If you choose to open desktop tower, you will see a typical range of chips, including some of most important PC parts.

Motherboard

1. When you look into PC, motherboard is biggest board, to which every other part is attached. The motherboard's main aspect is system bus, a sequence of wires that attaches all parts of system in a line.

RAM

2. RAM holds programs and their data as they are running. It is very quick compared with a hard drive or CD-ROM, but data is deleted every time machine is switched off and is comparatively costly per byte. It will appear two small rectangles protruding from motherboard.

CPU Fan

3. CPU Fan essential to spread heat produced by CPU, will appear a cube on top of motherboard.

CPU

4. CPU is "brain" of PC. It sits below fan and looks like a flat square. It directs other parts on PC with performing essential mathematical calculations.

PCI/AGP Cards and Slots

5. Lining motherboard, near outside of box, will be a sequence of slots and equivalent holes in plastic case. These can be either PCI or AGP slots, to which cards can be included to increase functionality of PC. Two general cards found in many PCs are graphics and/or network cards.