Archive for December 3rd, 2009

Computer Components and the Power Supply

There are a few computer components that you could live without if you absolutely had to. Things like DVD drives, network cards, and scanners are beneficial for many activities, but not absolutely essential for the basic functioning of your computer system. Your power supply, on the other hand, is one of those computer components without which your computer would be less useful than a pad of paper and a pen.

Your computer’s power supply unit (PSU) performs the all-important function of converting alternating current (AC) of the type that is delivered through a wall outlet into the direct current (DC) that is usually used in batteries. In addition, your PSU helps to coordinate how much power is delivered to each of the sensitive computer components within your system – an amount that varies from component to component.

One of the difficulties that many first-time hobbyists find when they build their first computer from raw computer components is in finding the correct power supply unit to meet their system’s needs. There are many problems and so-called glitches in self-designed systems that are often traced back to a PSU that doesn’t meet the specifications of the various components that comprise the computer system. To be sure, not all of these are the designer’s fault, as some manufacturers overstate the amount of wattage that their PSU product puts out.

The sensible way to select the right power supply unit for your homebuilt computer is to take the sum of the wattage needed by all of your various computer components and add between 25-50% to that figure – provided that the motherboard can manage it. Video cards, in particular, are energy guzzlers, so anticipating extra wattage is always a good practice.

Another good practice is to ensure that you are using line filters or power strips that can regulate the amount of current traveling into your system. An unsteady power supply can cause all kinds of problems with your system. Choosing the right power supply unit will help to ensure that all of your primary computer components continue to function as they should for years to come.

Article was written by Jeffrey Frasco. Visit Computer Knowledge For You for information about Basic Computer Components. Computer Knowledge For You also offers information about computer hardware tips, and a tutorial about how to build your own computer.

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Your CPU is the Most Important of Your Computer Components

Just like we human beings, computers need brains to coordinate their activities and ensure proper functioning. Among the various computer components, it is the central processing unit – or CPU – that serves as the brains of the system. It is the place where calculations take place, and is the most important of the computer components that make up your personal computer.

The CPU is not often seen by novice computer users, as it is one of the internal elements of the system. Small, square, and outfitted with metal connectors, the CPU sits within its socket on the motherboard and does all of the heavy calculating and logical work for the computer system. CPUs for modern computers are housed within one single chip that is known as a microprocessor. Unlike the larger machines of the past that utilized multiple circuit boards as processors, today’s central processor units pack an incredible amount of power into a very tiny amount of space.

Each CPU has two primary elements: the arithmetic logic unit (ALU), and the control unit (CU). The arithmetic unit – as you might imagine – executes all of the mathematical calculations, as well as all of the logical operations. The control unit is responsible for retrieving data from the memory, decoding it, and using it as instructed. Together these two units make the CPU the most critical of all of your PC’s computer components.

When building your own computer, or upgrading an older model, you will probably encounter a need to install a newer CPU at some point. When that time comes, it is important to recognize that the motherboard of any computer will only support a certain range of CPUs within its system. Carefully evaluate all of the specifications for your motherboard to ensure that the CPU you want to use is compatible with the overall structure of the motherboard.

Article was written by Jeffrey Frasco. Visit Computer Knowledge For You for information about Basic Computer Components. Computer Knowledge For You also offers information about computer hardware, computer hardware articles, and a tutorial about how to build your own computer.

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