What is the box next to the computer called

Table of Contents

  • Key parts of a cabinet
  • A word of caution
  • Suggested Reading

The main parts of a computer cabinet are the processor, motherboard, hard drive, and power supply. The processor is the most important part of the cabinet, and the motherboard is the board that takes up most of the visible space inside the cabinet. The hard drive is the part of the computer that holds all your files, and the power supply is the part of the cabinet that supplies power to every single component within the cabinet.

These are the main parts/components of a computer cabinet/tower:

  • Processor
  • Motherboard
  • Hard drive
  • Power supply

These are the biggest, most obvious parts you see when you open the computer cabinet.

The very fact that you are reading this post probably means that you are familiar with computers. Take a look around, and you will almost instantly find a computer device in one form or another, be it a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, or a desktop computer.

Computers are indeed getting smaller and smaller and smarter and faster in their functioning. Nevertheless, you can find many people desperately holding onto their desktop computers.

If you own a desktop computer, you know the elongated box that usually sits right next to the monitor very well. In everyday language, it’s called “tower,” “cabinet,” or “CPU” (the last one is technically incorrect).

But have you ever looked inside the cabinet? Do you know what’s actually in your computer cabinet?

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Key parts of a cabinet

First of all, it is highly advisable to take the right precautions before opening the computer cabinet. If you are not sure how to do this, ask someone to help you.

This is what a cabinet looks like from the inside (Image Source: miketech.weebly.com)

Inside the cabinet, you can expect to see some machinery and a decent number of wires and plugs of various sizes crisscrossing all over.

However, don’t let that give you the impression that it’s something too complex to be understood; if broken down (figuratively, that is), a computer tower consists of five major components:

Processor

Credit: Volodymyr Krasyuk/Shutterstock

Also referred to as the CPU – Central Processing Unit, this is the most important part of the cabinet. This is where everything you do on your computer is processed.

However, you will not be able to see it at first glance when you open the cabinet, as normally, a fan and a heatsink are attached to the processor to ensure that it does not overheat.

A dusty processor fan (Credit: thodonal88/Shutterstock)

Intel and AMD are two leading processor manufacturers, which bring new variants of existing processors to the market every few months.

Do the names Pentium, Core i5, and Athlon sound familiar?

Motherboard

This is a board that takes up most of the visible space inside the cabinet. It is also called a mainboard, mobo, MB, system board, etc., and forms the basis of every computer.

Credit: Nicholas Greenaway/Shutterstock

The motherboard supplies power to the processor, RAM, hard disk, and other hardware components. It houses every wire and connector you can see inside the case. It also houses the famous RAM (Random Access Memory), also known as primary memory. The motherboard also houses other important components such as a graphics card, LAN card, etc.

Now you know why it’s known as the “parent body”… it takes care of everything!

As with processors, manufacturers bring out different variants of motherboards to accommodate different functionalities; a particular processor is only compatible with certain motherboards, and vice versa.

Hard Drive

Credit: hadescom/Shutterstock

This is the part of the computer that holds all your childhood memories and your exclusive song list in the form of huge files. It is usually built into a slot above the motherboard. It typically measures between 2.5 “and 3.5” and weighs a few pounds.

Here, all the information is stored permanently and can be accessed, modified, or deleted if needed. A virus attack can negatively affect a hard drive.

Not surprisingly, people are absolutely obsessed with protecting their hard drives; it’s like a bank safe for your computer!

Power supply

Image Source: www.sensorx.co.in

Also known as the SMPS – Switched Mode Power Supply, or PSU – Power Supply Unit, is the part of the enclosure that supplies power to every single component within the enclosure. It converts an alternating current of 220-230 V into a direct current that the computer can use. It is normally located in the upper corner of the enclosure and is equipped with a small fan to prevent overheating.

There are also other parts in the cabinet, such as a floppy drive into which you insert your CDs and DVDs, an expansion card, and many wires. Still, these five components are the most important you will find in any computer tower, and they are easily recognizable.

A word of caution

If you open your cabinet after a really long time, the first thing you might expect to lay your eyes on is a lot of dirt and cobwebs (probably).

Computer towers tend to attract dust particles due to the presence of fans. If they are not cleaned for a long time, their interior will become quite dusty.

Of course, it is a good idea to clean your computer tower regularly. Even if you are not sure how to open the cupboard, it is always better to ask more experienced people who can help you safely explore and clean the interior of your computer tower.

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References

  1. University of Rhode Island
  2. Clarke Science Center - Smith College

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Box (boxen being plural according to The Jargon File), computer, or system is the most technically correct and accurate depending on personal preference and context of use.

Tower, desktop, mini-tower, server, laptop and HTPC all refer to the physical form factor of the computer and can be used to specify the type of case for the computer.

Workstation, HTPC, netbook, Ultrabook (TM) all refer to a specific usage role and related set of hardware specifications.

Case specifically refers to the physical container that holds the motherboard, processor, RAM and other essential components which make up the computer.

