Computer hardware
Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), motherboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, and computer case. It includes external devices such as a monitor, mouse, keyboard, and speakers.[1][2]
By contrast, software is the set of instructions that can be stored and run by hardware. Hardware is so-termed because it is hard or rigid with respect to changes, whereas software is soft because it is easy to change.
Hardware is typically directed by the software to execute any command or
Von Neumann architecture
The template for all modern computers is the
Types of computer systems
Personal computer
The
Laptops are designed for portability but operate similarly to desktop PCs.[5] They may use lower-power or reduced size components, with lower performance than a similarly priced desktop computer.[6] Laptops contain the keyboard, display, and processor in one case. The monitor in the folding upper cover of the case can be closed for transportation, to protect the screen and keyboard. Instead of a mouse, laptops may have a touchpad or pointing stick.
Some tablets include fold-out keyboards or offer connections to separate external keyboards. Some models of laptop computers have a detachable keyboard, which allows the system to be configured as a touch-screen tablet. They are sometimes called "2-in-1 detachable laptops" or "tablet-laptop hybrids".[7]
Case
A computer case encloses most of the components of a desktop computer system. It provides mechanical support and protection for internal elements such as the motherboard, disk drives, and power supply, and controls and directs the flow of cooling air over internal components. The case is also part of the system to control electromagnetic interference radiated by the computer and protects internal parts from electrostatic discharge. Large
Power supply
A power supply unit (PSU) converts alternating current (AC) electric power to low-voltage direct current (DC) power for the computer. The PSU typically uses a
Laptops can run on a built-in rechargeable battery.[9]
Motherboard
The motherboard is the main component of a computer. It is a board with
Components directly attached to or to part of the motherboard include:
- A overclockthe CPU which enhances performance at the expense of greater thermal output and thus a need for improved cooling.
- The fan control.
- dual in-line memory modules(DIMMs) in the sizes of 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB, but can be much larger.
- Bootstrapping, or "booting" or "booting up". The ROM is typically a nonvolatile BIOS memory chip, which stores data on floating-gate MOSFETmemory cells.
- The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface(UEFI) instead of BIOS.
- The
- Buses that connect the CPU to various internal components and to expand cards for graphics and sound.
- The watch battery.
- The MOS integrated circuit(MOS IC) chips.
- Power MOSFETs make up the voltage regulator module (VRM), which controls how much voltage other hardware components receive.[8]
Expansion cards
An expansion card in computing is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer system via the expansion bus. Expansion cards can be used to obtain or expand on features not offered by the motherboard.
Storage devices
A storage device is computer hardware or digital media that is used for storing, porting, and extracting data files and objects. It can hold and store information either temporarily or permanently and can be internal or external to a computer. Data storage is a core function and fundamental component of computers. Dedicated storage devices include RAIDs and tape libraries.
Fixed media
Data is stored by a computer using a variety of media.
Removable media
To transfer data between computers, an external
Input and output peripherals
Input and output devices are typically housed externally to the main computer chassis. The following are either standard or very common to many computer systems.
Input device
Output device
Mainframe computer
A mainframe computer is a much larger computer that typically fills a room and may cost many hundreds or thousands of times as much as a personal computer. They are designed to perform large numbers of calculations for governments and large enterprises.
Departmental computing
In the 1960s and 1970s, more and more departments started to use cheaper and dedicated systems for specific purposes like
Supercomputer
A
The term supercomputer does not refer to a specific technology. Rather it indicates the fastest computations available at any given time. In mid-2011, the fastest supercomputers boasted speeds exceeding one petaflop, or 1 quadrillion (10^15 or 1,000 trillion) floating-point operations per second. Supercomputers are fast but extremely costly, so they are generally used by large organizations to execute computationally demanding tasks involving large data sets. Supercomputers typically run military and scientific applications. Although costly, they are also being used for commercial applications where huge amounts of data must be analyzed. For example, large banks employ supercomputers to calculate the risks and returns of various investment strategies, and healthcare organizations use them to analyze giant databases of patient data to determine optimal treatments for various diseases and problems incurring to the country.
systems on chip more generally. You can help by adding to it . (October 2018) |
Hardware upgrade
When using computer hardware, an
In large organizations, hardware upgrades are handled by
Sales
Global revenue from computer hardware in 2023 reached $705.17 billion.[17]
Recycling
Because computer parts contain hazardous materials, there is a growing movement to recycle old and outdated parts.[18] Computer hardware contain dangerous chemicals such as lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium. According to the EPA these e-wastes have a harmful effect on the environment unless they are disposed of properly. Making hardware requires energy, and recycling parts will reduce air pollution, water pollution, as well as greenhouse gas emissions.[19] Disposing unauthorized computer equipment is in fact illegal. Legislation makes it mandatory to recycle computers through the government approved facilities. Recycling a computer can be made easier by taking out certain reusable parts. For example, the RAM, DVD drive, the graphics card, hard drive or SSD, and other similar removable parts can be reused.
