Computación Básica
Qué pasa cuando enciendes una computadora
Cómo funciona un circuito electrónico
¿Qué es un bit y qué es un byte?
Qué es un procesador (CPU) y la memoria (RAM)
¿Qué es un sistema operativo?
Todo lo que pasa tras enviar un mensaje de WhatsApp
Cómo las computadoras guardan datos
¿Cómo se organizan los archivos?
Teléfonos y sus "System on a Chip" o SOC
GPUs: Procesadores gráficos y de AI
Redes e Internet
¿Qué es un algoritmo? ¿Qué es un Lenguaje de Programación?
Direcciones IP y el protocolo de Internet
Nombres de dominio, DNS y cómo obtener un .com
Modelo Cliente/Servidor: ¿Cómo funciona un sitio web?
Sistemas Operativos y Almacenamiento
Diferencias entre Windows, Linux y MacOS
Permisos, niveles de procesos y privilegios de ejecución
Archivos: Metadatos, cabeceras y extensiones
Archivos y estructuras de datos
¿Qué son las bases de datos?
Cómo funciona un .ZIP
Cómo funciona el formato .JPG
Videos: contendores, codecs y protocolos
Introducción a Blockchain e Inteligencia Artificial
Arquitectura y funcionamiento interno de Blockchain
¿Qué es una red neuronal?
¿Cómo funcionan los LLMs?
You don't have access to this class
Keep learning! Join and start boosting your career
When you use a computer to write a document or play music on Spotify, every operation you perform is processed by the CPU (Central Processing Unit), a key component responsible for executing instructions through basic mathematical operations. For example, when adding ingredients for a recipe, your brain acts similarly to the CPU: it takes data stored temporarily in your memory (which is equivalent to RAM), performs the necessary calculation and stores the result again in temporary memory.
RAM, on the other hand, acts as a workbench where necessary programs and data are temporarily placed so that the CPU can quickly access them. It is important to understand that, when the computer is turned off, all information in RAM is lost, unlike a hard disk that stores information permanently.
The speed at which the CPU performs these tasks is measured in Hertz (cycles per second). For example, a CPU operating at 3 GHz can execute 3 billion cycles per second. But why does it generate heat when operating at high speed? As the speed increases, the CPU requires more electrical current, which generates more heat due to the resistance of the electrons as they pass through the circuits. It's similar to when you increase the pressure in a hose and it gets hotter due to the friction of the water.
To efficiently manage this heat generation and improve performance, modern processors employ multiple cores, allowing them to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Imagine that instead of one cook preparing all the dishes one after the other, you have several cooks working at the same time.
There are different CPU architectures designed for specific needs. The x86 architecture is powerful, but consumes more power, and is very common in desktop computers. In contrast, the ARM architecture, used in cell phones, is optimized for low power consumption and less heating, making it the ideal choice for battery-powered devices.
Manufacturing CPUs involves using silicon, a material that comes from sand. Using laser lithography, especially extreme ultraviolet, microscopic patterns are etched into silicon wafers to create transistors, the basic switches of the CPU. This process is so precise that the distance between transistors can be as small as a few atoms.
In short, understanding how the CPU and RAM work not only sheds light on the mystery behind the performance and speed of our computers, but also allows us to better appreciate the everyday technology we use every day.
Contributions 26
Questions 1
Want to see more contributions, questions and answers from the community?