Hardware Encyclopedia

Learn about every component that makes a PC work

PC Case

The chassis that houses all components with proper airflow design.

80
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Good airflow prevents overheating
  • • Cases come in various sizes: Mini-ITX, ATX, Full Tower
  • • Cable management improves cooling
Builder Tip

Start by placing the Case on the workbench.

Motherboard

The main circuit board connecting all parts with power delivery.

180
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Contains the chipset that manages data flow
  • • Socket type must match CPU
  • • Different sizes: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX
Builder Tip

Install the Motherboard into the Case using standoffs.

CPU (Processor)

The brain executing billions of calculations per second.

350
95%
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Modern CPUs have billions of transistors
  • • Clock speed measured in GHz
  • • More cores = better multitasking
Builder Tip

Gently place the CPU into the socket - align the golden triangle.

Thermal Paste

Thermal compound filling microscopic gaps for optimal heat transfer.

8
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Improves heat conductivity by 10-20°C
  • • Should be reapplied every 2-3 years
  • • Too much can insulate instead of cool
Builder Tip

Apply a pea-sized amount to the center of the CPU.

CPU Cooler

Active cooling system maintaining optimal CPU temperatures.

60
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Air coolers vs Liquid coolers
  • • Larger heatsinks = better cooling
  • • Fan speed affects noise and cooling
Builder Tip

Mount the Cooler on top of the CPU and thermal paste.

RAM (Memory)

Fast, temporary storage for active data and programs.

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88%
💡 Did You Know?
  • • DDR4 vs DDR5 - newer is faster
  • • Dual-channel doubles bandwidth
  • • More RAM = more apps running smoothly
Builder Tip

Snap RAM sticks into the vertical slots until they click.

Graphics Card

Specialized processor rendering graphics and accelerating AI tasks.

650
92%
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Has its own RAM (VRAM)
  • • Essential for gaming and 3D work
  • • Ray tracing creates realistic lighting
Builder Tip

Insert the GPU into the PCIe x16 slot.

NVMe SSD

Permanent storage for OS and files with lightning speed.

140
90%
💡 Did You Know?
  • • Up to 7000 MB/s read speeds
  • • No moving parts = silent & reliable
  • • NVMe is 5x faster than SATA SSDs
Builder Tip

Screw the SSD into the M.2 slot on the motherboard.

Power Supply

Converts AC wall power to stable DC power for components.

110
💡 Did You Know?
  • • 80+ rating indicates efficiency
  • • Modular PSUs reduce cable clutter
  • • Wattage should exceed total system power
Builder Tip

Slide the PSU into the bottom bay with fan facing down.