Computers work almost like magic. Have you ever wondered what’s inside your computer? Is there a little wizard inside your computer? Sadly, the answer is no, but what’s actually inside your computer is even more interesting! Read more to find out!
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Discover The Parts Of A Computer By Going Inside It
Today, we'll guide you through what's inside your computer! We'll start with the one of the most import things - the hard drive and go all the way through the screen.
1. Hard Drive (SSD vs HDD)
Have you ever received a “disk space full” error message? After receiving this message, you’re forced to delete files or games from your computer before you can download anything new. What’s the “disk” this message is referring to? The hard drive is where almost all the permanent information on your computer is stored—including your operating system, games, photos, and school documents.
Today, computers use different storage technologies. Here is a quick comparison of what you might find inside your computer:
| Storage Type | How It Works | Common Sizes | Speed & Durability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid State Drive (SSD) | Uses microchips with no moving parts (like a giant USB flash drive). | 256 GB to 2 TB+ | Extremely fast boot times; highly durable. Standard in almost all modern computers. |
| Hard Disk Drive (HDD) | Uses a spinning magnetic platter and a read/write head (like a tiny record player). | 1 TB to 8 TB+ | Slower load times; can be damaged if dropped. Now mostly used for cheap bulk storage. |
2. RAM
You may have also heard of “memory” for a computer whose capacity sounds much smaller than your hard drive—usually something like 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB. This memory is referred to as RAM, or “random access memory.” While hard drives store lots of files permanently, they are relatively slow. RAM stores active files temporarily, allowing your computer to access that data near-instantly.
Think of this analogy: imagine a shoe store. The hard drive is like the storage warehouse in the back of the store that holds thousands of shoe boxes in every size and color. RAM is like the storefront display shelf. If you want to check out a popular shoe, it's already right there on the shelf to see instantly; but if you need a specific size, the clerk has to go all the way to the back warehouse to fetch it, which takes a bit longer.
FAQ: How much RAM does your child need?
- For Roblox: While Roblox can technically run on 2 GB of RAM [1.2.7], we recommend at least 8 GB of RAM to avoid stuttering and lag in complex multiplayer worlds.
- For Minecraft: Standard Minecraft runs great with 4 GB to 8 GB of RAM. However, if your child wants to play with heavy modpacks, you will want 16 GB of RAM, so the game doesn't crash.
3. Processor (CPU)
If the hard drive and RAM store information, then what part of the computer actually does the thinking and calculations? The answer is called the processor, or CPU (Central Processing Unit). Often called the "brain" of the computer, the processor contains billions of microscopic transistors that switch on and off to process data.
Processor speeds are measured in gigahertz (GHz), where one GHz represents 1 billion processor cycles in one second. Modern processors are highly advanced and split into multiple "cores." Instead of old dual-core processors, modern chips have 6, 8, or even 16 cores working together! Think of cores as individual chefs in a kitchen—the more chefs you have, the faster they can cook complex meals simultaneously.
Want to teach your child how to write instructions that a CPU can execute? Check out our interactive coding classes for kids, where they can build their own games and programs!
4. Graphics Card (GPU)
Some computers—especially computers meant for gaming, video editing, or running local AI programs—have a separate, specialized processor for generating images on your screen. This is the graphics card, or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).
Unlike the CPU, which handles a few complex tasks at once, a GPU handles thousands of simple tasks simultaneously, like calculating the colors of millions of pixels on your screen. Here is what parents should look for when choosing a GPU:
- VRAM (Video RAM): This is the graphics card's dedicated memory. For modern gaming (like playing Minecraft with beautiful, realistic shader mods or Roblox at maximum graphics), look for a card with at least 6 GB to 8 GB of VRAM.
- Integrated vs. Dedicated: Integrated graphics are built directly into the main CPU and are fine for homework and casual web browsing. Dedicated graphics cards are separate units that plug into the motherboard and are essential for heavy 3D gaming and creative work.
5. Power Supply
Without electricity to power these parts, your computer would be pointless! The power supply is the source of electricity for the computer. In laptops it’s a battery and on desktop computers it’s plugging into a wall.
6. Fan / Cooling System
Have you ever felt your laptop get hot? Or have you heard your computer making a soft blowing noise? Computers get hot because these parts have electricity flowing through them. Computers especially get hot for intense programs like games. To prevent these components from melting (yes this can happen!), computers have fans to help keep the parts at a reasonable temperature. Some really fancy computers even have liquid cooling systems!
7. Motherboard
The motherboard is what connects all the different parts of your computer together. It acts like the computer's nervous system, allowing the CPU, RAM, storage, and power supply to talk to each other.
While many people mistake motherboard bases for silicon, they are actually made of durable fiberglass and plastic resin layers with microscopic copper lines printed on them to carry electricity. The motherboard is what you see when think giant, green circuit board. A motherboard has several key slots and connectors to look out for:
- CPU Socket: The dedicated slot where the processor sits.
- RAM Slots: Long, narrow slots where your memory sticks click into place.
- PCIe Slots: Expansion slots used to plug in dedicated graphics cards and sound cards.
- SATA/M.2 Connectors: Ports used to link your SSDs and hard drives to the board.
- External Ports: The physical slots on the back (like USB, HDMI, and headphone jacks) where you plug in your mouse, keyboard, and screen.
8. Peripherals and Screen
What can you connect to these external ports? For starters, you can connect a screen such that you can see the programs on your computer. You can also connect a mouse/trackpad and keyboard such that you can interact with these programs. In a laptop, the screen, keyboard, and trackpad are directly connected to the motherboard without wires. In addition to these, one can connect to other devices such as external hard drives, your phone or camera, etc.
Computer Parts For Kids
What’s inside a computer isn’t quite magic, but it comes close! Want to learn more about how computers work? For younger students Create & Learn’s Micro:Bit class is a great introduction to circuit programming in a simulator. For intermediate students, Create & Learn’s Smart Devices class introduces students to the world of Arduino circuit programming. Your child can even earn a certificate!
