Internal PC Components

Front

Brain of the computer that performs instructions defined by software

Back

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Front

Storage device that stores a large amount of data.

Back

Hard Drive

Front

Motherboard

Back

Circuit board on which the CPU, RAM chips and other elements of a computer are located.

Front

Power Supply

Back

A device that provides power to a computer.

Front

The component that holds all of the internal computer parts.

Back

Case

Front

Fan

Back

A device that cools the internal parts of a computer. Most computers have more than one.

Front

Random Access Memory. A chip that stores temporary data that goes away when the computer is turned off.

Back

RAM

Front

Video Card

Back

The card that plugs into the motherboard and runs the monitor(s).

Front

The drive on the computer that reads and writes disks like CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays

Back

Optical Drive

Front

Heat Sink

Back

The structure that protects different components from overheating.