Computer Basics

Computer

We use a computer to ease our work to entertain us. But what is a computer?

A: A computer is a general purpose device that can be programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logical operations.

Simple: (It means it's a device that can be commanded to carry out tasks that you command it to do.)
(What makes it a computer is it's programmable and do calculations.)

Computers today have many uses, it can be found anywhere. From toys to industrial robots or a small tiny MP3 device to airplanes. The space rocket, Saturn V, has less computing power than today's mobile phone.

But what's inside a computer?
A: It's actually a multiple components combined together creating a functional computer, or a PC.
A PC stands for "Personal Computer", computers that have a "Windows" operating system are commonly called PCs. Where as Macintoshes are called, MACs. (Big Mac :3)

I'll try my best to simplify it...

What's inside a computer:

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

i7-2600k 3.4GHz (Credits to Eric Gaba)

This is where your computer tasks gets processed. All of your computer processes is ran by this tiny processor.

This is a picture of a CPU, a glorious quad-core i7-2600k running at 3.4GHz.

Cores: A CPU has something that's called cores, the more it has, the better it is at multitasking or well threaded programs.

Speed: As you also notice I wrote "3.4GHz", it represents the speed of the processor. The higher it has, the better raw performance it will produce...though it's very inaccurate since it depends on the CPU's architecture. Reaching higher speeds is possible with overclocking but i'm not going to explain it.

Trivia:

1. Older CPUs runs on lower speed because the lack of smaller transistors, Running with high speed causes overheating problems. (Look at "process")

Pentium 4

Core	Process	Clock Speeds	L2 Cache	FSB Speeds	Socket	Release Date
Willamette	180 nm	1.3–2.0 GHz	256 KB	400 MT/s	Socket 423, Socket 478	November 2000
Northwood	130 nm	1.6–3.4 GHz	512 KB	400–800 MT/s	Socket 478	January 2002
Gallatin	130 nm	3.2–3.46 GHz	512 KB + 2 MB L3	800–1066 MT/s	Socket 478, LGA 775	November 2003
Prescott	90 nm	2.4–3.8 GHz	1 MB	533–800 MT/s	Socket 478, LGA 775	February 2004
Prescott-2M	90 nm	2.8–3.8 GHz	2 MB	800–1066 MT/s	LGA 775	February 2005
Cedar Mill	65 nm	3.0–3.6 GHz	2 MB	800 MT/s	LGA 775	January 2006

RAM (Random Access Memory)

G.Skill (RAM)

A RAM is a volatile storage device which means if it loses power, it loses all of its data.

This is where your temporary data are stored. During a program execution, data from the Hard Disk are transferred to the ram for future use. If the CPU requests some of its files, it won't have to load all over again.

Let's say, this is a RAM manufactured by G.Skill. It's a DDR3 RAM, running at 1600MHz with memory timing at CL8-8-8-24 with a voltage requirement of 1.35 volts.

Generation/Version: As you see, I wrote DDR3. It represents its version or generation. Out of all types of RAM, DDR type of RAM are the most common one. DDR SDRAM stands for Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random-Access Memory. There are three versions of these types of RAMs now, DDR, DDR2 and DDR3. DDR4 are expected to be commercialized in this year (2013) or next.

Speed: 1600MHz, just like the CPU, it represents speed. The higher the speed, the faster it gets. PC enthusiasts like to push their hardware to the limits, so they overclock it. In order to reach perfect stability at higher oc, it needs higher voltage.

Delay: Timing is set at CL8-8-8-24, it represents delay when "things" get executed. Example, a command must wait 8 cycles till it gets executed. The lower the timing is set, the higher the performance and thus the lower the stability. During "le old days" when RAMs has lower speed, it affects performance by a noticeable margin.

Voltage: It powers the RAM! Higher voltage means higher stability.

Trivia:
1. Older RAMs (DDR over DDR2 and DDR3) have lower timings might be because higher voltage.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Western Digital Raptor 740GB (HDD)

It's a different HDD but this is what inside a HDD should look like.

A Hard Disk Drive or a HDD for short is a non-volatile storage device. Unlike RAMs, It doesn't data when it loses power.

