Today I'd like to continue on to the second part of my blog on better understanding your computer. I thought we'd take a look at some of the other components that help make the computer an invaluable part of today's high tech society. So, today we're going to look at a Motherboard, a NIC, a Video Card, and finally a Optical Drive. In Computer Help Desk Support I routinely service a wide variety of machines. Having a familiarity with different types of hardware allows me to connect symptoms of a problem to the component that might be faulty. While knowing how the various parts of a computer work is essential to proper PC Repair, it also will benefit you in your everyday use of computers at home or work.
Motherboard
A motherboard (or logic board if you use a Mac) is an absolutely key part of your PC. This is the largest circuit board in the computer, and connects all the crucial components of the machine together. It provides a way for data to move from various pieces of hardware and back, and contains some of the most basic instructions your PC needs to operate. It also determines what types of hardware can be used in the machine at all, based on the various slots and sockets. My motherboard at home for instance, is a gaming board and will let me use parts like Intel Processors, and multiple video cards. Which brings me to my next point...
Video Cards
A video card is another important component of your PC. The video card is responsible for turning your computer's instructions into visible images, videos, or text that you can understand. It also renders any games, and translates any DVDs you might want to watch. Video cards are quite varied in design and form. Some performance cards are hulking pieces of metal with fans and giant copper heat sinks, while many smaller ones are built into the processor, such as on Intel's new i3 and i5 chips.
NIC
A NIC, or Network Interface Controller, allows your computer to communicate over a network. There are many types of NICs including Ethernet cards, Wireless cards, and 56k Modems. Many are built into the motherboards already. All of these share the common goal of allowing your computer to speak to the outside world. They use various networking protocols (languages) such as TCP/IP, UDP, and IMAP to let view webpages, send emails, or watch videos online.
Optical Drives
An Optical Drive is the component on your machine responsible for reading, and many times writing CDs, DVDs, or even Blu-Ray discs. This allows you to watch movies, install software, or burn DVDs. Each optical drive has a small laser, that reads the data on a disc as it spins. This data is stored as microscopic valleys and peaks on the disc's reflective surface. There are many forms of discs; CDs, CD-Rs, CD+RWs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs. Most optical drives on the market today can use almost any of them.
So I hope you feel like you've learned a little today, and feel even more comfortable with your computer. You may find knowing a little about the way a computer works can increase the enjoyment you getA out of using one. If you have any questions, or are perhaps considering a PC Hardware upgrade, please stop by our Mooresville, Indiana PC Repair Facility and let us take great care of you and your machine.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:
Motherboard
A motherboard (or logic board if you use a Mac) is an absolutely key part of your PC. This is the largest circuit board in the computer, and connects all the crucial components of the machine together. It provides a way for data to move from various pieces of hardware and back, and contains some of the most basic instructions your PC needs to operate. It also determines what types of hardware can be used in the machine at all, based on the various slots and sockets. My motherboard at home for instance, is a gaming board and will let me use parts like Intel Processors, and multiple video cards. Which brings me to my next point...
Video Cards
A video card is another important component of your PC. The video card is responsible for turning your computer's instructions into visible images, videos, or text that you can understand. It also renders any games, and translates any DVDs you might want to watch. Video cards are quite varied in design and form. Some performance cards are hulking pieces of metal with fans and giant copper heat sinks, while many smaller ones are built into the processor, such as on Intel's new i3 and i5 chips.
NIC
A NIC, or Network Interface Controller, allows your computer to communicate over a network. There are many types of NICs including Ethernet cards, Wireless cards, and 56k Modems. Many are built into the motherboards already. All of these share the common goal of allowing your computer to speak to the outside world. They use various networking protocols (languages) such as TCP/IP, UDP, and IMAP to let view webpages, send emails, or watch videos online.
Optical Drives
An Optical Drive is the component on your machine responsible for reading, and many times writing CDs, DVDs, or even Blu-Ray discs. This allows you to watch movies, install software, or burn DVDs. Each optical drive has a small laser, that reads the data on a disc as it spins. This data is stored as microscopic valleys and peaks on the disc's reflective surface. There are many forms of discs; CDs, CD-Rs, CD+RWs, DVD+Rs, DVD-RWs. Most optical drives on the market today can use almost any of them.
So I hope you feel like you've learned a little today, and feel even more comfortable with your computer. You may find knowing a little about the way a computer works can increase the enjoyment you getA out of using one. If you have any questions, or are perhaps considering a PC Hardware upgrade, please stop by our Mooresville, Indiana PC Repair Facility and let us take great care of you and your machine.
If you liked this Blog Post, then check out The Interconnect Group other Blog Posts:
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