External Parts of A Desktop

The following is the common external parts or components of a desktop computer.

• Computer Casing (Tower casing)

This is where all the main components of the desktop computer are placed and linked together by cable wire. All components such as processing unit, memory card, video and audio card, card slots are mounted directly onto motherboard. The power supply unit, hard disk drive and removable disk drives are also placed in this casing but separately with motherboard. All the data processing will be done here by the processing unit or microprocessor. The monitor will be connected to the input output (I/O) panel on the back of the computer casing.

• Display Unit or Computer Monitor

The computer monitor is a visual display unit and it is television-like screen. It is used to display all the processed data which is done by the processing unit. It can display data in form of text as well as graphics. The three most important features of a monitor are the size, whether the monitor is color or monochrome, and the resolution. The display on the VDU is only temporary. If the VDU is switched off, the display is lost.

• Keyboard and Mouse 

The most common method of inputting data into a computer is by typing on a keyboard. There are many designs of keyboards, some are with trackball so that users need not to move their hands away from the keyboard when accessing a pointing device. There are also wireless keyboards, making use of the infrared technology. Mouse is also an input device to support the use of keyboard and the inputting data will be more efficient and faster. The mouse is a mobile switch that controls the position of the cursor on the screen. A ball underneath the mouse electronically transmits the direction of movement. The cursor, under the control of the mouse, can be used to select one of several options displayed on the screen. The option is selected by pressing a button on the mouse.

• Loud Speakersers

Also an output device and use to produce sound like songs after processed by the processing unit.

• Computer Printer

Printer also is an output device use to produce hard copy of the data that has been processed by the processing unit.     

Desktop Computer Parts and Components

Desktop Computer

The above picture is an example of a desktop computer and this computer was assembled locally but the components were imported from countries like China, Germany, Korea and others. This is the reason why we call it a clone desktop computer.

Nowadays, most of the branded computer such as Acer, Compact, Dell are made in Malaysia. We have so many factories which produce computer components.

From the picture above we can see the desktop computer normally consists of computer case (tower casing) with main components inside, a monitor, twin loud speakers, keyboard and mouse. A computer cases are usually constructed from steel and it is an enclosure that contains the main components of a computer. The main components of the computer are central processing unit, motherboard (mainboard / system board), memory cards (main memory), hard disk, graphic or video card, removable disk drives, power supply unit and cables wire to link among the components.

These components can usually be put together to build a computer. The motherboard is a main part of a computer that connects all devices together. The memory cards, graphics card, and microprocessor are mounted directly onto the motherboard (the processor in a socket and the memory and graphics cards in expansion slots). The backing storage is connected to it with cables and can be installed in the computer case or in a separate case. This is the same for the keyboard and mouse, except that they are external and connected to the input output (I/O) panel on the back of the computer. The monitor is also connected to the input output panel, either through an onboard port on the motherboard, or a port on the graphics card.

Several functions are implemented by chipsets or integrated circuit can be integrated onto the motherboard, typically Universal Serial Bus (USB) and network, ut also graphics and sound. Even if these are present, a separate card can be added if what is available isn't sufficient. The graphics and sound card can have a break out box to keep the analog parts away from the electromagnetic radiation inside the computer case. For really large ammounts of data, a tape drive can be used or (extra) hard disk can be put together in an external case.      

A Desktop Computer

A desktop Computer is a personal Computer (PC) in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Prior to the wide spread of microprocessors a computer that could fit on a desk was considered remarkably small. Today the phrase usually indicates a particular style of computer case.

Desktop computer come in a variety of styles ranging from large vertical tower cases to small form factor models that can be tucked behind a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor. In this sense, the term 'desktop' refers specifically to a horizontally-oriented case, usually intended to have the display screen placed on top to save space on the desktop.

Most modern desktop computers have separate screens and keyboards. A specialized form of desktop case is used for home theatre systems, incorporating front-panel mounted controls for audio and video.