We will now have a look at the hardware in terms of the system components.

• CPU: Hardwired CPU, special processors such as DSP, the micro-controller and special processors fall in this category;
• Memory: fast access control memory, cache memory, main memory and secondary memory with Mega bytes to Gega bytes hard disks, optical disks, specialised secondary memory, archived memory using disk, tapes;
• I/O devices: input and output devices which include the monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer etc. Out of these, there have been significant developments in display technology and they reached the common man;
• Networking components: with networking of computers becoming a common phenomenon, many network components are required which include network adapters, switches, routers etc.
  

These are the basic components of the computer system.