Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work?

Posted by shliachtx on Sunday August 17, 2014 @11:45PM
from the ask-hn dept.

A friend of mine wants to understand how computers work. I began explaining how binary works and a (very) basic introduction to how the processor, RAM, and graphics card work, but I am looking for a book or other (online?) resource that I can recommend to him (and possibly even read/watch myself) to get a more thorough understanding.

I would appreciate any references, including but not limited to: logic gates, RAM, units of measurement (MHz, MB, etc.), and input/output.

Thank you in advance.

( 8 comments | 8 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by logn on Monday August 18, 2014 @01:47AM (#8191549)

Computer Organization and Architecture by Stallings

http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Organization-Architecture-Sta...

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by zurn on Monday August 18, 2014 @12:30AM (#8191440)

After you get past the components, some computer architecture will do you good. See eg https://www.coursera.org/course/comparch. There's also the classic Hennessy & Patterson book.

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by bra-ket on Monday August 18, 2014 @01:13AM (#8191505)

Building a Modern Computer from First Principles: http://www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Computing-Systems-Princip...

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by esert on Monday August 18, 2014 @12:19AM (#8191418)

Here's a talk by Richard Feynman where he explains how computers work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWGGDXe5MA

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by nyddle on Monday August 18, 2014 @08:22AM (#8192310)

Charles Petzold, "Code".

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by rdc12 on Monday August 18, 2014 @03:45AM (#8191770)

Nand2Tetris, looks quite good but I havn't read it myself

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by angersock on Sunday August 17, 2014 @11:55PM (#8191369)

I always recommend Code by Microsoft Press--good introduction to the fundamentals of computer engineering.

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Re:Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work? by spb on Monday August 18, 2014 @12:42AM (#8191457)

After Code, I recently discovered Brian Kernighan's D is for Digital, published in 2011, which gives a much more concrete description of how modern computing works.

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