This document provides an overview of the components of a typical personal computer (PC) and includes brief biographies of the team members. It describes the main internal components, including the motherboard, CPU, RAM, heat sink, hard drive, CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drive, and screen. It also mentions the keyboard and mouse as external components. The document is produced by a team of 5 students for a computer architecture course and aims to give a rough idea of the different PC components, where they go, and what they do.

1. Creativity, Innovation & Teamwork Computer Architecture – How to build a PC

3. Give you a rough idea of the different components of a PC, where they go and what they do. Youtube video Basic components of a PC

4. Born on the 10th of February 1992 in County Cork. Lives in Blackrock, Cork Attended St. Francis College, Rochestown. Has a huge interest in cycling and his favourite cyclist was Frank Vandenbroucke. I am doing this course because I would like to understand more about the different parts of the PC and how computer programs run. Colin Sheehan

5. Mother Board A Motherboard holds the CPU, Dimms, Heat sink and Extension Card slots. Also the Keyboard, Mouse and Video Cable are connected to the Mother Board

6. Dimms Dimms contain the RAM (Random Access Memory) Dimms are the “memory” for the computer so it can run the programs

7. Born on the 2nd of February 1988 in County Limerick Attended Castletroy College. I support the Baltimore Ravens and my favourite player is Ray Lewis. Lives in County Limerick. I am interested in computers because I believe there is great financial benefits in computing. Mark Slattery

8. CPU The CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It is the “brains” of the computer meaning it controls what the computer calculates and what programs run

9. Heat sink The heat sink’s job is to cool the CPU so it does not over heat and fail Heat Sink Paste is applied to the heat sink so it sticks to the CPU for greater heat reduction

10. Born on July 18, 1982 in Switzerland Has been working and playing with computers, software since 1998. Has been playing music in an active band Lives in Marloag, Co. Cork Sebastian Zeiss

11. Hard drive A Hard Drive is used to store the programs and files of a computer on a optical disc. When the Computer is turned off, the hard drive still stores the information.

12. CD/DVD/Blu-Ray Drive A CD/DVD/Blu-Ray Drive is used to read the CDs, DVDs or Blu-Ray discs They are connected to the PC the same way as hard drives

13. Born on the 16th of November 1992 in County Cork. Lives in Milford, North Cork. Attended Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher Enjoys playing Hurling and Football with my local Team Milford. I also play soccer with Broadford A.F.C. Has an interest in computers because I worked in Wisetech Solutions in Glanmire. Seán O’ Riordan

14. Screen TV type screen on which you view your programs. They are supplied in different sizes, common sizes range from 15" to 21" screens. Poor quality or badly maintained monitors can harm your eyesight.

15. Keyboard Allows you to type information into the computer

16. Mouse Used to select drop down menus, to point and click on items, to select items and to drag and drop items from one place to another

17. Rough idea of the components of a PC Different types of hard drives, screens, RAM, etc. Summary