A Basic Guide to Identifying the Major Components in a Desktop System (2023)

What it Looks like and What it does?

(Figure.1.1 Hard Disk Drive 3.5" (HDD))

(Figure.1.2 Solid State Drive 2.5" (SSD))

TheHDD/SSDis the part of your Computer which holds your Software and Data.

(Figure.1.3 HDD Rear View)

TheHDDis most often Silver and Black and is either2.5"or3.5"wide. It will usually have a raised circle on top with a circuit card on the bottom. The rear of the drive will have various female connectors.

The SSD is most often Silver and Black and is 2.5" wide. It has the same connectors as the HDD.

TheHDD/SSDboth have the same 2 cables which connect to it.

TheData SATAcable and thePowercable. These cables connect simply by pushing them in place or pulling them out. There arenocatches locking them in place.

TheHDD/SSDwill be secured in place either in aCageor onRunnersdepending on yourSystem Type.

HDD's are older technology with spinning platters that can store a lot of data. SSD's are newer technology which ups the drives access speeds by using flash memory instead of platters. SSD's are a common upgrade part to improve the speed of most systems, but the storage sizes are still short of what an HDD can handle. Combinations of both are used for fast boot and seek speeds, while still holding space for saved data.

What it looks Like and What it does?

(Figure.2.1 Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM))

TheMemoryis the part of your Computer which lets it transfer Data between your Software programs and the more you have the more it speeds up your experience of using the programs.

(Figure.2.2 Memory Motherboard rails/connectors)

TheMemoryin aDesktopis usually2.5"to3"long and about1"tall. There is a Golden fringe along the bottom of the circuit card and the fringe will have a notch cut into it.

ToReleasethe Memory you pull apart the clips at either side of the Memoryand it rises far enough in the slot that you can pull it completely out of the slot.

ToReseatthe Memory you push the Memory into the slot, making sure it's the correct way round and the clips either side of the slot will come up and catch the memory in place. This secures the Memory in place and if the clips do not catch the memory then it isn't seated properly.

The Memory card notch matches a bar in the Memory slot. It will only allow the memory to be fitted in the Memory slot when it is the correct way round. The notch also changes position depending on what type of memory it is, for example, this stops you from fitting DDR3 memory in a DDR4 slot.

What it Looks Like and What it does?

(Figure.3.1 Optical Disc Drive (ODD / DVD / CD ROM))

TheCD/DVD driveis the part of the Computer which reads CD/DVD media.Depending on the type of drive you have, it may allow you to create your own media as well.

(Figure.3.2 Optical Disc Drive Rear View)

TheCD/DVD driveis usually a rectangular box with a Black or White face where the media is inserted. If you have aslimline CD/DVD drive, it will still follow this basic shape.

TheCD/DVD Drivehas 3 cables that connect to it.

TheData SATAcable and thePowercable. These cables connect simply by pushing them in place or pulling them out. There arenocatches locking them in place. Depending on your model of drive it may also have anAudiocable plugged. Thiswillhave a catch with a small lever that needs to be depressed to remove the cable from the Drive.

TheCD/DVD Drivewill be secured in place withPhillips head screws.

What it Looks Like and What it does?

(Figure.4.1 Video / Graphics Card)

TheVideo Cardis an optional add-in card that you add to your Computer to improve the graphics above the level supplied by the Graphics Chip built into your Motherboard.

(Figure. Video / Graphics Motherboard rails / connectors)

TheVideo Cardfollows the normal configuration for anOption Card. There will be a blanking plate that contains the female connectors and points out the back of the Computer and there will be a Golden fringe along the bottom of the circuit board that makes up the card itself. The configuration of the fringe will match the appropriate slot it uses.You will not be able to fit the card to the wrong slot.

ToRemovethe Card you will need to release it from the option slots on the back of your system.On PCIe Cards you will also need to release a locking clip at the back of the card slot.

ToReseatthe Card you will need to locate the front of the card into the correct option slot and push down into the slot until it firmly seats in place.

TheVideo Cardis usually secured by aClip/LockorPhillips head screw, depending on yourSystem Type.

What it Looks Like and What it does?

(Figure.5.1 System Fan)

TheSystem Fanis used to pull air into your Computer to cool the System down. This stops it from overheating and makes it work more efficiently.

(Figure.5.2 System Fan Cable)

The System Fan is black and is usually fitted within a Black or Blue Shroud.

TheSystem Fanconnects to theMotherboardby aControl/Powercable.The cable usually has a lever clip securing the connector in place.

TheSystem Fansecures to the chassis usingRubber clipsor aCage.

What it Looks like and What it does?

(Figure.6.1 Power Supply Unit (PSU))

ThePower Supplyis the part of your Computer which powers the machine and all of its components.

(Figure.6.2 Power Supply Unit Cables)

ThePower Supplyis usually a square or rectangular metal box, that will have aPower Cordconnector on the rear and have multiple multi-coloured power cables projecting out the front.

TheSATA Power Supplyhas 4 main types of cable connector which connect from it to the various parts in the Computer.

The24 pinand4 pinconnectors plug to yourMotherboard. The cables plugging to the Motherboardwillhave catches that lock them in place. The other 2 connectors plug to any of theDrivesin your Computer. These cables connect simply by pushing them in place or pulling them out,withouta catch/clip.

ThePower Supplywill be secured in place to aninternal catchand with externalPhillips head screws.

What it Looks like and What it does?

(Figure.7 Heatsink Unit)

TheHeatsinkis the part of your Computer which directs heat away from your Processor which is the brain of your computer.It will sometimes have a fan.

TheHeatsinkusually takes the form of multiple metal fins that are contained within a Black shroud, sometimes with a fan on top.

ToRemoveit you will take out the screws and disconnect the fan cable and Remove the Assembly from the system.

ToReseatthe heatsink you will reconnect the fan cable and having put the heatsink back in place, put the screws back in.

TheHeatsink and fanwill secure to theMotherboardwithPhillips Head screws.

What it Looks like and What it does?

(Figure.8.1 Motherboard)

TheMotherboardis the part of your Computer which every other part connects to and it controls how those parts are used.

(Figure.8.2 Motherboard to Chassis)

You will not be asked to remove this part.

TheMotherboardis the biggest circuit card in your Computer and will be secured to the base of the system.

It will have multiple connectors soldered to it and all the other parts in your Computer will plug to this one component by one of these connectors.

TheMotherboardhas yourProcessorfitted to it and is secured to your chassis withPhilips head screws.