In order to build a computer you need to have a computer case where all the components of the computer will be stored. There are tow types of computer cases. The first type is called AT case which is used for the older computers, and the second one is called ATX case which is used for resent computers.
Cases also come in different sizes, colors and styles. The next part you need is a Motherboard: All of the components of the computer plug into the Motherboard. Every Motherboard comes with Bus Speed, the higher the Bus Speed the faster the computer will run. There are two types of Motherboards one is made for Intel CPU and the other one is for Athlon CPU.
After you got the Motherboard you need a Central Processing Unit (CPU). CPU is the brain of the computer. With out a CPU you have no computer even if you have the rest of the parts. All computer transactions go through the CPU. After a few minutes of working the CPU gets very hot. To cool it off it requires a fan to be attached to it at all times.
Without a fan the CPU will burn in just a matter of minutes, or even seconds. The next part you need is called Random Access Memory which is also know as RAM. Ram comes in different megabytes (mg). It starts from 16 mg and all the way to 528 mg on one stick. Ram allows the computer to run all of its applications. The more ram you have in the computer the faster applications will run.
After you got the Ram you need a Hard Drive. Hard Drive allows you to store different kinds of programs, such as games, music, typing software, etc. There is a limit to how much programs you can put on the Hard Drive, it all depends on the size of the Hard Drive. Today the maximum size of a Hard Drive is about 80 Gig. CD-ROM is also a very important part in the computer. It allows to-install different kinds of programs, listen to music CD’s, watch movies, and copy information from PC to CD.
Today the speed of the CD-ROM is 56x. Modems and Network Cards play a very important role in a computer. A modem allows you to connect to the Internet, download music, and browse the Internet. A Network Card allows computers to talk between each other. Network Cards today are also used like a modems, which is know as DSL, Cable, T1, and T3.
The speed of DSL, Cable, T1 and T3 is a lot greater than on a regular modem. Video Card plays a very important role in a computer. With out a Video Card the computer will not be able to display any kinds of pictures. Video Cards display High Quality Resolution, that allows you to see a very clear and sharp images on your computer. The newest Video Card on the market is called AGP, which stands for Advanced Graphic Port.
And finally the very last part you need in a computer is a Sound Card. Sound Card allows for Audio Playback, listen to the radio on the Internet, listen to dialogs if you are watching a movie, and record MP3 files. The very first computers did not have any sound on them what so ever, but today a Sound Card in a computer is a “must”. Word Count: 573