A computer does not require or indicate input or output devices such as video displays, printers, keyboards, mice, etc, those are all peripherals as they are not required for the computer to be completely functional (Mainframe and early minicomputers generally did not have most or any of these devices since they were intended to be used for batch processing or, later, remote interactive operation via teletype or video terminals and thus typically included only diagnostic lights and switches to allow the operator to observe basic functions, all input and output was handled by other connected devices).

Some older texts for introducing students to basic computing labeled the box as the "CPU" so this term may still be used despite being technically inaccurate although care must be used to ensure no misunderstandings with more pedantic or technically precise coworkers.

Asked By: Clifford Wood Date: created: Jul 04 2022

Answered By: Mason Garcia Date: created: Jul 04 2022

A computer case, also known as a computer chassis, tower, system unit, or cabinet, is the enclosure that contains most of the components of a personal computer (usually excluding the display, keyboard, and mouse).

Asked By: Jaden Roberts Date: created: Sep 13 2022

What are the parts of the computer inside the box

Answered By: Jonathan Gonzalez Date: created: Sep 16 2022

8 Things happening inside your computer box

  • CPU. The central processing unit is the part of the computer that “computes.” Most people just call it a CPU or processor.
  • MOTHERBOARD. The processor needs to communicate with graphic cards, hard drives, RAM and lots of other components.
  • GRAPHICS.
  • RAM.
  • HARD DRIVE.
  • OPTICAL DRIVE.
  • NETWORKING.
  • USB.

Asked By: Ronald Peterson Date: created: Aug 30 2022

What is main part of computer

Answered By: Kevin Edwards Date: created: Sep 02 2022

A processor, computer memory, and input-output devices are the important components of a computer. Each of these parts is responsible for a specific set of functions.

Asked By: Malcolm Cooper Date: created: Dec 25 2021

What is the heart of a computer called

Answered By: Hugh Rogers Date: created: Dec 25 2021

The CPU is called as the Heart of the computer. The Memory Unit is calledas the Brain of the computer as it stores and retrieves the data. heart and brain ofcomputer can simply be referred to as the central processing unit (CPU) of a givenComputer.

Asked By: Neil White Date: created: Aug 08 2021

What is on a motherboard

Answered By: Bruce Wright Date: created: Aug 09 2021

The Motherboard itself is a printed circuit board that allows the CPU, RAM, and all other computer hardware components to communicate with each other. It can control things such as what type of processor you can use, how much RAM memory it can have and what features it can support.

Asked By: Nathaniel Bailey Date: created: Jun 18 2021

What are the 7 major components of a computer

Answered By: Rodrigo Butler Date: created: Jun 20 2021

7 Major Components of Computer

  1. The Motherboard. Motherboard is simply a Circuit Board which is Printed that contains the principal components of the computer with connectors.
  2. The CPU. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit .
  3. The RAM.
  4. The Hard Drive.
  5. The Video Card or Graphics Card.
  6. The Power Supply.
  7. The Optical Drive.

Asked By: Owen Moore Date: created: Dec 14 2021

What are the parts of CPU and its function

Answered By: Justin Jones Date: created: Dec 14 2021

The two typical components of a CPU include the following:

  • The arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performs arithmetic and logical operations.
  • The control unit (CU), which extracts instructions from memory and decodes and executes them, calling on the ALU when necessary.

Asked By: Matthew Wright Date: created: Mar 05 2022

How do you describe a processor

Answered By: Jacob Bailey Date: created: Mar 08 2022

A processor is an integrated electronic circuit that performs the calculations that run a computer. A processor performs arithmetical, logical, input/output (I/O) and other basic instructions that are passed from an operating system (OS). Most other processes are dependent on the operations of a processor.

What is the box next to the computer called
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Yes You can run without an attached graphics card, of course depending that the motherboard has support for internal graphics APU and have some display ports available. Does Ryzen need GPU? Ryzen 7s do NOT have built in video of any kind. Discreet GPU is required. Can I run Ryzen 2600 without GPU? AMD do make CPUs with integrated graphics, but for an equivalent one you need a Ryzen 5 2400G or 2400GE, which includes a Vega 11 GPU inside. No, it doesn't have an integrated GPU, there would be no GPU in the system and thus no way to get video even if the motherboard has hdmi/do. Does AMD Ryzen need GPU? The new Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G processors are no different: fully unlocked CPU, GPU, memory, and voltage. Can you run a computer without a GPU? The computer works perfectly fine without a graphics card.…

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Modern GPUs are highly parallel working CPUs, specialized on working on chunks of (graphical) data, like the SIMD extensions in a normal CPU.So every task that can be programmed to run in many parallel threads can benefit from running on a GPU. Is a GPU the same as a CPU? The only similarity they share is they both process information. A CPU (typically referred to as a processor) is the Central Processing Unit. The GPU (or graphics card) is the Graphics Processing Unit. Basically a specialized processor just for graphics. Can GPU work without CPU? That's the graphics processing unit. A better GPU runs games better and the like. However modern CPUs(except some Xeons) come with integrated GPUs so you can run your PC without a dedicated GPU (like a GTX 1060 or RX480). You can run a PC without a dedicated GPU but not without a CPU. Does rendering…

