How Computers Work - Oversimplified

Do you ever wonder how do computers actually work? In this video, I'll give you an oversimplified explanation of how computers are able to both store and compute information using transistors.

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Here’s a bit more in-depth explanation of some of the ideas simplified in the video:
- In addition to storing and computing information, computers are generally also considered to need to handle inputs and outputs (otherwise there would be nowhere to get that information from or to send the result of computations).
- Transistors act as on/off switches, controlling the flow of electrical signals that represent information.
- Each bit of Random Access Memory (RAM) is typically stored in a memory cell consisting of a capacitor and a transistor. The capacitor holds a charge that represents a 1 or a 0, and the transistor controls the flow of current to the capacitor. This construction is known as Dynamic RAM (DRAM).
- There are however other types of RAM with different constructions and trade-offs. Most notably, Static RAM (SRAM) usually uses a flip-flop circuit for each bit, which typically requires ~6 transistors per bit and is generally more expensive to produce.
- While transistors are a fundamental building block of logic gates, which are the basic building blocks of computer circuits, there are also other potential electronic components involved in those circuits such as capacitors and resistors, depending on the specific gate.

[SurprisedDarts-sdvl]

You should make a detailed and longer video. Cos this one was brilliant and brief

[brooks.]

Best explanation ive ever heard.
Thank you!

[ConnerArdman]

Thanks for watching! I hope this video helped demystify a bit of how computers work. That said, of course this is a huge oversimplification to fit into a short, so do let me know if you want to see a long-form explanation that goes into more depth :)


Here’s a bit more in-depth explanation of some of the ideas simplified in the video:

- In addition to storing and computing information, computers are generally also considered to need to handle inputs and outputs (otherwise there would be nowhere to get that information from or to send the result of computations).

- Transistors act as on/off switches, controlling the flow of electrical signals that represent information.

- Each bit of Random Access Memory (RAM) is typically stored in a memory cell consisting of a capacitor and a transistor. The capacitor holds a charge that represents a 1 or a 0, and the transistor controls the flow of current to the capacitor. This construction is known as Dynamic RAM (DRAM).

- There are however other types of RAM with different constructions and trade-offs. Most notably, Static RAM (SRAM) usually uses a flip-flop circuit for each bit, which typically requires ~6 transistors per bit and is generally more expensive to produce.

- While transistors are a fundamental building block of logic gates, which are the basic building blocks of computer circuits, there are also other potential electronic components involved in those circuits such as capacitors and resistors, depending on the specific gate.

[haseenajabbar]

We'd love a long video on this topic
You made it sound so simpler to understand than other videos

[dakotaclubb]

Dude this was put so simply and so brilliantly, I love it

[novaash]

Make a big video on this subject in detail

[archibaldc.]

He lost me after he included more than 1 lightbulb.

[stachowi]

Great job given the very short amount of time

[memesalldayjack]

there's actually a lot of good information here for a short

[haijehiemstra]

Theres Rom And Ram, Rom is For reading, Ram is for reading and writing. Rom is used to have stuff thats supposed to never change no matter what. Meanwhile ram is mostly temporary.

[louisjohnson]

But how is the binary code recorded and what physically happens in a gate that allows binary to be translated to an output?

[mouthiknaradas]

A computer is basically a bunch of transistors making lots of simple decisions to do complex tasks

[ramodsasanga]

How to learn more about this topic? I am learning mobile app developing

[archibaldc.]

The music reminds me of Kileak for the PS1

[husseinlearning]

Are Inputting data and Outputting data not primary functions?

[nawzaddilshad]

That's exactly what I study every day

[greenhouse]

HOW ARE THERE BILLIONS OF ON/OFF SWITCHES THOUGH

[raymitchell]

A "bit" misleading, but not that far off... A bit of information is stored in a flip-flop, you need more than 1 transistor. And you left out I/O because a computer needs inputs and outputs... I understand that this is a short so you're taking liberties, I get it.

[pakutamiko]

Where is part2, or how computers "understand what to do" when certain lightbulbs are lit?

[Brukrex]

Sus, where tf did they get this idea from?