External Computer Hardware

1. Outside of the PC (System Unit)

Although there are many different types of computers available, on a typical computer you will always find several components. The common exterior components are: buttons, optical drives, vents, ports, and status lights.

• Buttons: Every computer, regardless of type, will have some way to turn the system on. The power button is what turns it on. Depending on the computer type, you may also see buttons that adjust sound and screen settings, as well as a button to restart the computer. Modern devices may also have fingerprint scanners or other biometric buttons.
• Optical Drive: Many modern computers no longer come with a CD/DVD-ROM drive due to the popularity of digital downloads and streaming. However, some desktops and older laptops may still have one to insert, remove, or write (burn) CDs or DVDs. External optical drives can be connected via USB for those needing this functionality.

• Vents: As a computer is used, it generates heat. To dissipate this heat, most computers contain a fan and at least one externally located vent that cools down the electronic components. Some high-performance systems, like gaming PCs, may have multiple fans and advanced cooling systems, such as liquid cooling.
• Ports: Computers provide ports for users to plug in cables and peripheral devices. The types of ports available depend on the age and type of the computer. Common ports include:
  
  USB (Universal Serial Bus): For keyboards, mice, external drives, and other peripherals.
  
  USB-C/Thunderbolt: Modern, versatile ports used for charging, data transfer, and video output.
  
  HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface): For connecting monitors and TVs.
  
  Ethernet (LAN) port: For wired network connections.
  
  Audio jacks: For headphones, microphones, and speakers.

• Status Lights: Many computers provide status lights to let the user know that the computer is powered on. Other indicator lights may show when information is being written to a disk, battery status, or network activity. Some modern devices also have RGB lighting for aesthetic customization.

watch

Check out the following video to learn more about these components.

terms to know

CD/DVD-ROM Drive

Drive bay used to insert CDs and DVDs.

Vent

Provides external area for internally generated heat to be dissipated.

Ports

Areas into which device cables can be connected to the system unit.

Status Lights

Provide user with feedback as to the current operation of the system.

2. Peripheral Devices

A peripheral device is a system-related device that is not a native part of the computer system. Peripheral devices are typically connected to the system via a port. Peripherals can be categorized as input, output, or storage devices. Depending on the type of computer, some common peripheral devices are keyboards, pointing devices, scanners, digital cameras, monitors, and printers.

• Keyboard: All personal computers need components that allow the user to input data. Keyboards help the user enter text or numbers as input for documents or files. Keyboards are available in different sizes. Some keyboards are designed for ergonomics while others are designed to be small.
• Pointing Device: A pointing device is an input device that moves an on-screen pointer and gives users the ability to click to initialize applications or open files. The most common type of pointing device is a mouse. Users move the mouse across a flat surface and press a button to click. Another type of pointing device is a touchpad. A touchpad is a touch-sensitive pad that is built into a notebook computer and is designed to behave like a mouse.
• Scanner: Scanners allow users to input documents into a computer, either as images or as text. Most scanners have flat surfaces on which users place documents to be scanned. However, some scanners feed documents one page at a time. Most scanners utilize the USB interface.

• Digital Camera: A digital camera is a device that captures a picture and converts it into digital information. Most digital cameras provide a local storage option until the picture can be transferred to a computer. Typically, a digital camera connects to a computer using the USB interface.
• Monitor: A monitor is a device used to display video, images, or text. With a laptop computer, the monitor is built-in. With a desktop computer, the monitor comes as a separate component connected to the system unit via cable (HDMI, DisplayPort). Most monitors are used only for output, but some, such as touchscreen monitors, can be used for both input and output.
• Printer: A printer is an output device that generates a hard copy of work created on a computer. All printers do the same basic thing: they print an image on a page. A printer's resolution, cost, speed, and overall ability vary.

watch

Learn more about the types of peripheral devices in the video below.

terms to know

Keyboard

Device that provides text and/or numeric input into a computer system.

Pointing Device

Device that moves an on-screen pointer and provides buttons for input.

Mouse

A device that can be moved across a flat surface to move an on-screen pointer.

Touchpad

Touch-sensitive pad that behaves like a mouse and is built into laptop computers.

Scanner

Input device that allows users to input documents as images or text.

Digital Camera

Input device that captures a picture and converts it to digital information.

Monitor

Output device used to display video, images, and text.

Printer

Output device that generates a hard copy of work created on a computer.