From USB connectors to motherboards, the HowStuffWorks Computer Hardware Channel will help you find explanations, reviews, videos and prices for the parts you need.
The Integrated Drive Electronics interface is the most popular way to connect a hard drive to a PC. Find out where IDE came from and how it works today.
PCI slots are an integral part of a computer's architecture, but they have some shortcomings. Now there's a protocol that provides more bandwidth and is compatible with existing operating systems. Find out about PCI Express.
Essentially, a bus is a channel or path between the components in a computer. And having a high-speed bus is as important as having a good transmission in a car.
A computer is full of buses -- highways that take information and power from one place to another. While USB is good when utilizing small electronic devices, sometimes you need something bigger. That's where SCSI comes in.
The serial port was an integral part of most computers for more than 20 years, but new computers usually have USB connections instead. Serial ports are still used for most modems, as well as a few other electronic devices.
The USB port has taken over as the preferred connection method for modern computers. It's easy, it's standardized, it's fast and it supports up to 127 devices on a single machine.
How does a computer's parallel port work?
Computers send data through parallel ports, serial ports, or network connections. How does a computer's parallel port work? And how can you design things to attach to a parallel port?
Nearly every desktop computer uses one or more hard-disks drives -- your hard disk holds all of the information available on your computer. Take a look inside this incredibly precise storage mechanism.
The disk defragmenter is necessary because of the way hard disks store data. When you save a document, your machine disseminates little pieces of the file into empty spaces on the hard drive. Learn why it's done this way and how defragmenting is maintains your computer's performance.
Floppy disks were the first portable computer storage devices, created in 1967. They may be obsolete these days, but they're a huge part of computer history.
How to Add a Hard Drive to Your Computer
Is your computer more than a year old? If so, there's a good chance you're running low on disk space. Adding a hard drive will help --we'll show you how.
What does it mean when a hard disk has a head crash?
The head crash -- it's one of the most terrifying and frustrating computer glitches because it can destroy all of your data. Find out how long you can expect a hard disk to last before a head crash happens.
What is the churning sound I hear from my hard drive whenever it is retrieving data?
Surely you've noticed the grinding noise that sometimes happens when you open a file on a computer. Is it normal? What causes it?
Why does my PC try to access my floppy disk drive when there is no diskette in it?
When your PC tries to access your floppy disk drive, there could be a number of reasons. Luckily, they're pretty simple to solve -- we'll show you how to troubleshoot and fix this problem.
Silicon microprocessors are about to reach the limit to their storage capacity. But one technology may extend the life of the silicon microchip -- it's called extreme-ultraviolet lithography, and it may keep silicon useful for a few years longer.
A graphics card takes a computer's digital information and turns it into images for display. Learn about the amazing technology that converts 1s and 0s into eye candy.
The microprocessor determines the processing power available for any application you run -- without it, there IS no computer. Learn all about this amazing, ever-shrinking technology that makes your computer compute.
You may have heard expressions like "Silicon Valley" and the "silicon economy" -- that's because most semiconductor chips and transistors are created with silicon. Semiconductors are the foundation of all modern electronics.
Is it true that the Mac G4 processor is twice as fast as a Pentium III?
In this article we'll tell you which processor is faster and why. Learn how chip designers make use of transistors.
On a microprocessor like a Pentium or a G5 why can't they simply crank the speed up to 1000 GHz?
A microprocessor will perform without error when executed at or below the maximum indicated speed. Why can't they speed them up? There are two things that limit a chip's speed.
What is the difference between a Pentium and a Celeron processor?
When you sort things out and compare the two chips side by side, it turns out that a Celeron and a Pentium 4 chip running at the same speed are different beasts. You should choose a chip based on how you use your computer.
In your body is more computing power than in any manmade supercomputer. The future of computing bypasses silicon in favor of the far-more-powerful DNA strand, and the possibilities are endless. Learn how DNA could replace the silicon microprocessor.
If you don't want to rely on cable, satellite or over-the-air signals to watch TV shows, now you have another option -- Internet TV.
In most computers, fans do a pretty good job of keeping components cool. But for people who want to use high-end hardware or run their PCs at ultra high speeds, liquid cooling can be a better solution.
We've all used one and most of us are sitting in front of one right now. Curious to know what's going on inside that ever-present PC? Here's your chance to find out -- without prying open your own. Examine a personal computer from boot-up to shut-down.
Scientists have already built basic quantum computers that can perform specific calculations; but a practical quantum computer is still years away. Learn what a quantum computer is and just what it'll be used for in the next era of computing.
Learn what Microsoft has planned for the Ultra-mobile PC and what is still to come.
For all the die-hard computer gurus out there, have you built your own machine yet? Marshall Brain shows you how, step-by-step.
What's the worlds fastest supercomputer used for?
MDGrape-3 is the world's new fastest computer, but it performs only very specific calculations. It's part of an ongoing wave of new technologies that focus on computing biological data related to the human body.
