Lets you precisely point at and interact with things on the screen. Gaming mice are a whole rabbit hole!

Low-level software that runs when you first start your computer. Handles booting the OS.

The Power-On Self Test. A series of quick checks the computer runs at startup.

Refers to a computer’s physical size and shape, like a laptop vs a desktop tower.

A chip that stores key settings like the system time and hardware config. Powered by a coin battery.

An even faster SSD interface. If you want the absolute quickest response times, look for an NVMe SSD.

A special processor optimized for graphics. Critical for gaming, 3D work, and video editing.

The power supply unit. Converts AC power from your wall outlet to DC power the computer components need.

A versatile high-speed connector for add-in cards like GPUs, SSDs, capture cards, etc.

The “brain” that processes instructions. The faster the CPU, the zippier your computer will feel.