Anatomy of a Computer

2. It funnels power through the multicoloured cables.
7. The slots let peripherals communicate quickly with the processor.
8. This activates when you turn on the computer and performs system checks before starting your main OS.
9. If your computer performs slowly when you have multiple programs open, you can usually increase the performance by adding this.
10. These ports are much slower than new USB and FireWire ports. You can attach some older keyboards, mice, and modems to this port.
11. If you have an older printer or scanner, you probably connect the device to this port.

1. A large PCB (printed circuit board) that houses most of your computer’s components and directs data.
3. Many peripherals, such as MP3 players, modern printers, and PDAs (personal digital assistants) require this.
4. The brain that carries out your computer’s instructions.
5. You can use this to connect many different types of peripherals, including digital cameras and digital video cameras.
6. If your motherboard does not have a sound chip or if you want better sound quality, you can buy a this card.
12. Although some newer mice and keyboards include USB cables, most require these ports.