Series

Computer Fundamentals

Jan 14, 2023 Computer Fundamentals 14 min read

Computer Fundamentals: Deep Dive and System Integration

Series finale. We zoom out from individual components to the whole system: how CPU, cache, memory, storage, IO, and accelerators are wired together; how hardware-aware software wins by 100×; how to read performance …

Dec 24, 2022 Computer Fundamentals 20 min read

Computer Fundamentals: Network, Power, and Troubleshooting

Deep dive into the NIC pipeline (PHY/MAC/DMA), TCP handshake, network topologies, PSU efficiency curves, datacenter PUE, component power hierarchy, and UPS architecture.

Dec 3, 2022 Computer Fundamentals 19 min read

Computer Fundamentals: Motherboard, Graphics, and Expansion

Read a motherboard floor plan, understand PCIe lane allocation across CPU and chipset, follow the SIMT execution model that makes GPUs fast, compare DDR/GDDR/HBM memory, and pick the right display interface.

Nov 12, 2022 Computer Fundamentals 17 min read

Computer Fundamentals: Storage Systems (HDD vs SSD)

Compare HDD and SSD working principles, SATA vs NVMe interface speeds, SLC/MLC/TLC/QLC lifespan, SSD optimization (4K alignment, TRIM), and RAID array configurations.

Oct 22, 2022 Computer Fundamentals 17 min read

Computer Fundamentals: Memory and Cache Systems

How memory really works: hierarchy, DRAM vs SRAM, virtual memory, the TLB, ECC, NUMA, and channel scaling — explained from circuits to system design.

Oct 1, 2022 Computer Fundamentals 12 min read

Computer Fundamentals: CPU and the Computing Core

Understand data units (bits and bytes), CPU architecture, the 5-stage pipeline, cache hierarchy, branch prediction, out-of-order execution, multi-core and SMT, Intel vs AMD differences, and how to choose the right …