Basic Computer Parts Information

If you want to build your own computer, you must first know the functions of each major parts of a computer before you head out and buy its parts. So far there are only eleven major parts of computer that you need to keep in mind. It’s easy to connect these eleven items so you don’t have to worry about how you can possibly build your own PC. Here’s a simple list of computer parts that you should keep in mind especially when you are planning to build your own computer. This can help you decide on which parts to buy especially if you are new to this hobby or don’t have any idea what these parts are for.

CPU: When you are buying computer parts, the first computer part that should be on top of your list is the CPU. You will build your computer unit around the CPU. You can choose from Intel or AMD chips. These 2 brands are available at a wide range of speeds and prices. When deciding what kind of CPU to buy, you must ask yourself if you want a basic “homework and internet” computer, or something faster and higher priced like for gaming purposes. This most basic decision can help determine various choices that you’ll make later on specifically when choosing other parts of your computer.

When you buy a CPU, it usually comes with a CPU- heat sink -fan bundle. Heat sink fan actually absorbs and dissipates heat from the microprocessor. If the heat sink fan you bought is really efficient, it can definitely be used for overclocking which means, it is perfect for greater cooling needs of your computer. Overclocked computer system provides higher microprocessor’s cooling rate. If your computer’s microprocessor is on its peak, you’re sure to have faster computer which can operate without instability. There are available CPU – heat sink – fans in the market but it usually costs a lot cheaper when you buy them together. Besides, you can be sure that it will work properly because companies test their products before customers buy them.

Motherboard: You can pick the right motherboard of the same socket type once you’ve decided on the CPU. There are many features to consider when buying a CPU such as how many PCI expansion slots that you will need and if you want a built in video on the motherboard or the separate one. Today, most motherboards come with sound and video on board but if you are going to use your computer for hard core gaming then a separate video card is advisable.

Hard Drive: When choosing a hard drive for your computer, you should ask yourself how much storage capacity you need. If you are going to use your computer primarily to do homework or research then 40GBs hard drive will be enough space for you to use. But for those who are going to use their computers to edit videos and the like then they should get at least 200GBs or more storage. A fast hard drive is also advisable when you are going to capture analog video using your computer to avoid dropped frames.

CD/DVD: You can still find very reliable but plain CD-ROMs in the market today but since CD and DVD are commonly used as medium of exchange for data then a good rewritable combo drive is a better choice than plain CD-ROMs. A rewritable combo drive is very useful especially when you want to share personal movies to your friends and family. It’s much reasonable to spend a couple more bucks for a drive that will do DVDs as well as CDs than plain CD-ROMs.

Floppy: There are a lot of people that have eliminated floppy drives in their computers. Although they can provide a way to save your computer that is crippled by a virus but that can also be solved with a good anti virus software and knowledge on how to use your computer properly. Another reason why fewer people are using Floppy disk is because Flash Drive has become cheaper as well as its ability to store tremendous amount of data as compared to Floppy disks.

Graphics Card: If you decided to use your computer for hard core gaming then a good Graphic card is necessary. You can still play games using the built in video on the motherboard but for maximum gaming experience, buy the best Graphic card that you can buy. Just remember that the more memory on the card, the better for games and such. People who do photo manipulation or video editing also needs high video cards.

Modem: If you are still stuck with dialup then get yourself a 56K modem. You find modems at cheaper prices now. You may also want to check available internet providers in your area. DSL and Broadband connections are cheaper today than before. If you have decided to go for a DSL or Broadband connection, then you should check the motherboard if it has a built in LAN card. If not, you should also get one.

Cases and Power Supply: The computer case holds all this wonderful stuff together. Computer cases today are no longer limited to tower types or like a box with air holes punched in it. Box type and compact type are some of the computer case designs that you will find in the market today.

One of the major concerns of people who want to build their own computer is the power supply. You may find the perfect computer case that you want but you will be annoyed with the power supply that the manufacturers paired up with that computer case. Sometimes you can even find a computer case that is paired with a power supply under 300 watts. If you’re a gamer, you will need a power supply that provides 450 watts or more.

Cooling Fans: You might want some add-ons to complete the package. Just like adding neon lights or extra cooling fan to your computer case. Your computer hardware parts (i.e. processor, motherboard, graphic cards, hard drives and etc.) generate a lot of heat and can affect your computer’s performance when you use it. A good cooling system can keep your computer in good running condition. Too much heat in your computer can result to computer problems such as system freezes or crashes as well as shorter life-span for overheated parts. Additional cooling fans produce proper airflow for the purpose of reducing the heat, providing ventilation, exhaust, or any other gaseous transport. There are a lot of computer cooling systems available in the market today and choosing the right cooling system for your computer can do a lot to your PC’s performance. You can also opt to use the bundled fan that comes with the computer case you bought or just get a better cooling system for it. Each case fan costs only around five bucks or so and a better cooling system costs just a bit more.