Many users do not understand why the computer is also referred to as the system unit. This concept is complex and hides a whole range of equipment, which will be discussed in this article. The reader is invited to learn about the device of the computer, the characteristics of the devices and the connection of the system unit.
Generalized concept
Many users believe that the metal case of the computer is the system unit, which houses all kinds of components that are responsible for performance. This opinion is erroneous. In fact, the case of the system unit is the same element as the processor, memory or video card. All these are computer components that are necessary for any user to work with.
Under the concept of "system unit" is hidden something more - a set of components interconnected and ensuring stable operation with the operating system, programs and games. Moreover, this entire complex of devices is the whole and finished product of the seller. It will be easier to say that the system unit is a personal computer without a monitor, keyboard and other peripherals.
Form factor
Size is a basic factor when buying any computer equipment. Therefore, the reader is invited to start the study with a form factor. The assembled system units, primarily vary in size, and, accordingly, have a generalized name and their own classification.
- Personal computer . A metal box familiar to all users can be of various sizes and shapes. Accordingly, all components are selected individually for each block.
- Mobile computer . A laptop, tablet, smartphone are all system blocks, only reduced several times.
- Highly focused equipment . Servers, on-board computers, terminals, and other specialized electronic computing equipment fall into this category.
Ordinary personal computer
In the computer equipment market, any buyer is always offered the choice: purchase assembled system units or make an independent set of spare parts, focusing on the price and performance of the platform. In most cases, users give preference to the second option, because hand-made assembly is always cheaper. And with the performance of the platform, things are much better. Here are just a lot of buyers who always overlook one important criterion - hardware compatibility.
Another thing is a system unit assembled in an entire enterprise (HP, Intel or some other very famous brand). In the factory, engineers not only select the most compatible components, but also test the performance of the computer, the efficiency of the cooling system, and determine the fault tolerance at maximum loads.
Conventional Computer Market
In any specialized store, a potential buyer will find that all computers have not only different colors, but also distinctive shapes and sizes. So, game system units look quite massive (decent cooling is required), and office systems, on the contrary, are more compact to save desktop space. All computers, and, accordingly, their components, are classified by form factor: ATX, miniATX, microATX, monoblock and terminal.
Accordingly, for each type of system unit there is its own case, motherboard, video card and expansion device. All other parts (processor, memory, hard drives) are universal, and can be installed on any computer. The form factor is the main characteristic of the system unit, which decides the future fate of the platform and its purpose.
The right component selection
The next step for the future owner is the selection of compatible computer components. It is necessary to determine the platform to whom to give preference - to the manufacturer AMD or Intel. Having received the answer to this question, you need to choose the base motherboard, which will have a frame size corresponding to the case. There are some nuances here. For example, a small microATX motherboard can easily be mounted in a huge ATX system unit, but the user cannot do the opposite.
The following steps require the buyer to determine the processor, RAM and video adapter. Here, professionals recommend giving preference to a balanced system. The choice of hard drive, optical drive and other spare parts depends on the purpose of the computer. For toys, it is better to take a fast and expensive SSD-drive, and for office and multimedia a large-capacity magnetic disk will be preferable. It turns out that the system unit is an ordinary constructor that can be assembled as you like, you just need to know what should result.
Portable systems
Minimized platforms for home and office use are more suitable for the definition of "monoblock". Very often they are compared with a laptop or tablet. The thing is that no matter what components are installed inside the computer, due to the small dimensions of the device’s case, their functionality is very limited (when compared with a regular PC). However, in terms of performance and performance, no user has any complaints about them. Take at least the Intel portable system unit, which has inside the most powerful processor in the world Core i7.
The downside of all laptop computers is their limited functionality. The user cannot by his own efforts add new, more powerful components or install any expansion cards. It is this limitation that allows manufacturers of mobile devices to control the relevant market, constantly imposing more productive and expensive devices on users.
Highly specialized equipment
Many sellers believe that gaming system units need to be classified as narrowly focused equipment, because they, like expensive servers, are evaluated according to the "performance" criterion. Despite the cost, many lovers of dynamic and resource-intensive applications are ready to give hundreds of thousands of rubles, if only to have the most powerful platform in the world, which can immerse the user in virtual reality.
However, specialized equipment is more related to the HP system unit, made in the form of a server and designed to work with databases. Its main difference before a conventional computer is processor power. Manufacturers of such system units install special motherboards inside the case that support work with several processors. Also critical for the server is the amount of RAM and hard drives. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to play such a system, since the platform does not have a discrete video adapter, and it is unlikely that ordinary users can afford the multimillion-dollar cost of such equipment.
Finally
Having found out that the system unit is a whole complex of computer parts assembled together, the reader can only find out how to connect and use this platform at home or in office conditions. At this stage, everything is very simple, because all manufacturers worried about users and adopted a single standard that requires matching connectors for all components and color identification marks.
By expanding the body of the system unit to the back, the owner will find that all the conclusions on the motherboard have a different shape, and some components differ in color. So, the lilac plug of the keyboard must be inserted into the corresponding color contact computer. The monitor and mouse also have appropriate port sizes. Even the power cable cannot be inserted incorrectly, because all power supplies have built-in ground.