Summary

Your computer case contains all of the essential components that it needs in order to operate. These components interact with external devices such as a keyboard, mouse, and video display to make the computer a useful tool.

Among the major components inside the case are the power supply and the motherboard. The motherboard holds the CPU, the chipset, the BIOS, and other electronic circuits. The case also holds expansion cards-these add specialized features and functions-and drive bays that hold hard drives and other storage devices. Also present in the case are cables for moving power, data, and signals through the computer; heat sinks and fans that move air through the case and control the computer's internal temperature; and insulation that reduces the amount of noise produced by the computer.