What if your computer broke? You could aways buy a new one, but where is the fun in that? If, one day, the computer where I’m writing breaks, I will build one from scratch. However, how would I do this? In order to answer this question, I researched the key components of a computer, their respective functions, and the materials needed.
Computers are similar to a human being, being composed of different parts that act as organs to fulfill diverse activities.
The CPU is the brain of the computer, responsible for reading and executing the instructions from the computer’s memory and software applications. In summary, the CPU interprets data from input devices, processes it, and sends it to output devices.
RAM fulfills the role of short-term memory, storing information that the CPU needs for rapid access, speeding up processing times. However, the data in RAM is lost when the computer is turned off.
The storage device is similar to RAM, but instead of being short-term memory is long-term memory, holding data and programs permanently. There are two different main types: Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid-Satet Drives (SSD). HDDs use spinning disks to read/write data, offering large storage capacities at a lower cost. SSDs use flash memory, which is faster and more reliable but often more expensive.
The Motherboard is similar to the nervous system, connecting and allowing communication between all the components of the computer.
Akin to how the heart pumps blood to distribute oxygen throughout the body, the power supply provides the necessary power to all components of the computer.
Input Devices act as sensory organs, allowing users to provide data to the computer. The input devices could also be considered as a way to talk to your computer.
Output Devices convey information from the computer to the user, akin to how the mouth and ears communicate information from the brain to the outside world. Thus, output devices transform the system’s binary information into visuals the user can understand.
The Graphics Card is important to provide rendered images, videos and animations, such as how the visual cortex in the brain processes visual information.
The cooling system manages the heat generated by the computer’s components to prevent overheating and other accidents, similar to how sweat regulates body temperature.
Enabling the computer to connect to a network, the Network Interface Card is a key component for the user to use the computer. NICs can be wired, using Ethernet cables, or wireless, using Wi-Fi. The NIC is responsible for sending and receiving data over the network, allowing the computer to communicate with other devices and access the internet.