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How do computers *actually* work?
- Thread starter salami1212
- Start date
![[FnG]magnolia](/styles/overclockers/avatars/9.png){kind=avatar}
Caporegime
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I'm almost too terrified to ask but how are you arriving at this conclusion?
In it's most basic form, it is a transistor(switch/amplifier). Many transistors together in a circuit that can be programmed with software and you basically have a computer.
What you really need is someone who knows the answer to this inside out and can put it into simple terms for everyone to understand (if you haven't figured yet that person is not me
)
What you really need is someone who knows the answer to this inside out and can put it into simple terms for everyone to understand (if you haven't figured yet that person is not me
)
How basic do you want to go?
Here's how to build a circuit that can add 2 4 bit binary number
Now think of a processor as containing millions of these kinds of circuits, all able to do different functions.
Memory is basically a whole load of tiny capacitors, which are electronic components that store charge (ie 1s) or are empty (0s)
Here's how to build a circuit that can add 2 4 bit binary number
Now think of a processor as containing millions of these kinds of circuits, all able to do different functions.
Memory is basically a whole load of tiny capacitors, which are electronic components that store charge (ie 1s) or are empty (0s)
Associate
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Your PC does not know anything, it simply does. It matters not a jot if its running hotmail, or BFBC2, its all the same to it. Its like driving your car across a field or down a motorway, to you there is a vast difference, it will perform differently, different stresses and strains on the 'system' but the system itself only does what its asked, nothing more nothing less, it has no say, well it may have a 'say' so to speak when it can't perform how you want and says on your bike mate, i cant do that, but its doesn't know that it cant do it, obviously being an inanimate object, rather its you picking up the feedback from the system telling you that you can't run carmageedon at max settings and 1280*768.
I would spend quaility time on that if it meant i could clone her
Computers confuse the hell out of me. Truly alien devices that are made of the ghosts of times past.
I find it amusing that I have a much greater understanding of how a brain works, which is supposed to be infinitely more complicated, but it's the computer that has me boggled. It is my brain that cannot comprehend the computer
I find it amusing that I have a much greater understanding of how a brain works, which is supposed to be infinitely more complicated, but it's the computer that has me boggled. It is my brain that cannot comprehend the computer
Soldato
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its amazing that someone one time thought of making a machine out of the blue that could program somethingg. how do even come with the concept on how to make that?
Permabanned
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imagine something you learnt in electronics - multiply it by like... a zillion... = a computer.
Well, a basic explanation would be it's simply electric currents going on and off (representing 1 and 0) going through logic gates and getting an output. It doesn't 'think' or 'known' anything but instead is just lots, and lots of electronic signals interacting and creating logical patterns.
Associate
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For a question so open ended there is no good concise answer. You could do a degree in computer science and still want to know more.
My suggestion would be that if you want to get answers here you try and come with more specific questions for people to answer, or that you go and do some serious reading. Wikipedia might be good for starters but I think you'd quickly find yourself wanting some decent books.
The question is, which layer do you want to start looking at? Computer science is so deep a field that nobody would get anywhere if they tried to understand every part of a system all at once; they have to be viewed as layers of abstractions. At each layer you forget about the implementation of the layers above and below you and think only in terms of how they behave. If you want to go bottom up, take a look into digital electronics (try combinatorial and sequential logic, then look into functional units such as adders). From there you can get to the ideas behind the fundamentals of processor design. You could delve into a middle layer and have a look at some MIPs assembly code and perhaps try some with the PCSPIM simulator. A slightly higher level entry point that might be interesting is the Wikipedia article on call stacks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_stack. You're then getting to the point of wanting to look at operating system design, memory models, processor design, and more.
For the lower level layers you might be able to get away with learning through reading. Higher level stuff you really are best off learning about through doing (i.e. having a go at programming things to see that the layers fit together).
With regard to your question about displays and bits, you might find the Wikipedia article on the OSI layers informative: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_protocols.
My suggestion would be that if you want to get answers here you try and come with more specific questions for people to answer, or that you go and do some serious reading. Wikipedia might be good for starters but I think you'd quickly find yourself wanting some decent books.
The question is, which layer do you want to start looking at? Computer science is so deep a field that nobody would get anywhere if they tried to understand every part of a system all at once; they have to be viewed as layers of abstractions. At each layer you forget about the implementation of the layers above and below you and think only in terms of how they behave. If you want to go bottom up, take a look into digital electronics (try combinatorial and sequential logic, then look into functional units such as adders). From there you can get to the ideas behind the fundamentals of processor design. You could delve into a middle layer and have a look at some MIPs assembly code and perhaps try some with the PCSPIM simulator. A slightly higher level entry point that might be interesting is the Wikipedia article on call stacks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_stack. You're then getting to the point of wanting to look at operating system design, memory models, processor design, and more.
For the lower level layers you might be able to get away with learning through reading. Higher level stuff you really are best off learning about through doing (i.e. having a go at programming things to see that the layers fit together).
With regard to your question about displays and bits, you might find the Wikipedia article on the OSI layers informative: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_protocols.
