Aditional Hardware Components

Question 1

The motherboard

Answer 1

The motherboard is the main circuit board of a computer. The CPU and ROM will be mounted on the motherboard, which also provides RAM expansion slots, USB ports,
PCI slots for expansion cards and controllers for devices such as the hard drive, DVD drive, keyboard and mouse.

Question 2

Graphical processing unit (GPU)

Answer 2

A GPU is a microprocessor that performs the calculations needed to produce graphic images on screen. The CPU performed these calculations initially, but as more complex applications were developed, such as 3D graphics and video quality animations, the GPU was introduced to offload those tasks from the CPU.
GPUs can be integrated within the circuitry of the motherboard, or provided on a dedicated graphics card.

Question 3

Integrated GPU

Answer 3

An integrated GPU uses the computer’s RAM. An integrated unit is cheaper than installing a dedicated GPU. It generates less heat and uses less power. They are perfect for general graphics processing such as watching or editing videos and word processing.

Question 4

Dedicated GPU

Answer 4

A dedicated GPU has its own video memory. Dedicated cards provide the best visual experience. They are used by people such as graphic designers and people who play a lot of games, but they use more power and need a good cooling system. GPUs are also used to mine digital currency due to their processing ability.

Question 5

Sound cards

Answer 5

Sound cards may be on the motherboard or designed to fit a PCI slot. They enable the computer to output sound through speakers, record sound from a microphone and manipulate sound stored on a disk. Sound cards convert analogue input signals into digital data and reverse this process for audio output.