Explain to me like I'm 5 - Functions of each computer part

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0 likes 22 Feb 2021

I like games, I like tech, but my understanding goes as far as sticking compatible bits together and installing an OS.

Can someone explain the core components to me so that I kinda understand what they mean? Here are my understandings, but I may be wrong and appreciate being corrected.

CPU - The brain of the computer. More processing power, faster the brain can calculate stuff. (no idea what ghz and cores are, but more the merrier I guess)

RAM - Random Access Memory. The hands? More hands, more things the computer can run at the same time (But dont the CPU process the data, which is kinda the same thing? Just because you stick 32gb of ram into the computer, doesn't mean it'll make the computer run faster because of your shitty 1.6ghz cpu

Hard Drive - the room in your computer. Bigger hard drive, more storage space.

GPU - Like CPU but for graphics

Motherboard - To me, this is the platform for the above components. If so, why does the prices veer so wildly? Does it do more than I assume?

I'm not very smart, but I always try to expand my understanding of things in general.

noll

"insensitive prick!" – Danielle Algo

0 likes 22 Feb 2021

Discalimer: I'm no expert regarding computer hardware. But let's give this a try anyway:

Quote by StasiaGrey
CPU - The brain of the computer. More processing power, faster the brain can calculate stuff. (no idea what ghz and cores are, but more the merrier I guess)

Hz is the unit of frequency, 1Hz is the same as 1/s, so 1GHz is 1,000,000,000/s. It tells you how many calculations the processor can do per second. The higher the number the faster the processor.

Cores are kinda like separate processors within the CPU. Having more cores means the processor can do more stuff simultaneously. So this too increases the CPU's speed.

Quote by StasiaGrey
RAM - Random Access Memory. The hands? More hands, more things the computer can run at the same time (But dont the CPU process the data, which is kinda the same thing? Just because you stick 32gb of ram into the computer, doesn't mean it'll make the computer run faster because of your shitty 1.6ghz cpu

The hands metaphor usually involves juggling. The more hands you have the more balls you can juggle (assuming you can juggle in the first place). RAM is memory that the processor can access very quickly, unlike the hard drive for instance. If the programs that are running require more memory than there's available in RAM then the compute will start swapping: it will write some of it's RAM data to the hard disk so it can read some other data into the part of its RAM that's now free. This significantly slows down the processing though. So more RAM means less chance that your computer needs to start swapping.
To get back to the juggling: it's like you have to store every ball that you catch in a drawer, and then get another one from another drawer to fill its place.

Quote by StasiaGrey
Hard Drive - the room in your computer. Bigger hard drive, more storage space.

This is the physical device where your data is stored. Unlike with RAM, your hard drive's storage stays in tact when you turn off your machine.

There are HDDs (Hard Disk Drive) and SSDs (Solid State Drive). The former have physical metal disks on which the data is stored using magnetic fields. In old computers they tend to start making ticking/scratching noises at some point. SSDs are more like a USB drive. They have no moving parts, which makes them a lot faster.

Quote by StasiaGrey
GPU - Like CPU but for graphics

Indeed. And because it is optimized for graphics it can do certain type of calculations very fast. Some applications therefore use it for similar types of calculations, even if they're not intended for graphics.
Especially if you like to play games, a good GPU is a necessity I guess. I'm more of a Pong/Space Invaders guy, but if you have a high resolution screen times a high frame rate times many 3d objects times many light sources times many reflecting materials, then you need plenty of precessing power to make that look good.

Quote by StasiaGrey
Motherboard - To me, this is the platform for the above components. If so, why does the prices veer so wildly? Does it do more than I assume?

The motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer. It connects all the electronic parts together. This can be done in many different ways, some of which are much more optimized for speed and/or preventing heat build-up. Some motherboards do not allow you to replace stuff (latest generations of MacBook Pros for instance), while others allow you to replace and extend most of the important parts. These are some of the differences that will be reflected in the price.

I'm sure I missed a lot. Hopefully someone can fill in some info, or even correct.

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Guest

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0 likes 22 Feb 2021

Thank you for taking the time to help me understand!

... I'm not even going to ask about DIMMS and latency LOL

Twisted_Skald

Chatterbox Blonde- Rumps Mystical Bartender

0 likes 23 Feb 2021

Quote by StasiaGrey
Thank you for taking the time to help me understand!

... I'm not even going to ask about DIMMS and latency LOL

DIMMS is just the shape a memory board comes in. Don't worry about what it means, just think of it as being like the size of your tyres on a car.
When you need to get some, tell someone the specific model of computer you have or use Crucial.com and run it's memory checker to get the exact type of memory you need.

Latency, is just how long it takes for a signal to go somewhere and come back.
The smaller the number the less time it takes for that signal to make the round trip.

Whatever was posted is always meant in love and respect never to offend.
I'm also highly likely to have posted this from a phone so there may be typos or odd word changes, auto correct can be a pain.

I've been listening to my kinky pencil here's my current work

My current Competition entry is here
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I put a little banner in here, it might change. I'm still messing about with it.

Twisted_Skald

Chatterbox Blonde- Rumps Mystical Bartender

0 likes 23 Feb 2021

For a basic explanation of how it all ties together think of it this way.
You need to go shopping and have a shopping list.
You write down the shopping list (Storage) and go to the store.
You look at the shopping list, take first item on it (RAM) and think about what it looks like (GPU).
Then you walk around the aisles(Motherboard) looking for it (CPU). When you find that item, you run a pencil through the list, put the item in your shopping basket (Storage) and go to the next item.

If you have lots of RAM you can remember more then 1 item on the list at the same time.
If you have more than 1 CPU core, you can look for more than 1 item on the list at a time.
If you have a good motherboard you move quicker around the store so you can get more done in less time.
If you have lots of storage you can carry more items around the store at the same time.

As for explaining different storage technology, try this.
The big metal trolleys provided by the stores is HDD. It's big, slow, mostly reliable but the wheels can get pulled out of being straight if other shoppers misuse it.
The smaller wheeled one you can buy yourself is SSD. It's much smaller, but since you're the only one using it, you know where everything fits, it's much lighter and easier to pull around the store and you can throw the whole thing in the car when you're done so you don't have to unpack until you get home.

Whatever was posted is always meant in love and respect never to offend.
I'm also highly likely to have posted this from a phone so there may be typos or odd word changes, auto correct can be a pain.

I've been listening to my kinky pencil here's my current work

My current Competition entry is here
A Cure For Stagefright

I put a little banner in here, it might change. I'm still messing about with it.

Guest

Lurker

0 likes 23 Feb 2021

Thanks! Xoxo