freeCodeCamp/guide/english/computer-hardware/index.md

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title: Computer Hardware
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## Computer Hardware

In this section, we explore the various hardware components of modern computers. 

## Parts of a Personal Computer

### Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions.
  
![Intel Core i7](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MOTjmtg2L.jpg)

### Expansion Cards (eg. GPU)
A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device.
  
![Nvidia Titan XP](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/nvidia-titan-x.jpg)  
  
### Storage (SSD or HDD)
The Solid State Drive (SSD) or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) are used to store information on the computer. It retains the memory even after loss of power.
  
![SSD](https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImage/20-147-373-09.jpg)  
  
### Memory (RAM)
Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data storage which stores data and machine code currently being used. A random-access memory device allows data items to be read or written in almost the same amount of time irrespective of the physical location of data inside the memory.
  
![Ram](https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImage/20-232-476-S01.jpg)  

### Case
A case is used to house all the components of a computer.
  
![Case](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41Wq97Jk20L._SL500_AC_SS350_.jpg)  
  
### Power Supply
A power supply is an electronic device that supplies electric energy to an electrical load.
 
 ![Power Supply](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/SFX_PC-PSU_Delta_IMG_9760.JPG/620px-SFX_PC-PSU_Delta_IMG_9760.JPG)
 
### Motherboard
Motherboard holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central processing unit (CPU) and memory, and provides connectors for other peripherals.
  
![Motherboard](https://fthmb.tqn.com/mmTUdCN6UBGIKlkEggGq4fpV-3k=/768x0/filters:no_upscale()/gig-57c732ed3df78c71b60e7aa5.jpg)  
  
### Input and Output devices (eg. Keyboard and Mouse)
Input/Output device is any hardware used by a human operator or other systems to communicate with a computer.

![I/O Devices](https://www.clasohlson.com/medias/sys_master/9225929949214.jpg)

### Monitor
A computer monitor is an output device which displays information in pictorial form.
  
![Monitor](https://assets.pcmag.com/media/images/523934-dell-ultrasharp-34-curved-monitor-u3417w.jpg?thumb=y)