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Computer architecture. Block diagram of a basic computer with uniprocessor CPU. Black lines indicate control flow, whereas red lines indicate data flow. Arrows indicate the direction of flow. In computer science and computer engineering, computer architecture is a description of the structure of a computer system made from component parts. [ 1]
A central processing unit ( CPU ), also called a central processor, main processor, or just processor, is the most important processor in a given computer. [ 1][ 2] Its electronic circuitry executes instructions of a computer program, such as arithmetic, logic, controlling, and input/output (I/O) operations. [ 3][ 4][ 5] This role contrasts ...
A power supply unit ( PSU) converts mains AC to low-voltage regulated DC power for the internal components of a desktop computer. Modern personal computers universally use switched-mode power supplies. Some power supplies have a manual switch for selecting input voltage, while others automatically adapt to the main voltage.
Computer hardware. PDP-11 CPU board. 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]
A computer lab with desktop PCs with flat-panel monitors. A desktop computer (often abbreviated desktop[ 1]) is a personal computer designed for regular use at a stationary location on or near a desk (as opposed to a portable computer) due to its size and power requirements. The most common configuration has a case that houses the power supply ...
A hard disk drive ( HDD ), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk[ a] is an electro-mechanical data storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage with one or more rigid rapidly rotating platters coated with magnetic material.
A motherboard (also called mainboard, main circuit board, MB, base board, system board, or, in Apple computers, logic board) is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in general-purpose computers and other expandable systems. It holds and allows communication between many of the crucial electronic components of a system, such as the central ...
Bus (computing) In computer architecture, a bus[ 1] (historically also called data highway[ 2] or databus) is a communication system that transfers data between components inside a computer, or between computers. This expression covers all related hardware components (wire, optical fiber, etc.) and software, including communication protocols.