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Computer systems, or simply computer hardware, form the backbone of a computer along with its operating software, A computer system is the sum of many parts, namely Monitor, Central Processing Unit, Keyboard, Mouse, and more.

The system unit is the actual computer; everything else is called a peripheral device. Hardware includes the physical components, such as the motherboard, chips, memory, and hard drives.

Hardware is constantly improving in a kind of leapfrog fashion. It is most often the bottleneck when it comes to data transfer speeds, or how fast a software program can work.

Motherboard – A motherboard is the central or primary printed circuit board (PCB) making up a complex electronic system, of a modern computer or laptop. It is the underlying circuit board of a computer.

The central processing unit (CPU), Random Access Memory (RAM), hard drive(s), disk drives and optical drives are all plugged into interfaces on the motherboard. A video interface and sound card can be optionally built-in or added.

CPU – Also known as the Central Processing Unit or processor, the CPU is essentially the brains of your computer. Without the CPU, you wouldnt be able to play games, type research papers, or surf the Internet. Your computer would basically be a very expensive paperweight.

Microprocessor – Its the heart of the computer. The basic functionality of a microprocessor is all based on the inherent ability to respond to and generate mathematical and logical operations.

At the core of the design for the microprocessor is a series of logical instructions that regulate the order that tasks are received and executed.

RAM – Random access memory or RAM most commonly refers to computer chips that temporarily store dynamic data to enhance computer performance. The computer can access the data faster than if it to retrieve it from the far-larger hard drive.

Random access memory is also used in printers and other devices. Random access memory is volatile memory, meaning it loses its contents once power is cut.

Hard Disk – A hard drive, also known as a hard disk drive or HDD, is a fundamental part of modern computers. The hard drive is where all of your programs and files are stored, so if the drive is damaged for some reason, you will lose everything on your computer.

Hard drives contain round, mirror-like platters that are covered with some magnetic recording medium. The platters inside a hard disk drive are usually made of glass or aluminum.

Monitors – Monitors serve as a medium between the user and the computer. Now days they are mainly available in two types;

1) CRT – CRT stands for cathode ray tube describing the technology inside, it readily recognizable by its bulky form. The CRT monitor creates a picture out of many rows or lines of tiny colored dots.

These are technically not the same thing as pixels, but the terms are often used interchangeably. The more lines of dots per inch, the higher and clearer the resolution.

2) LCD – LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, referring to the technology behind these popular flat panel monitors. LCDs are commonly 1 – 3 inches (2.5 – 7.5 cm) thick and weigh less than 10 pounds (4.5 k).

The LCD monitor consists of five layers: a backlight, a sheet of polarized glass, a mask of colored pixels, a layer of liquid crystal solution responsive to a wired grid of x, y coordinates, and a second polarized sheet of glass.

By manipulating the orientations of crystals through precise electrical charges of varying degrees and voltages, the crystals act like tiny shutters, opening or closing in response to the stimulus, thereby allowing degrees of light that have passed through specific colored pixels to illuminate the screen.

The LCD monitor is brighter than a CRT, giving the consumer little reason to hunt for an especially bright model. Brightness is measured in nits, or one candela per square meter. Anywhere from 250 – 300 nits is standard. If the units are much higher you all likely end up adjusting.