Computer Science Hardware Terms

a plastic or metal enclosure that houses most of the components.

• Case

• Motherboard

• RAM

• Expansion Slot

Converts alternating current (AC) electric power to low-voltage DC power for the internal components of the computer

• Case

• Motherboard

• RAM

• Power Supply

the main component of a computer. It is a large rectangular board with integrated circuitry that connects the other parts of the computer

• Expansion Slot

• Motherboard

• RAM

• CPU

Performs most of the calculations which enable a computer to function, and is sometimes referred to as the “brain” of the computer

• Motherboard

• Power Supply

• RAM

• CPU

Stores the code and data that are being actively accessed by the CPU.

Short-term Memory

• Motherboard

• Power Supply

• RAM

• ROM

Stores the BIOS that runs when the computer is powered on or otherwise begins execution, a process known as Bootstrapping, or “booting” or “booting up”

• CPU

• Power Supply

• RAM

• ROM

A printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard or backplane to add functionality to a computer system via the expansion bus

• Expansion Slot

• Expansion Card

• RAM

• ROM

Computer components and recording media that retain digital data. Long-term memory

• Storage

• Expansion Card

• RAM

• ROM

______________ allow the user to enter information into the system, or control its operation.

• Input Device

• Output Device

_______________ display information in a human readable form

• Input Device

• Output Device