How to understand computers - where shall i begin?

R

RPGfreak

New Member
I currently have like 20 "howstuffworks" tabs opened in my browser about computing, and im still confused as hell. Where i begin from? BIOS? How to use windows? Motherboard? Shall i read about busses?

If you want to learn guitar, you learn the position, then how to place the hands, and then some basic chrods, then a couple techniques and you start playing songs. Its a clear hierarchy of routines and habits that are learned in a linear fashion, where at the end you can play a song.

So where is the heirarchy at learning how to work with your computer? Do you begin from the ROM or RAM? From motherboard or BIOS? Do you even start with hardware at all?

I am at a complete and utter loss at how to manage my computing learning routine.


P.S: New here :P
 
I learned by trial and error, personally. I don't recommend going that route though unless you've got a spare junk computer :P

I also read forums like this one a lot.
 
So you want to know how hardware works? Or software? We can tell both, you just have to specify. We can't tell everything we know in 1 post ;p. We can just give you the basics of them.
 
Computer forum helps me with solving riddles that I cannot solve on my own. Also, I can verify if my system is good or bad per experts here.

Aside from that, I read LOTS of benchmark results + visit forums like this one for any news/updates. Benchmark = you compare different CPU or Graphics Card for performance, its worth for $ etc... There are a lot out there.

I also learn from trial and error; however, this will be extremely dangerous as it may or may not completely waste your part (my story is where I tried to unlock this "secret" capabilities that my old 6950 had, but failed so took me a while to fix)
 
where to begin?

I would agree with lucasbytegenius. Don't try to learn computers by a hands on, trial and error method, unless you want a lot of frustration. Also, the hardware almost always works. You can trust it. Maybe you should start with software. You can learn how to put a computer together step by step. But, learn the whole thing. Don't get lost in the steps.
 
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swchoi89 said:
Aside from that, I read LOTS of benchmark results + visit forums like this one for any news/updates. Benchmark = you compare different CPU or Graphics Card for performance, its worth for $ etc... There are a lot out here
Click to expand...

Like my benchmark :D. Like you're saying, I'm also making a price/performance board atm. If you're interested, the link to my "black hole" benchmark is in my sign. (Hehe, advertising xD)
 
martinhersey said:
I would agree with lucasbytegenius. Don't try to learn computers by a hands on, trial and error method, unless you want a lot of frustration. Also, the hardware almost always works. You can trust it. Maybe you should start with software. You can learn how to put a computer together step by step. But, learn the whole thing. Don't get lost in the steps.
Click to expand...


Um, ok. I just bought a new soundcard, and i want to record music on cubase 5 LE. I want to know how sound driver and recording software works in windows vista.

From where should i start?
 
A computer is a machine that does the folowing things:

Add 2 binary numbers.
Logical and/not operation on two numbers.
Write/retrieve things in memory.
Display colors.

Everything else is built on top of that. There's a strange thing when it comes to computers. The most basic stuff is one of the most complicate things ever. (Assembly language that is), since it's very complex. The advanced programming languages hid the complexity under a blanket of nice syntactical sugar.

If you want to learn how computers work, you must learn how to program. My advice is to start learning C#.
Start making small games, like press-this-button-as-many-times-as-you-can-in-one-minute type of games, then start drawing things, and then you'll slowly understand how computers work.
I advise you to learn c# and not other, because c# although it's heavy, is very stable and awesomely powerfull, and visual c# express it's free and filled with tons of tools.

If you have any specific questions, like why we need a gpu processor, or any kind of questions like this, ask, and we will answer.
 
ayan said:
A computer is a machine that does the folowing things:

Add 2 binary numbers.
Logical and/not operation on two numbers.
Write/retrieve things in memory.
Display colors.

Everything else is built on top of that. There's a strange thing when it comes to computers. The most basic stuff is one of the most complicate things ever. (Assembly language that is), since it's very complex. The advanced programming languages hid the complexity under a blanket of nice syntactical sugar.

If you want to learn how computers work, you must learn how to program. My advice is to start learning C#.
Start making small games, like press-this-button-as-many-times-as-you-can-in-one-minute type of games, then start drawing things, and then you'll slowly understand how computers work.
I advise you to learn c# and not other, because c# although it's heavy, is very stable and awesomely powerfull, and visual c# express it's free and filled with tons of tools.

