It is well known that computer operation is driven by hardware and software. Computer hardware can be defined as the electronic, magnetic, and electrical devices that carry out computing functions. Hardware is the physical components of the computer, such as the microprocessor, hard drives, RAM, and motherboard. Peripheral devices such as monitor, mouse, keyboard, printer, and speakers can also be included in the hardware parts list. The programs that run on computers like Windows, C++, and Photoshop are the software parts of the computer. A good example for an easy understanding of the hardware-software definition is music CDs. The actual compact disc is the hardware, while the songs and music on the CD are the software parts.
There is another way to define the hardware of the computer. Hardware devices are the executors of commands provided by software applications. For example, let’s see what happens when you click the print button on your web browser software. The software application provides a command to the processor, which is the central part of all computer hardware. The processor, in turn, searches for an attached printer. If the printer is ready, the software will get a positive response from the processor. The software application then provides instructions to the printer through the processor to print the web page. In that sense, the hardware parts are the foot soldiers and the software applications are the commanders in the digital operation that takes place inside a computer.
The main player in computer hardware is undoubtedly the microprocessor. It is the sun in the solar system of computer hardware devices. It is the central component and all the other components work around it. It is an integrated chip in which a series of functions are incorporated. Two specifications determine its efficiency. One is its processing speed, which is measured in gigahertz. The other is your bitrate. Commonly available processors are 32-bit and 64-bit. Bitrate is a measure of how efficient a processor is at performing multiple operations at the same time.
Computer hardware cannot be defined without mentioning the two types of memory used in computers. One is permanent memory. It refers to the magnetic storage capacity of the hard drive. It is measured in gigabytes. The second is RAM or random access memory. This memory can store data only when the computer is turned on. The memory will lose all data when the computer is turned off.
Another important product to mention when defining computer hardware is the motherboard. It is the electrical and electronic circuit board on which all other components are inserted. There are several other types of products, such as sound card, video card, network card, and modem, that complete the spectrum of hardware.