A HDD stores its data on a rigid metal platter. The magnetic "needle" inside the HDD is used for writing and erasing data on the platter inside the HDD.

I'm not going to explain much here.

Trivia:
1.1 The higher the storage space, the higher the write/read speed. (Due to density of data)
      ^ Disclaimer: Platter with big sizes are slower and have short life-span.^
I have one Bigfoot TX 5.25" 4GB (1996) ...it's dead.

Solid State Drive (SSD)

*picture update*

A Solid State Drive or SSD is also a non-volatile storage device similar to HDD. The thing that makes it different than HDD is because it has no moving parts and is using "electronic" based storage.

Advantages using SSD over HDD:

1.Higher performance

2.Quieter

3.Low power consumption

4.Lightweight

5.Shock resistant

6.Longer lifetime

Disadvantages of using SSD over HDD:

1.Costs too much

2.Lower capacity for price

Trivia:
1. Back then, SSDs were actually RAMs powered by battery when the computer is turned off.

Graphics Card

HD 7990 by AMD

Graphics card or sometimes called GPU is the one that is responsible for displaying the image from your computer to the screen! There are two types:

Integrated: Is fixed onto your motherboard or CPU (unable to remove).

GTX Titan by Nvidia

Discrete/Dedicated: Detachable, that means you can unplug your graphics card from your motherboard.

GPU's task is to render the image from the computer to the screen. It helps you play games, 3D rendering or do simple stuff like typing.

Think of a CPU as a processor that is capable of running commands serially while a GPU as a multi-core processor that is capable of running commands parallelly.

Trivia:
1. Back then when Nvidia called graphics card processor "GPU" (Graphics Processing Unit), ATi called them "VPU" (Visual Processing Unit)
2. AMD bought ATi and renamed the graphics card to Radeon in 2010 from ATi Radeon.(sob...sob...)
3. 3DFX, old graphics card company, were bankrupt (2002) and their assets were bought by Nvidia. 1000+ test cards of Voodoo 5 6000 was produced and showed good results great hopes to beat its rival, Nvidia. Unfortunately the costs to make them are high and finally they declared bankruptcy. Vodoo 5 6000 are targets for "collectors".

Left: Real-Life | Right: Crysis/Game

Motherboard

Black PCB! EVGA Z87 Classified Motherboard

A motherboard "holds" electronic components of the system. It "holds" components such as a CPU, RAM and other components in the expansion slot such as graphics card. A motherboard is a "mother" to all of the components that's attached to it, it has control over them.

Form-Factors: There are multiple sizes of motherboards, the commons are XL-ATX, ATX and Mini-ITX.

PSU (Power Supply Unit)

Out of all of the PSU images, I chose the cheapest one. Why? why not?

A Power Supply Unit or a PSU is a hardware that provides components the energy it needs by converting mains AC (Alternating Current) to low-voltage regulated DC (Direct Current) power. 

Some PSU are labeled 80%+ efficiency. The reason it is labeled because it's to show how much power the PSU will use and regulate.

Explanation:
Situation
PSU labeled 500 watt with 80%+ efficiency

The 80% is 500 watt while the 20% is 20% of 500 which equals 100 watt. It means the PSU regulates 500 watt by using 600 watt (500+100) from wall socket. The extra 20% (100 watt) is transformed into heat. Efficiency means how much it use from the power it has. 0% efficiency might not be possible.

Difference between Modular and non-modular PSU:

With Modular PSUs, you're able to remove excess cable that is not been used to improve cable management.

PC Case

iCute 0508 Casing...cute?

Sometimes, outside is important too! The purpose of putting computer components inside a case is to protect it from dust and damages and to look nice, too!

CD Drive/DVD Drive/Blu-Ray Drive

It's the "digital" age now, WTH do you need it?!!?!

Used to read or write on optical discs, the end.

Floppy Drive

Too old, *cough* click here!

Reads diskette/floppy disks.

Chassis Fan

Helps airflow in computer case to improve cooling for CPU, GPU and other components.

DUST

...it ruins your day.

Increases component heat by disrupting airflow, clogging fans and heatsinks.

LE FIN.