tower case: interior view![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
heat sink ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Metal piece that disperses the heat generated by the processor’s circuits.
bus ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The wires and circuits allowing transmission of data, in the form of electric signals, between the computer’s components.
processor ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Central processing unit (CPU) that reads and executes programmed instructions.
battery ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Electric energy reserve used to power computer functions, which are still active when the computer is turned off.
primary hard disk drive ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Device that reads and records data on the primary hard disk; it is the main storage medium for programs and data.
chipset ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
The integrated circuits (chips) welded to the motherboard, which coordinates the exchange of data between the computer’s various components.
random access memory (RAM) connector ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Device accepting a RAM module.
random access memory (RAM) module ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Module containing RAM chips, which temporarily store programs and data while they are being used or processed.
ISA expansion connector ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Socket accepting an expansion card designed according to ISA standards (usually a modem card or sound card).
AGP expansion connector ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Socket accepting a video board designed according to AGP standards; it is extremely fast and provides high-quality 3-D displays.
speaker ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Integrated device used to generate sound.
PCI expansion connector ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Socket accepting a PCI expansion card; it provides a higher transmission speed than an ISA conductor.
filler plate ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Plate covering an unused expansion connector.
power cable ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Flexible electric cable that contains the conductors used to attach the power supply unit to the electric circuit.
motherboard ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Main circuit board that houses the components essential to the computer’s operations, including the processor, chipset and connectors.
PCI expansion card ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Circuit board designed according to PCI standards that is used to add functions to the computer; it can act as a video board, network interface board or soundboard.
power supply unit ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Device that converts the power system’s alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) to supply power to the personal computer’s internal components.
CD/DVD-ROM drive ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Playback device using a laser beam to read the data recorded on a compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD).
secondary hard disk drive ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Device used to play and record data on a secondary hard disk that complements the primary hard disk.
floppy disk drive ![click to hear](/images/speaker.jpg)
Device used to read or record data on a diskette.