What are Different Types of Hardware

What is Hardware?
The physical parts of a computer are called hardware. Hardware can be touched or seen by us. For example, hard disk, mouse, keyboard, CD, CD-ROM Drive, Floppy Disk, Speakers, Modem and Printers - all are computer hardware.Different types of hardware components are as follows:

1.    Input devices
Input devices are used to enter data and instructions into computer. Examples of input devices are:
Keyboard, mouse, scanner, digital camera etc.

Microphone

Mouse

Keyboard

2.    The Central Processing unit
Central processing unit is the brain of the computer. It is also called CPU or Processor. Intel is the leading manufacturer of microprocessors. For example, Intel Pentium IV 3.2 MHz is an example of a cpu.

CPU or Microprocessor or simply Processor

3.    Output devices
 Output devices are used to show the results of processing to the user. For example monitor, printer, plotter, speaker and data projector are out put devices.

Speakers

LCD Monitor

Printer

4.    Memory chips
Memory is a component of a computer to store data and instructions. RAM is an example of memory chip. It stands for Random Access Memory. Every program to be executed is loaded in RAM from hard disk. CPU executes the programs loaded in RAM.RAM is a temporary memory, all data and programs are lost from RAM, when computer is turned off. ROM stands for Read Only Memory. ROM is permanent memory chip; we cannot change or delete its contents. It is a non-volatile memory.

ROM shape 1

RAM

ROM shape 2

5.    Storage devices
Storage Devices are used to store large amounts of data permanently. For example: hard disk, CD, DVD etc. are storage devices. Moreover, Zip Disk and Floppy disk is also considered as storage devices.

Hard Disk

DVD ROM

Floppy Disk

ZIP Disk

CD ROM

 6.    Communication devices
Communication devices are used to send and receive data from one computer to another. For example Modem, Network Interface Card, Hub, switches, routers, gateways and even networking cables are included in communication devices

Wireless PCI NIC Card

External Modem

LinkSys Router