Components of a Computer System

A computer system consists of both hardware and software components.

The hardware components of a computer system are the electronic and mechanical parts.

The software components of a computer system are the intangible parts: the data and the computer programs.

The major hardware components of a computer system are:

• Processor
• Main memory
• Secondary memory
• Input devices
• Output devices

The processor, main memory, secondary memory, and power supply are inside the systems unit. The systems unit is the metal case and its contents that is often called "the computer". Attached to the systems unit are various input devices (such as the keyboard) and output devices (such as the monitor). The systems unit holds the main circuit board of the computer, called the motherboard which many of the other components plug into. The power supply supplies power for most of the components.