The document summarizes several common computer components: The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects the CPU and expansion cards. It acts as the central nervous system of the computer. RAM is temporary memory that stores information while it is being used or edited. The CPU does calculations and processes data to convert code into output. The BIOS software initializes devices like storage and displays on startup. A heat sink cools electronic components by dissipating heat. The power supply converts AC to DC current and regulates voltage to power the computer. The sound card allows input and output of audio to and from the computer.

1. P1-Common
Computer
Components
By Joe Barton

2. Motherboard
The main printed circuit board in the computer, which the CPU
see below plugs into as do all of the cards sound card being
the most common, scanner cards etc. the bus, memory
sockets, keyboard controller and supporting chips. This is the
central nervous system of your computer. Without it nothing
runs... with one too cheap, things run slower or more
sluggishly that they would with a better one.

3. RAM (Random access memory)
Like pieces of scratch paper that information is
temporarily stored on only while you are actually
working on the computer. Programs require RAM to
operate, this is where data is stored while in use...
while being manipulated - edited, added to, or
subtracted from. This is the only usable MEMORY.
When you lose power, all of the scratch paper is
thrown away. It is instantaneously history therefore,
if you didn't save your work to your hard drive, there
is a 99% chance it is lost forever

4. CPU
This is the actual brains of the computer. It does the
calculations, the processing of data, the reading and
interpreting of the computer code and converts it to
whatever output we or the program tells it. It turns
the massive 1's and 0's binary machine language and
hexadecimal code into real English or your preferred
language. It also controls the other components in
the computer. Keep in mind that it has a zero I.Q. -
because it can only follows instructions from the
firmware chips built in to the motherboard

5. BIOS
The BIOS software is built into the PC, and is
the first code run by a PC when powered on
boot firmware. When the PC starts up, the
first job for the BIOS is the power-on self-
test, which initialises and identifies system
devices such as the video display card,
keyboard and mouse, hard disk drive, optical
disc drive and other hardware.

6. Heat sink
In electronic systems, a heat sink is a passive component
that cools a device by dissipating heat into the
surrounding air. Heat sinks are used to cool electronic
components such as high-power semiconductor devices,
and optoelectronic devices such as higher-power lasers
and light emitting diodes

7. Power Supply
The component that powers the computer most
personal computers can be plugged into standard
electrical outlet the power supply then pulls the right
amount the required amount of electricity and converts
the AC current to the DC current it also regulates the
voltage to eliminate spikes and surges.

8. Sound Card
The sound card in the computer is for making the
input and output of audio signals to and from that
computer without a sound card you wouldn't be able
to hear anything it amplifies sound from the
computer so you can hear it.