Whenever you purchase or build a personal computer, you’ll come across a lot of technical terms for the various internal components. It’s easy to get lost in all the techie jargon and abbreviations. In this article, we’ll break down the main computer parts and explain what they do in plain language.
The CPU (Processor) - The Brains This is the main processor chip, often referred to simply as the “processor.” The CPU carries out all the primary calculations and logical operations on computer programs and data. Common specifications you’ll see for CPUs include:
Cores - Modern CPUs have multiple processing “cores” that allow it to handle multiple operations at once. More cores means better multitasking.
Clock speed - Given in gigahertz (GHz), this indicates the processing cycles per second. Higher is better for performance.
Cache - Smaller memory banks on the CPU for accessing data more quickly. More cache increases performance.
The GPU (Graphics Card) - The Creative Workhorse The graphics processing unit handles all video, animation, and graphical operations. For gaming and video editing, a dedicated GPU is required. Important specs are:
CUDA Cores or Stream Processors - Parallel computing cores in the GPU to handle calculations.
Memory - Amount of dedicated high-speed memory on the GPU card itself. 4+ GB is recommended for gaming.
Interfaces - Newer PCIe 4.0 is faster than PCIe 3.0 slot connections to the motherboard.
RAM (Memory) - The Short-Term Memory This is not to be confused with storage space. RAM provides high-speed access for temporarily storing data during active use for efficient loading/running. Specs to note:
Capacity - 8GB is minimum, but 16GB or 32GB is recommended for best performance.
Speed - Given in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). Faster RAM improves overall speed.
Storage - The Long-Term Memory Storage saves data, apps, and files more permanently. There are two main types:
HDDs - Hard disk drives store data on spinning magnetic disks. Cheaper but slower performance. Top capacity goes into terabytes (TB).
SSDs - Solid state drives have no moving parts and use flash memory chips. Much faster read/write speeds but more expensive per GB. Top NVMe SSDs reach capacities around 2TB.
The Motherboard - The Base Framework This main printed circuit board provides the foundational pathways for communications between all computer parts and peripherals. Ensure your motherboard has compatible connection ports and that it supports your CPU/RAM generation.
Beyond the core components above, other parts like the power supply, case, and accessories matter too. But understanding these key pieces - the CPU processor, GPU graphics, RAM memory, and storage - goes a long way in helping evaluate and choose computer hardware when building or shopping for a new desktop or laptop PC.