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How do I know if my graphics card is failing? The Symptoms Computer Crashes. Graphics cards that have gone rogue can cause a PC to crash. Artifacting. When something is going wrong with the graphics card, you may notice this via bizarre visuals onscreen. Loud Fan Sounds. Driver Crashes. Black Screens. Change the Drivers. Cool It Down. Make Sure It's Properly Seated. How do I check if my GPU is working properly? Open Windows' Control Panel, click "System and Security" and then click "Device Manager." Open the "Display Adapters" section, double click on the name of your graphics card and then look for whatever information is under "Device status." This area will typically say, "This device is working properly." What causes GPU failure? What are the most common reasons for GPU cards to fail? Overheating. Which could be caused by intentional overclocking, insufficient ventilation, or something overriding the built-in power…

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That means the Ryzen 3 2200G is also a really rather capable basis for a budget gaming PC on its own, sans discrete graphics card, and for a great price.But that's only got Intel's own flimsy graphics tech installed, which is never going to give good game, so absolutely has to have a discrete GPU attached to it. Do you need a graphics card with Ryzen 3 2200g? Four Ryzen CPU cores deliver plenty of processing oomph, and those are paired with eight Radeon Vega compute units that let the Ryzen 3 2200G play PC games even if you don't have a graphics card. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G earns its title as our top budget gaming CPU, and this deal makes it even more affordable. Does Ryzen 3 need a GPU? Since your CPU has no integrated GPU, and you aren't using a dedicated GPU, this step will not…

User

These will also not require a separate GPU, while the rest of them will.If you are buying a Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 CPU, some of them come with Radeon vegas graphics on the CPU.If you are buying a Ryzen 7 or Thread ripper CPU, you need to buy a separate graphics card. Does Ryzen 3 need a graphics card? Since your CPU has no integrated GPU, and you aren't using a dedicated GPU, this step will not be carried out, and you will get an error(probably through motherboard beeps, if you have a motherboard speaker). Short answer: Yes, you absolutely need a GPU even for booting with that CPU. Can I use Ryzen without GPU? Yes You can run without an attached graphics card, of course depending that the motherboard has support for internal graphics APU and have some display ports available. Do you need a graphics card with…

User

No, the Ryzen 2600 does not have an integrated GPU.The AMD marketing clearly states that CPU products are just that, while APU products are a CPU + integrated GPU combo.Again, to make a note, Ryzen CPU series do not offer an integrated graphics, but Ryzen APU series have it. Can I use Ryzen 2600 without GPU? AMD do make CPUs with integrated graphics, but for an equivalent one you need a Ryzen 5 2400G or 2400GE, which includes a Vega 11 GPU inside. No, it doesn't have an integrated GPU, there would be no GPU in the system and thus no way to get video even if the motherboard has hdmi/do. Does Ryzen 5 have GPU? The family then bumps up to 6 cores/12 threads at 3.2Ghz with the Ryzen 5 1600, and finally the top processor is the Ryzen 5 1600 X running at 3.6 GHz (nominal, with a…

User

Adding a GPU A motherboard that includes a graphics processor is said to have an onboard GPU.Buying a separate GPU card not only gives you a potentially faster GPU, but also brings with it its own set of video RAM, or VRAM.Both graphics processing and multitasking will see a boost. Does graphic card affect computer speed? Other computer components also affect its speed. If you run 3-D games or video editing programs, your graphic card's speed may become important. The speed at which memory moves data around also affects the computer's speed. If you don't play computer games, you may not need the fastest graphics card. How can I make my graphics card faster? How to increase FPS on your PC or laptop to improve gaming performance: Update your graphics drivers.Give your GPU a slight overclock.Boost your PC with an optimization tool.Upgrade your graphics card to a newer model.Switch out…

User

If you're referring to a normal PC, no, you can't run it without separate RAM sticks attached, but that's only because the BIOS is designed not to attempt to boot with no RAM installed (which is, in turn, because all modern PC operating systems require RAM to run, especially since x86 machines typically don't allow you Can a computer post without RAM? Yes, this is normal. Without RAM, you cannot get a display. Furthermore, if you don't have a motherboard speaker installed, you will not hear the associated beeps indicating that RAM was not present in the POST. You should get a motherboard speaker; it is an invaluable tool in diagnosing your computer. Can a laptop run without RAM? No, a laptop (or a desktop) will not start without RAM. If RAM is not installed when a laptop (or a desktop) is switched on, nothing would appear on the screen.…

User

Do you need a GPU to boot? Since your CPU has no integrated GPU, and you aren't using a dedicated GPU, this step will not be carried out, and you will get an error(probably through motherboard beeps, if you have a motherboard speaker).Short answer: Yes, you absolutely need a GPU even for booting with that CPU. Will a computer boot without a GPU? Additionally, many PC motherboards will not boot unless you have an integrated or discrete graphics adapter. Now to answer your question a bit better, yes a computer that had its graphics card removed can turn on and it can do it by itself, but it probably will not boot. Can you access BIOS without GPU? Dignified. No, either the CPU has integrated graphics, or there is a graphics chip on the motherboard. Without one or the other you wouldn't get to the BIOS screen. Can I use…