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Computer—Hardware
Components
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Learning Outcomes
Hardware New Trends in Hardware
A computer system is made up of two types of components: hardware and software. Both these
components are equally important for the functioning of a computer system. Without software
the hardware is useless and vice-versa.
Software is a set of instructions that make the computer perform tasks. Software is another
term for a computer program. Software can be classified into two broad categories: system
software and application software. We have already learnt about different types of software in
the previous classes. In this chapter, we will learn more about hardware.
i + HARDWARE
All the physical components of a computer system are called hardware. These are the parts that
we can see or touch. Hardware components are classified into two types: internal and external.
Let us learn about these in detail.
Internal Hardware Components
All the hardware components located inside the CPU box\Cabinet are known as internal hardware
components. Examples of the internal hardware components are the CPU, Motherboard, Switched
Mode Power Supply (SMPS), Disk Drives, Modem, Ports, etc. Let us learn about some of them in
detail.
CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is a processor and
sometimes called a microprocessor. It is the computer’s brain
as it performs all the calculations and runs programs, managing
operations and executing the basic instructions that control
the computer.
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Computer—Hardware Components

