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1                        Computer—Hardware




                                                                  Components











                      Chapter Profile

                         Hardware
                         New Trends in Hardware




                 A computer system is made of two types of components: hardware and software. Both of 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 makes a computer perform a task. 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.

                     HARDWARE


                 All physical components of a computer system are called hardware. These are 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 hardware components located inside the CPU box/Cabinet are known as internal hardware
                 components.  Examples are  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.
                                                                                                               CPU
                                                                                                 CPU Box



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