If you have any specific questions, like why we need a gpu processor, or any kind of questions like this, ask, and we will answer.
Click to expand...

you have to understand that programming language /= computer language and /= other programming languages.
 
ayan said:
A computer is a machine that does the folowing things:

Add 2 binary numbers.
Logical and/not operation on two numbers.
Write/retrieve things in memory.
Display colors.

Everything else is built on top of that. There's a strange thing when it comes to computers. The most basic stuff is one of the most complicate things ever. (Assembly language that is), since it's very complex. The advanced programming languages hid the complexity under a blanket of nice syntactical sugar.

If you want to learn how computers work, you must learn how to program. My advice is to start learning C#.
Start making small games, like press-this-button-as-many-times-as-you-can-in-one-minute type of games, then start drawing things, and then you'll slowly understand how computers work.
I advise you to learn c# and not other, because c# although it's heavy, is very stable and awesomely powerfull, and visual c# express it's free and filled with tons of tools.

If you have any specific questions, like why we need a gpu processor, or any kind of questions like this, ask, and we will answer.
Click to expand...


I just want to be good enough to know how to setup a driver and mic, and how to setup a recording software so i can record. Knowing how to format and install an operating system would be nice too - and learning about comp maintenance and how hardware works.

I dont think i should learn how to program. I dont want to really *know* the comp.
 
RPGfreak said:
I just want to be good enough to know how to setup a driver and mic, and how to setup a recording software so i can record. Knowing how to format and install an operating system would be nice too - and learning about comp maintenance and how hardware works.

I dont think i should learn how to program. I dont want to really *know* the comp.
Click to expand...

You should really do some Googling. ;)

Installing and setting up drivers is usually very easy, just literally install the driver - it's an exe file usually, just run it and go through the setup wizard. As far as the mic goes, plug it in, maybe install any software it comes with which allows you to change stuff.

As for the recording software, it depends what software you want to use, but there will be hundreds if not thousands of tutorials online and YouTube is a good place to learn believe it or not. Google and you will find out. ;)

The best way to learn about anything is to research it yourself usually. Saying you want to learn about "hardware" is kind of vague - it's a big subject with a lot of different aspects to learn about. "What kind of hardware do I want to learn about?" should be the first question you answer, then you can research it and learn more about it. There are loads of different bits of hardware. Same goes for "computer maintenance", it's a massive subject with lots of different aspects.

Asking questions on forums is also a good way to learn new things.
 
spirit said:
You should really do some Googling. ;)

Installing and setting up drivers is usually very easy, just literally install the driver - it's an exe file usually, just run it and go through the setup wizard. As far as the mic goes, plug it in, maybe install any software it comes with which allows you to change stuff.

As for the recording software, it depends what software you want to use, but there will be hundreds if not thousands of tutorials online and YouTube is a good place to learn believe it or not. Google and you will find out. ;)

The best way to learn about anything is to research it yourself usually. Saying you want to learn about "hardware" is kind of vague - it's a big subject with a lot of different aspects to learn about. "What kind of hardware do I want to learn about?" should be the first question you answer, then you can research it and learn more about it. There are loads of different bits of hardware. Same goes for "computer maintenance", it's a massive subject with lots of different aspects.

Asking questions on forums is also a good way to learn new things.
Click to expand...


I fear youve misinterpreted me.

I dont ask for lessons or crash courses which are either way impossible in this broad subject. I just ask for guidance. Like, if you know that understanding software is easier after knowing hardware, or should i work with and know about windows before getting new parts for my comp? That kind of general direction, not ACTUAL teaching.
 
Not sure where the OP is from, but if you can get your hands on the monthly Custom PC magazine, you'll learn a bucket load. Also, build computers. Even if they're cheap, build them. Once you understand the hardware, software engineering is much easier.
 
SmileMan said:
you have to understand that programming language /= computer language and /= other programming languages.
Click to expand...

If by "computer language" you don't mean computer argot, then i'm actually right. Machine code is actually ascii equivalent of assembly code, which is a fully functional programming language, so yea, computer language = programming language.
 
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