Many materials used in computer hardware can be recovered by recycling for use in future production. Reuse of
Toxic computer components
The central processing unit contains many toxic materials. It contains lead and chromium in the metal plates. Resistors, semiconductors, infrared detectors, stabilizers, cables, and wires contain cadmium. The circuit boards in a computer contain mercury, and chromium.[24] When these types of materials, and chemicals are disposed improperly will become hazardous for the environment.
Environmental effects
The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (January 2020) |
According to the
Computer components contain many toxic substances, like dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cadmium, chromium, radioactive isotopes and mercury. Circuit boards contain considerable quantities of lead-tin solders that are more likely to leach into groundwater or create air pollution due to incineration. In US landfills, about 40% of the lead content levels are from e-waste.[28] The processing (e.g. incineration and acid treatments) required to reclaim these precious substances may release, generate, or synthesize toxic byproducts.
Recycling of computer hardware is considered environmentally friendly because it prevents hazardous waste, including heavy metals and carcinogens, from entering the atmosphere, landfill or waterways. While electronics consist a small fraction of total waste generated, they are far more dangerous. There is stringent legislation designed to enforce and encourage the sustainable disposal of appliances, the most notable being the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive of the European Union and the United States National Computer Recycling Act.[29]
Efforts for minimizing computer hardware waste
As computer hardware contain a wide number of metals inside, the United States
Some companies, such as Dell and Apple, will recycle computers of their make or any other make. Otherwise, a computer can be donated to Computer Aid International which is an organization that recycles and refurbishes old computers for hospitals, schools, universities, etc.[31]
See also
References
- ^ "Parts of computer". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-07-212990-8.
- ^ von Neumann, John (30 June 1945). First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC (PDF) (Report). University of Pennsylvania. Contract No. W-670-ORD-4926. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ Markgraf, Joey D. (2007). "The Von Neumann bottleneck". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ISBN 9780072129908.
- ^ "Desktop computer vs. Laptop computer". Computer Hope. 30 December 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Cipriani, Jason (29 May 2020). "Best 2-in-1 Detachable Laptops 2020: The Best Tablet-Laptop Hybrids". IGN. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
- ^ a b Harding, Scharon (17 September 2019). "What Is a MOSFET? A Basic Definition". Tom's Hardware. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "How long should a laptop battery last?". Computer Hope. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- ^ "13 Sextillion & Counting: The Long & Winding Road to the Most Frequently Manufactured Human Artifact in History". Computer History Museum. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
- ^ Domingo, Joel. "SSD vs. HDD: What's the Difference?". PCMag. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- PCWorld. Archivedfrom the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
- ISBN 9780072129908.
- ISBN 978-0226326832.
- ISBN 978-1133607298.
- ISBN 0899309690.
- ^ "Computer Hardware Market Size, Trends and Global Forecast To 2032". The Business Research Company. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "How to recycle your old computer". Digital Trends. 18 December 2016. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Newtech Recycling Specializes in Computer Disposal, Laptop Disposal, Desktop Disposal Mainframe Disposal and Server Disposal". Newtech Recycling, Inc. Archived from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ Robert-Tissot, Sarah (2011). "TANTALUM". Royal Australian Chemical instatute. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ Padilla, Abraham (February 2019). "TANTALUM" (PDF). United states geological survey. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ Bleiwas, D (July 2001). "Obsolete Computers, "Gold Mine," or High-Tech Trash? Resource Recovery from Recycling" (PDF). USGS. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ LeBlanc, Rick. "Electronic Devices a Rich Source of Precious Metals for Recyclers". The Balance Small Business. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ "The Toxic Components of Computers and Monitors". Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ "What's Going On with Electronic Waste? – Electronics TakeBack Coalition". Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
- ^ "Wire Recycling". All-Recycling-Facts.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Computer equipment recycling – Essential Guide". ComputerWeekly. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- ^ Toothman, Jessika (2 June 2008). "What Happens to your Discarded Old Computer?". HowStuffWorks.
- ^ National Computer Recycling Act of 2005, H.R. 425, 109th Cong. (2005–2006)
- ^ T. Gallo, Daniel (15 July 2013). "Broad Overview of E-Waste Management Policies in the U.S." (PDF). www.epa.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
- from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
External links
- Media related to Computer hardware at Wikimedia Commons
- Computer hardware at Wikibooks
- Learning materials related to Computer hardware at Wikiversity