How Do Computers Work?

If you are like me, you might be interested in technology. If you are like me, you might not know how computers work. Luckily, this post is for you. This is a guide on how computers work.

 

Basics

A computer has 8 standard parts. CPU (processor), Motherboard, RAM (memory), GPU (Also called a Graphics Card or Video Card), Storage, PSU (Power Supply), Cooling, and the Case.

CPU

The CPU (or processor) is like the brain of the computer. It sends signals to the other parts on what to do. If you have a faster processor, your computer will run faster.

Memory

Memory (Or RAM) is like the short term memory of the computer. It does tasks like opening websites, running programs and rendering files. More memory will allow your computer to do multiple tasks at once.

Motherboard

The motherboard is essentially the spot where all the other parts connect to to get tasks. Having a better motherboard doesn’t necessarily make your computer faster, but makes it compatible with more parts.

GPU

The GPU has several names, but they are all the same thing. The GPU is the most important part if you are into graphically demanding tasks like Gaming, Video and Photo Editing, and 3-D animation.

Storage

There are 2 types of storage devices. Hard Drives (or HDD) and Solid State Drives (or SSD) Both of them have their pros and cons. Hard Drives are cheaper and usually have more storage, but are incredibly old and slow. SSDs are much faster, but about 2 times more expensive than a Hard Drive. Personally, I would recommend an SSD.

Power Supply

There isn’t really much to say about power supplies. The only thing to look for when buying is the wattage and the 80+ safety rating.

Case

Cases aren’t very important. You just want to make sure it is the right size. If you want, you could pay extra for a case with a window or some lights, but they do not provide any advantage.

Cooling

Cooling is only important if you have lots of very powerful parts. Most cases and CPUs already come with cooling.

Building

Now that you have all your shiny new parts, here is a guide on how to build a computer. Here is a guide on ports and adapters (it is a bit outdated)AA10E616-0B59-4B11-A6D1-9FD53536AA1F-converted. Here are some websites: pcpartpicker    r/pcmasterrace