Answer: Internal components are devices that are either built-in to the motherboard of the computer, added on an expansion card or a device attached to the motherboard by way of ribbon cables. External devices are added to the computer system by plugging them into one of the ports on the back of the computer.

What is external device?

Any peripheral device that is not housed inside the computer cabinet. Monitors, keyboards, mice and printers are inherently external devices; however, drives, network adapters and modems may also be external.

What is internal device?

1. Internal describes a device that's installed inside the computer. For example, a video card is an internal device and a printer is an external device. When referring to a drive, an internal drive (e.g., internal hard drive) is any drive inside the computer.