Power Supply

The power supply is used to supply power to the different components of the computer e.g. processor, mother board, hard drive etc. Power supplies can range from 300 Watts for small simple machines to 1000 Watts for high end gaming machines. They can range in price from $20.00 to $500.00. The power supply is usually located at the top of the computer (vertical towers) and at the left side on horizontal towers. If you trace the power cord of the computer from the wall outlet to the back of your computer you will find the power supply as the power cord is connected to the power supply there is usually a fan in the power supply case. To take off the power supply you must open the computer case and remove any screws that hold the power supply to the computer. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components. Also never open up the actual power supply unit as you could get shocked.   

CD/DVD Drives

These drives use discs to read information and transfer it to the computer for it to interpret and carry out the discs instructions. The drives can also do the opposite and write instructions from the computer onto the disc. There are abbreviations for reading and writing for CD's and DVD's. ROM means it only reads information, R means its writable, RW means it’s rewritable. For DVD's they added + and - signs to indicate different types of reading and writing e.g. there will be DVD+RW and DVD-RW. There are different speeds written on the drive to indicate how fast the drive can spin the disc and interpret its information. There are also speeds that indicate how fast the drive can write information on the disc these speeds are usually slower than the read speeds. The read speeds can range from 1x to 52x for CD's and from 1x to 16x for DVD's. The write speeds can range from 1x to 32x for CD's and from 1x to 6x for DVD's. These drives can range from $20.00 for a basic CD-ROM drive to $150.00 for a top-of-the-line drive that does everything with CD's and DVD's. The CD/DVD drive is located at the front of the computer to take it off you must remove the computer case then the drive usually held in place with a bracket of some sort you must remove the bracket then remove the actual drive from the bracket. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components. Also never open up the actual CD/DVD Drive if you don't know what you are doing.

Hard Drive

Hard drives are used to store information that can’t be erased when the power is turned off. A hard drive is capable of reading and writing. A hard drive moves a disc that stores the information at about 7200 rpm to read and write quickly some new drives can reach speeds of up to 10000 rpm!! Hard drives are rated on their capacity (or how much information/data they can hold). Hard Drives can range from 20GB to 6TB (6000GB). They also range from $100.00 to $3500.00. A typical 1TB hard drive can hold 1000 copies of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The hard drive is located inside of the computer (some hard drives are external meaning they are their own separate unit) to get to the hard drive you must remove the computer case and locate the hard drive. The hard drive is about the same size as the floppy drive and is hidden away unlike the floppy drive which must face the outside of the computer. There is usually a bracket holding the hard drive to the case remove the bracket and then remove the actual hard drive unit from the bracket. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components. Also never open up the actual hard drive unit as any kind of contamination will seriously damage the hard drive and lose any data on there you may also void any kind of warranty on the hard drive if you take it apart.

RAM

RAM (Random Access Memory) is used to store information that the computer will use frequently this memory will be erased when the computer is turned off. RAM is an actual chip that holds information since there are no moving parts RAM is instantaneous at reading and writing that’s why when you RAM is full the computer starts using the hard drive to store the information its using at the time and really slows down. RAM is also rated on its capacity. RAM can range from 128MB to 16GB (16000MB) and from $20.00 to $200.00. RAM is located inside the computer attached to the motherboard to take it off of the motherboard you must push the tabs at the side that hold it in and pop it off. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components.

Processor

The processor is the brain of the computer and process and interprets all the data the user and software inputs. There are many new technologies in today's processors such as hyper threading, dual core, and quad core. Processors are rated on how fast they are they range from 1Ghz to 4Ghz and range from $40.00 to $1000.00. The processor is inside the computer and is covered by a heat sink and/or fan. To take off the processor you must lift a lever and pull the processor off never pull the processor without lifting the lever or you might damage the processor. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components.

Video Card

The video card is responsible for transforming the data into pictures that we can see. Video cards are rated on how much on board RAM they have meaning how fast they are. They range from 64MB to 1024MB and from $17.00 to $2000.00. To take off the video card you must remove the case then the video card is located where you monitor hooks up to the computer. Some video cards are integrated into the motherboard so there is no way to remove them. To take off the video card you must remove any screws holding it down then take it off the motherboard it may require some force to remove the video card from the motherboard. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components.

Motherboard

The motherboard is the expressway for the computer, it connects everything together so every component can communicate with each other. Motherboards are rated on how much stuff you can hook up to it and what kind of processor it can use. Motherboards range in price from $50.00 to $1000.00. To remove the motherboard you must remove the case then remove all components and wires connected to the mother board, you must then remove any screws or clips holding the motherboard in place, then remove the motherboard from the case. Be sure to wear your ESD bracelet to avoid damaging your computer's delicate components.

Monitor

The monitor is responsible for displaying images we see on its screen. Monitors are rated on their display resolution which means how good the quality of the picture is (dependant on video card and other components). Monitors can range from $100.00 to $5000.00 in price. Many monitors use VGA cables to hook up to the computer but some newer models use DVI which is a digital way to transfer images which results in a better picture. There are two types of monitors CRT and LCD. CRT monitors are the big, bulky monitors and usually after extended periods of time they bother or can even damage your eyes. LCD's are the slim monitors and they deliver a much clearer picture and less fatigue on your eyes. Some monitors are polarized meaning they don’t reflect light off other surfaces but they do lack good colours. 

Mouse

The mouse is responsible for moving the curser around the screen. Mice are rated on their features e.g. a ball mouse is cheaper than a laser mouse, a wired mouse is cheaper than a wireless mouse. Mice can range in price from $5.00 to $200.00. Older mice use the PS/2 connection while newer mice use a USB connection the advantages on more expensive mice is their smoothness and precision. Mice are also rated on ergonomics or how they feel on your hand (comfort).

Printer

Printers use ink to transfer the images we see on the screen into images on paper. Printers are rated like mice on their features. There are printers which print faster than others, print better quality than others, are smaller than others, can do more than just print such as scan and photocopy or even fax. There are two main types or printers: laser, and inkjet. Inkjets are usually cheaper than lasers but they print slower. Laser printers print fast but are expensive to buy and maintain. Printers can range in price from $10.00 to $12,000.00.