of computer and some not so good explanations...
Continuation from the previous post. If you would like to build your own pc but do not know where to start or know very little of how to go about buying the right stuff (or what stuff to buy for that matter), I will try to explain a bit here on what I have learned through this experience. Mind you that I started with very little knowledge but through researching in the web (forums, product websites and wiki) and talking to people, I have learned enough that the task is not too daunting and that the average person with some common sense can do too.
Here’s a simplified version of what I know about computers. (disclaimer: wifey yawned when I tried to explain so if you find this boring, it’s ok to skip to *)
A computer basically is a glorified information processing machine, give it the right input and it will process to give you the output.
The input device can be keyboards, mouse, scanner, etc and Out put devices can be display, printer etc.
So it’s pretty evident that the main thing to think about when you talk about a PC id that ‘box’ and what’s inside it.
The heart of that ‘box’ is the processor which jog is obvious to process. In a way you can say that the processor is the brain (the processing part) that does all the processing of information. But then a brain cannot exist or live by itself, it needs something to sit on, in order to interface with the outside world (Input and output devices). The thing that the processor sits on is called the mother board (Or main board). In similar ways the motherboard can be considered to be like the body where the processor (brain) sits in. It connects the processor to the other devices: hardisk, cd rom, keyboard, mouse, display, scanner, printer etc. All these devise are connected and integrated through the mother board.
The processor by itself cannot do everything on it’s own, so there are other parts that help it. The graphic card helps the processor to process the graphic and information to be displayed. This portion is usually cone in a separate graphic card (Circuit board) although some motherboard incorporate this function.
Then there is the part that stores the information, something like the part of our brain that remembers things, this is the hardisk. So that’s why the larger the hardisk, the more information that can be stored. But there is one thing about the hardisk. When the processor wants something, it will say to the hardisk “ Oi Hardisk, get me this and that information” then the hardisk will spin and spin to look for the information and this will take some time. Since the processor is an impatient guy, it will say “Apa lah, how come so long one” and like any char koay teow guy when you ask if your order ir ready or not, the hardisk will say “on the way, on the way”. This obviously will put a strain on the relationship between the processor and hardisk (actually not really lah, but basically this will slow down the whole system) this is where RAM comes in. RAM or random access memory will go and get the address of the information (and some information) that is commonly used by the processor when the computer starts up. So when the processor wants something, RAM have already got it ready. That’s why, the bigger the RAM capacity the better (but you also have to consider your system la. Getting big big ram but not being used also no point because the slowness is not limited to RAM oredi)
Then there is also those things called SATA, IDE, PCIE, USB etc. those are basically standard connections and languages used between the devices to the computer/motherboard. Different standards have different advantages and uses and since it changes, I think it’s best to research thru wiki.
So basically that’s it. Short explanation, maybe not entirely correct because this is based on what I know, so if there are any geeks out there who notices any mistakes do leave a comment so that I can correct it.
Here’s a simplified version of what I know about computers. (disclaimer: wifey yawned when I tried to explain so if you find this boring, it’s ok to skip to *)
A computer basically is a glorified information processing machine, give it the right input and it will process to give you the output.
The input device can be keyboards, mouse, scanner, etc and Out put devices can be display, printer etc.
So it’s pretty evident that the main thing to think about when you talk about a PC id that ‘box’ and what’s inside it.
The heart of that ‘box’ is the processor which jog is obvious to process. In a way you can say that the processor is the brain (the processing part) that does all the processing of information. But then a brain cannot exist or live by itself, it needs something to sit on, in order to interface with the outside world (Input and output devices). The thing that the processor sits on is called the mother board (Or main board). In similar ways the motherboard can be considered to be like the body where the processor (brain) sits in. It connects the processor to the other devices: hardisk, cd rom, keyboard, mouse, display, scanner, printer etc. All these devise are connected and integrated through the mother board.
The processor by itself cannot do everything on it’s own, so there are other parts that help it. The graphic card helps the processor to process the graphic and information to be displayed. This portion is usually cone in a separate graphic card (Circuit board) although some motherboard incorporate this function.
Then there is the part that stores the information, something like the part of our brain that remembers things, this is the hardisk. So that’s why the larger the hardisk, the more information that can be stored. But there is one thing about the hardisk. When the processor wants something, it will say to the hardisk “ Oi Hardisk, get me this and that information” then the hardisk will spin and spin to look for the information and this will take some time. Since the processor is an impatient guy, it will say “Apa lah, how come so long one” and like any char koay teow guy when you ask if your order ir ready or not, the hardisk will say “on the way, on the way”. This obviously will put a strain on the relationship between the processor and hardisk (actually not really lah, but basically this will slow down the whole system) this is where RAM comes in. RAM or random access memory will go and get the address of the information (and some information) that is commonly used by the processor when the computer starts up. So when the processor wants something, RAM have already got it ready. That’s why, the bigger the RAM capacity the better (but you also have to consider your system la. Getting big big ram but not being used also no point because the slowness is not limited to RAM oredi)
Then there is also those things called SATA, IDE, PCIE, USB etc. those are basically standard connections and languages used between the devices to the computer/motherboard. Different standards have different advantages and uses and since it changes, I think it’s best to research thru wiki.
So basically that’s it. Short explanation, maybe not entirely correct because this is based on what I know, so if there are any geeks out there who notices any mistakes do leave a comment so that I can correct it.
Labels: pc build
posted by Duckie at
12:21 AM
