What Is Actually Inside Your Computer Tower (CPU)?

The computer cabinet is composed of several essential parts, including the processor, motherboard, hard drive, and power supply. The processor is considered the most crucial component, while the motherboard occupies most of the visible space inside the cabinet.

These are the main parts/components of a computer cabinet/tower:

• Processor
• Motherboard
• Hard drive
• Power supply

These are the biggest, most obvious parts you see when you open the computer cabinet.

If you own a desktop computer, you are probably familiar with the elongated box next to the monitor. This box is commonly referred to as a “tower,” “cabinet,” or “CPU” (although this term is technically incorrect).

Have you ever looked inside the cabinet to see what’s inside?

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Key Parts Of A Cabinet

First of all, it is highly advisable to take the right precautions before opening the computer cabinet. If you are not sure how to do this, ask someone to help you.

Inside the cabinet, you can expect to see some machinery and a decent number of wires and plugs of various sizes crisscrossing all over.

However, don’t let that give you the impression that it’s something too complex to be understood; if broken down (figuratively, that is), a computer tower consists of five major components:

Processor

Also referred to as the CPU – Central Processing Unit, this is the most critical part of the cabinet. This is where everything you do on your computer is processed.

However, you will not be able to see it at first glance when you open the cabinet, as usually, a fan and a heatsink are attached to the processor to ensure that it does not overheat.

Intel and AMD are two leading processor manufacturers that bring new variants of existing processors to the market every few months.

Do the names Pentium, Core i5, and Athlon sound familiar?

Motherboard

This board takes up most of the visible space inside the cabinet. It is also called a mainboard, mobo, MB, system board, etc., and forms the basis of every computer.

The motherboard supplies power to the processor, RAM, hard disk, and other hardware components. It houses every wire and connector you can see inside the case. It also houses the famous RAM (Random Access Memory), also known as primary memory. The motherboard also houses other important components such as graphics cards, LAN cards, etc.

Now you know why it’s known as the “parent body”… it takes care of everything!

As with processors, manufacturers bring out different variants of motherboards to accommodate different functionalities; a particular processor is only compatible with certain motherboards, and vice versa.

Hard Drive

This part of the computer holds all your childhood memories and your exclusive song list in the form of huge files. It is usually built into a slot above the motherboard. It typically measures 2.5 “and 3.5” and weighs a few pounds.

All the information is stored permanently and can be accessed, modified, or deleted if needed. A virus attack can negatively affect a hard drive.

Not surprisingly, people are absolutely obsessed with protecting their hard drives; it’s like a bank safe for your computer!

Power Supply

Also known as the SMPS – Switched Mode Power Supply, or PSU – Power Supply Unit, is the part of the enclosure that supplies power to every single component within the enclosure. It converts an alternating current of 220-230 V into a direct current that the computer can use. It is normally located in the upper corner of the enclosure and is equipped with a small fan to prevent overheating.

There are also other parts in the cabinet, such as a floppy drive into which you insert your CDs and DVDs, an expansion card, and many wires. Still, these five components are the most important you will find in any computer tower, and they are easily recognizable.

Also Read: How Does Dust Affect Your Computer’s Performance?

A Word Of Caution

If you open your cabinet after a really long time, the first thing you might expect to lay your eyes on is a lot of dirt and cobwebs (probably).

Computer towers tend to attract dust particles due to the presence of fans. If they are not cleaned for a long time, their interior will become quite dusty.

Of course, cleaning your computer tower regularly is a good idea. Even if you are unsure how to open the cupboard, it is always better to ask more experienced people who can help you safely explore and clean the interior of your computer tower.