by Ms. Marie

Created on: January 01, 2011

The average person who owns and uses a computer, whether it be for personal use or work, has no idea what is inside the case.  Most people cringe if they see the inside parts of a PC or laptop.  Circuits and wires look very complex, but you should learn about the different parts of your computer, you invested in it and you probably depend on it, so why not learn how things look and work inside. 

Unlike a television or other electronic equipment, many personal computers today are built so that they can be upgraded, you can change or replace most parts yourself rather than paying to have a tech do it.  Why pay for a diagnosis, an hourly rate for labor and for a part when you can do most repairs and upgrades yourself.  That's right, if your hard drive dies it is cheaper to buy a new one and replace it yourself and it is not that hard to do.  You can save hundreds of dollars, the first thing a computer repair tech will say is bring it in we'll have to take a look at it to see what's wrong.  Do you think they do this out of the kindness of their heart, if they did they would be out of business.

Why do you think computer techs get paid so well?  Because consumers are afraid to open up a computer case and look inside.  Basically, what you'll find is a motherboard, hard drive, DVD drive, fan, power supply box, a sound card and video card (unless they are on-board, meaning part of the motherboard), and a lot of thick flat wires with connectors. 

You don't need to understand every technical detail of a computer, but being familiar with the parts of a computer can save you time, money and help you trouble shoot problems yourself.  At least have some knowledge, if you ever need to take your PC or laptop to a repair shop a lack of knowledge will cost you dearly.

Understanding the basic parts, knowing how things interact can help you make the best decisions.  Let's say you want to purchase a program that requires a minimum of 2 gigabytes of RAM and you only have 1 gig installed, you will know that the software will not run properly.  If you know your computer and its parts you'll know if you have available slots, you'll know if your computer can take more memory and you'll be able to make an informed decision.  You won't waste money buying software that won't work, and then run off to a computer shop in a panic and pay to find out what you should have already known. 

There are many tutorials online that explain every part of a computer, for example Tiger Direct is an awesome site not just for buying parts, but it has excellent guides and tips, take a look at a detailed guide for installing memory, to see for yourself.  Computer owners should learn about the different parts of their computers for many reasons, it will save you money and a lot of headaches.  

I think you get the point, for starters why not dig up your computer manual and read it; there is a lot of helpful information in it.  By the way, learning about computers and their parts can make you feel a lot more confident too, so open up the case and take a look around.

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