How does a quantum computer work?
Rather than using bits and bytes, or ones and zeros to specify information, quantum computers depend on statistical probability. Learn how they make calculations.
How Printable Computers Will Work
Did you know it takes two full weeks for a microprocessor plant to produce one silicon-based microprocessor? Imagine being able to make one yourself by downloading designs and then printing it on your desktop fabrication machine.
What is the world's fastest computer?
What is the world's fastest computer? Well, there's the MDGrape-3 and a few other supercomputers, or there's another one that may surprise you ...
How can a totally logical machine like a computer generate a random number?
C programming can create a formula for a computer to generate a random number, but there are other ways too. Check out this explanation and diagram.
How is the LCD in a laptop computer so bright?
Florescent tubes and backlighting help make a computer's LCD screen bright and readable. Find out how these parts work together to keep your screen aglow.
How the Year 2000 Problem Worked
The cause of the Y2K problem was pretty simple. Until recently, computer programmers used two-digit placeholders for the year portion of the date in their software. Guess what happened when the system couldn't account for the first two numbers ...
Is it better to turn my computer off when I am not using it or leave it on all the time?
Several factors determine whether you should leave your computer on or off overnight. Networking, economic factors, and stressed-out components all play a part.
What are system resources and why do I run out of them?
In many cases, an "out of memory" message is misleading, since your whole system really did not run out of memory. Instead, certain areas of memory used by Windows have run low on space.
What are the different types of computers?
The term "computer" can describe virtually any device that uses a microprocessor, but most people think of a computer as a machine that receives user input through a mouse or keyboard. Learn what else "computer" can mean.
Will this keyboard combination shut your computer down or render it inoperable? Not likely, but it's always better to ask ...
Caching greatly increases the speed at which your computer pulls bits and bytes from memory. Do you know how it speeds things up? Find out why a little computer cache goes a really, really long way.
Like our brains, computers use both "short-term" and "long-term" memory to store data. But the similarities end there. There are several types of computer memory that are arranged based on both technical and financial concerns.
Random access memory is the most well-known form of computer memory. It's as important to your computer's operation as the CPU, because it determines how quickly and efficiently your computer can perform your requested tasks.
Removable memory has unchained us from our PCs -- we can now carry gigabytes of data wherever we go in a device the size of a matchbox. Learn about the three major digital storage technologies.
Read-only memory is not only essential to your computer, but is also used in everything from video games to microwaves. Learn about the different types of ROM and how they're used.
Since all programs require memory to run, virtual memory allows you to run multiple applications at once, without having to close one to make room for another. But why is it called "virtual"?
Does adding more RAM to your computer make it faster?
Does adding more RAM to your computer make it faster? It depends on how you use your computer and what types of programs you run.
What is the difference between static RAM and dynamic RAM in my computer?
Your computer probably uses both static RAM and dynamic RAM at the same time, but it uses them for different reasons because of the cost difference between the two types.
Chances are good that your operating system includes virtual memory. It makes your computer act like it has a lot more RAM than actually it does. Find out what virtual memory is and how it increases the speed of your PC.
The power supply in your PC provides all of the different voltages your computer needs to operate properly. Find out how it puts the pieces together.
When you put together a computer system, one piece of standard equipment you'll probably use is a surge protector. They safeguard your computer and electronic devices from power surges in your electrical system.
What is causing lithium-ion laptop batteries to overheat or catch fire Is my battery at risk?
Dell, Apple and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that several lithium-ion laptop batteries could short-circuit, causing an explosion or a fire. Find out why.
How does a computers uninterruptible power supply UPS work?
A computer can tolerate slight differences in power, but a significant deviation will cause the computer's power supply to fail. A UPS protects a computer against four different power problems.
Why does my computer need a battery?
The RTC chip, or Real Time Clock, does more than keep your computer set to the correct date and time. Without it, you wouldn't even be able to boot up.
This special PCI card lets you access digital television on your computer monitor, and you're still free to surf and run whatever programs you want. Here's how to get started.
Movies play, pop-ups pop, and video games fill the screen, immersing you in a world of 3-D graphics. Today, every aspect of computing uses lots of graphics. The Accelerated Graphics Port enhances the performance and speed of graphics hardware. Find out exactly how AGP works.
How Augmented Reality Will Work
Augmented reality will overlay text and images onto the objects in your environment to give you more information. Everyone from tourists to military troops will benefit from this amazing technology.
Imagine a TV that is 80 inches wide and less than a quarter-inch thick, consumes less power than most TVs you can buy today and can be rolled up when you're not using it. OLEDs can make it happen. Find out how.
Will the $100 laptop help save the developing world?
A nonprofit organization has developed a $100 laptop for children in developing countries. Well OK -- a $188 laptop. What is this computer like?
Are you ready for the post-PC era? Ready or not, it's already here -- and wearable devices are leading the revolution. These first-generation products may look clunky, but like all other digital products, they seem destined to evolve almost overnight.
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