The internal hardware devices that make up a computer and ensure its functionality

Hardware (H/W), in the context of technology, refers to the physical elements that make up a computer or electronic system and everything else involved that is physically tangible. This includes the monitor, hard drive, memory and the CPU. Hardware works hand-in-hand with firmware and software to make a computer function.

Hardware is an encompassing term that refers to all the physical parts that make up a computer. The internal hardware devices that make up the computer and ensure that it is functional are called components, while external hardware devices that are not essential to a computer’s functions are called peripherals.

Hardware is only one part of a computer system; there is also firmware, which is embedded into the hardware and directly controls it. There is also software, which runs on top of the hardware and makes use of the firmware to interface with the hardware.

External hardware examples

Below is a list of external hardware or hardware that is found outside of your computer that may be found with a computer.

  • Flat-panel, monitor, and LCD
  • Gamepad
  • Joystick
  • Keyboard
  • Microphone
  • Mouse
  • Printer
  • Projector
  • Scanner
  • Speakers
  • USB thumb drive

Internal hardware examples

Below is a list of internal hardware or hardware that is found inside your computer and may be found in a computer.

  • CPU (central processing unit).
  • Drive (e.g., Blu-ray, CD-ROM, DVD, floppy drive, hard drive, and SSD).
  • Fan (heat sink)
  • Modem
  • Motherboard
  • Network card
  • Power supply
  • RAM
  • Sound card
  • Video card

What is the most common hardware included with a computer?

Below is a list of the most common hardware you’d likely find inside a computer or connected to a computer today (desktop computer or laptop).

  • Processor (CPU)
  • One or more fans and heat sink
  • Motherboard that most likely has an integrated video card, sound card, and network card.
  • For most desktop computers (especially gaming computers), a separate video card is used.
  • RAM
  • Hard drive
  • Power supply
  • Cables that connect internal components and external peripherals.
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse or touchpad with a laptop.
  • Flat-panel, monitor, or TV for desktop computers and LCD as part of a laptop.

What are hardware upgrades?

A hardware upgrade is any new hardware better than that which it replaced or additional hardware that improves performance. An example of a common hardware upgrade is a RAM upgrade, where the user increases the computer’s total memory. Another example is a video card upgrade, which is the act of removing an old video card and replacing it with a newer, more powerful model.

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A peripheral device is an internal or external device that connects directly to a computer but does not contribute to the computer's primary function.

They often provide input/output (I/O) functions for a computer and are connected through I/O interfaces e.g. communications ports (COM), Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces.

Examples are: mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer, webcam, scanner, external drives, graphics cards, CD or DVD drives, network interface cards, etc.

A computer should be able to start up without any peripheral devices, even if the user cannot interact with the system through I/O devices.

PC hardware, such as a desktop computer, is the most common type of IT hardware purchased by a small business. The cost of hardware depends on its specification, which in turn is determined by some key components.

When you buy PC hardware, you need to decide what the specification of these key components should be.

Central processing unit

The processor is the driver of the computer. Processors are usually differentiated by speed, measured in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the GHz, the faster the computer will run. You should buy the fastest processor you can afford, but multicore processors with two or more cores running at speeds of 2 GHz or above will normally be enough for most business functions, eg word processing, spreadsheets and some multimedia. More CPU cores and higher speeds improve processing throughput and therefore the perceived speed of the computer.

Random access memory (RAM)

The processor uses memory to run programs. Generally, the more RAM you have, the better your computer will run when using several programs at once. Your computer should have enough memory to make the most of the processor speed. To use multiple modern software applications effectively, you should have at least 4 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and preferably 8 GB or above for more memory intense software applications, such as design, photography or video editing.

Hard disk

The hard disk stores the data you create in your business, as well as the programs you use. A typical office computer will have at least 500GB of hard disk space. Most new laptops and performance computers come with solid state drives (SSD). These drives are silent because they have no moving parts and are five to eight times faster than the standard magnetic hard disk drives used in most desktop computers. Although SSD can offer significant performance advantages, the cost per GB of storage can be two or three times more expensive for the same storage capacity. Even with a price premium for a SSD, given the performance advantage vs the overall cost of a typical desktop or laptop, in most cases including a SSD is the best approach.

You can also use external plug-ins, such as USB memory sticks and portable external hard drives, to supplement your computer's storage requirements.

Peripherals

The monitoris the computer's display screen. Most modern monitors use some form of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology. Monitors are normally measured diagonally in inches - typically 22, 24 or 27 inches. Larger or ultra wide-screen monitors allow you to compare two documents on-screen. Which LCD technology you should use will depend on the cost of it, and whether you require true colour reproduction or high screen refresh rates.

The aspect ratio of a monitor is the proportion of image width to height. A common aspect ratio for monitors is 16:9 but other aspect ratios may be required for specialist purposes such as CCTV monitoring or movie editing.

The keyboard and mouse usually come as part of a bundle, but you may be able to select wireless devices that make desktops neater.

There are alternative computers to conventional desktop PCs available, such as Apple Macs. These have historically been used to support desktop publishing software but now also offer a comparable system for general office use.

What is the internal hardware of a computer?

The internal components of a computer system consist of the hardware required to process data and to allow the processor to communicate with other devices such as secondary storage, display screens, and printers. The main internal components of a computer system are: Processor (CPU) Main memory.

Which device is used as internal hardware devices?

A motherboard provides the electrical connections by which the other components of the system communicate. The mother board includes many components such as: central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), firmware, and internal and external buses.

What are the hardware devices of computer system?

Computer hardware includes the physical parts of a computer, such as the case, central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, speakers and motherboard.

What are the 4 main internal hardware components of a computer system?

There are four main computer hardware components that this blog post will cover: input devices, processing devices, output devices and memory (storage) devices. Collectively, these hardware components make up the computer system.