Definition: Hardware, in the computer world, refers to the physical components that make up a computer system.
There are many, many different kinds of hardware that can be installed inside and connected to the outside of a computer. However, there are several standard pieces of hardware that can be found as part of nearly every computer:
- Motherboard
- Central Processing Unit (CPU)
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Power Supply
- Video Card
- Hard Drive
- Optical Drive (i.e. DVD/CD drive)
- Sound Card
- Network Interface Card (NIC)
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Printer
- Monitor
- Speakers
Some less commonly installed computer hardware includes the floppy disk drive, analog modem, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), joystick, scanner, webcam, microphone, etc.
Take a tour inside your PC to learn how all the hardware in your computer connects together to create the complete computer system you use everyday.
In Microsoft Windows, hardware resources are managed by Device Manager.
Examples:
"I'm a huge fan of 3D video games so I regularly update my video card hardware to support the requirements of these kinds of games."
