter than CRT monitors, gave a second life to desktop cases. Nowadays, they are used when you want to place the entire computer on the desktop while saving space. This option is used in some educational institutions and offices.

If we talk about saving space on the desktop when placing the entire computer on it and at the same time have a large budget , then one cannot but recall one more case of the system unit, which in the future, possibly, will take a leading position.

A monoblock is a type of computer that fits a monitor and a system unit in one case. At the same time, a bunch of wires and fan noise disappear into oblivion.

Some of the system unit is called a "box", some "processor" and many more different names, they even sometimes use it for other purposes, for example, they warm their feet.

And so, in this article I will write in detail and even show what is inside the system unit, as well as what the case is.

Many people (and maybe not people) wondered "what's inside that box over there?" ...

System unit:

Housing

To begin with, I will tell you a little about the cases.

Computer cases come in various standards, such as MiniTower, MidiTower, BigTower, Server Case, etc. and they are all designed for the same purpose - to store the main parts of a computer.

Housings are usually made of sheet metal, aluminum, panels are usually plastic, but also from other materials.

Let's take an example of a MidiTower case:

The photo shows the main areas in which should or may be located:

1. power Supply;
2. case fans;
3. motherboard (ATX or MiniATX format);
4. devices 5.25 ";
5. devices 3.5 ".

There may be cases where you can put case fans both from the bottom and from the top, as well as, for example, more than one on the back panel, on the side cover, etc.

There are cases where the power supply is on the bottom, and not as in the photo, where it should be on top.

Motherboard

The motherboard is the main part of the system unit, because without it nothing will work.

Motherboards come in ATX, MiniATX, etc. I will give you an example of an ATX motherboard.

1. socket for the processor;
2. additional power for the processor;
3. rAM slots;
4. under the radiator is the north bridge;
5. there is the south bridge under the radiator;
6. pCI-E x16 slot for a video card;
7. pCI slot;
8. battery;
9. sATA connectors;
10. connector for hard drives IDE;
11. i almost forgot, the main power connector;
12. connector for a flop drive;
13. connector for a processor fan;
14. pCI-E x1 slot;
15. connectors for connecting a socket on the case;
16. connectors for connecting additional USB;
17. connector for connecting audio devices on the front panel of the case;
18. connector for case fans.

Now let's take a closer look at some of the elements on the motherboard.

A socket for a processor, also called a socket, is needed in order to connect a processor to it, currently there are a lot of different sockets for different processors, for example, here is 775 (for Intel processors):

And here is the 939 socket (for Athlon processors):

The following photo shows the north bridge without a radiator:

It serves to connect (transfer information) to each other 3 main components of a computer - a processor, RAM, video card, as well as transfer information from the south bridge to the processor.

South Bridge:

The south bridge processes and transmits information to the processor through the north bridge from input / output devices.

Finally, the back panel of this motherboard looks like this:

It is needed to connect various input / output devices.

CPU

The processor, so to speak, is the brain of the computer, without which, as you probably already understood, the computer cannot process any information.

The main characteristics of processors are clock frequency, cache (of any level), bus frequency.

The photo shows 3 different processors, there is even a slot processor. On the left s939 AMD Athlon, on the right s775 Intel C2D E6750, and on top, Slot 1 Intel Pentium III 600MHz.

Photo from the other side:

Cooling for processors

Processors emit a lot of heat, which is why they need to be cooled, otherwise they will simply stop working over time, and besides, without cooling the PC will not work even a minute, because overheating protection will work, and if the processor is of an old model, it will simply burn out.

Cooling can be air or water. Let's talk only about air.

Air cooling can be active or passive. Passive is when only a radiator is installed on the processor, in this way processors that do not heat up so much are cooled, usually such processors are installed on laptops.

Active cooling consists of a heatsink and a fan, and together this is called a "cooler".

Radiators are made of different materials, usually aluminum, copper. There are also radiators that are based on heat pipes (the most efficient), or mixed, that is, the core can be copper, and the fins can be aluminum.

Cooler on heat pipes:

Aluminum heatsink on slot processor:

Cooler with aluminum radiator:

Cooler with copper heatsink:

And this is how the disassembled Asus V60 cooler looks like, which was shown before:

RAM

RAM is of different types, a very long time ago there were once SIMMs, then DIMMs appeared, then DDR, DDR2 and at the end DDR3, this is for desktop PCs, there is also memory for servers, such as FB-DIMM and simple DDR, DDR2, DDR3 also for servers but with ECC support.

The main characteristics of RAM are its capacity, bus frequency, as well as timings (delays).

The photo shows (from top to bottom) DIMM, DDR, DDR2.

Video card

Initially, video cards were needed only to display text on the screen, as well as primitive graphics, now they are used for games, various graphics, processing various information (for example, video transcoding), and the video card is many times more powerful than the processor, you can cite even an example: I don't remember the exact numbers, but the 4-core processor transcoded the video in 4 hours, and the video card, the same video, in 20 minutes.

I don’t know exactly which ones appeared first, but there were first video cards that were inserted into the ISA and PCI slots, then a special AGP slot appeared, and now there is a PCI-E and PCI-E2 slot.

This is what a PCI-E video card looks like:

The main elements on a video card are the processor (1) and memory (2). 3 - connector for connecting a fan, there may also be connectors for additional power.

The main characteristics of the video card: processor frequency, shader frequency, memory size, memory frequency, memory type, bus width, as well as what outputs are available on the video card. There are outputs such as D-SUB, DVI, HDMI, DVI-I, DVI-D, DisplayPort and others.

Power Supply

A power supply is needed by a computer to convert and transfer energy to the elements of the computer. It works like a heart :)