Understanding CPUs, GPUs, and Motherboard Components

What is the primary function of a CPU?

To execute instructions called programs.

What architecture do CPUs follow?

The Von Neumann architecture.

What are the main components of a CPU according to the Von Neumann architecture?

Control Unit and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU).

What is the role of registers in a CPU?

Tiny memory inside the CPU that stores data or instructions.

What are the three types of buses in a CPU?

Address Bus, Data Bus, and Control Bus.

What is the cycle that CPUs follow to process instructions?

Fetch → Decode → Execute.

What is machine code?

Binary code (e.g., 1s and 0s) that CPUs understand.

What are the characteristics of modern CPUs?

Multiple cores, cache memory, and specialized units for calculations, graphics, and machine learning.

What is the primary function of a GPU?

To render graphics and perform complex calculations.

How many cores do GPUs typically have compared to CPUs?

GPUs have thousands of cores, while CPUs have around 4 to 16 cores.

What are CUDA cores used for?

They act like simple arithmetic calculators primarily for rendering graphics.

What do Tensor cores perform?

Matrix multiplication, used for neural networks and AI.

What is SIMD in the context of GPUs?

Single Instruction Multiple Data, allowing the same instruction to be applied to thousands of different numbers.

What is the purpose of the CPU socket on a motherboard?

To provide a designated location for the processor and determine compatibility with specific generations of CPUs.

What are DIMM slots used for on a motherboard?

To install memory (RAM) modules.

What is the best practice for installing a GPU on a motherboard?

Install the GPU in the topmost PCIe slot for optimal data transfer.

What is the function of PCIe slots on a motherboard?

To install expansion cards like graphics cards, sound cards, network cards, and SSDs.

What is the significance of graphics memory in a GPU?

It stores 3D models and game environments and can transfer hundreds of terabytes of data per second.

What advanced encoding techniques are used in graphics memory?

PAM-3 and PAM-4.

What is one interesting application of GPUs in Bitcoin mining?

GPUs can generate millions of hash calculations per second to solve complex cryptographic problems.

How do Streaming Multiprocessors manage threads in a GPU?

They group threads into blocks of 32 called warps.

What is the difference in calculation rates between GPUs and CPUs?

GPUs perform many calculations at a parallel rate, while CPUs perform fewer calculations at a sequential rate.

What are the versions of PCIe mentioned?

PCIe 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0.

What type of storage is used with M.2 slots?

NVMe SSD storage.

What is the maximum number of drives supported by the SATA ports on the motherboard?

Up to six drives.

What does the USB 3 Header connect to?

The front panel of the PC case.

What are the two types of RGB LED headers?

12V RGB (older standard) and 5V RGB (newer standard, allows individual LED control).

What is a critical consideration when connecting RGB headers?

5V headers cannot be plugged into 12V headers and vice versa.

What do fan headers on a motherboard support?

CPU cooling fans or water pumps.

What is the purpose of the 24-pin ATX connector?

It supplies power to the motherboard.

What does the 8-pin CPU Power Connector supply power to?

It supplies power to the processor.

What is the function of the VRM (Voltage Regulator Module)?

It regulates voltage to the CPU and motherboard components.

How does the number of VRM phases affect overclocking?

More VRM phases are better for overclocking.

What determines the features of a motherboard?

The chipset.

Which Intel chipset series allows overclocking?

Intel Z-series.

What are the common motherboard form factors?

ATX (Full-sized), Micro-ATX (Smaller), and Mini-ITX (Compact).

What does RAM stand for?

Random Access Memory.

What is the primary purpose of RAM?

To temporarily store data that the CPU and GPU need to access quickly.

What happens to data stored in RAM when the power is turned off?

All data stored in RAM is lost.

What was the first type of RAM developed in the 1960s?

SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory).

What was significant about the DDR SDRAM released in 1998?

It was the first Double Data Rate SDRAM chip.

What is GDDR RAM, and how does it differ from DDR RAM?

GDDR RAM is developed for graphics cards and has more versions and faster evolution than DDR RAM.

What is High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and its advantage?

HBM, introduced by SK Hynix in 2013, offers much higher bandwidth than GDDR.

Where is GDDR RAM typically found?

Attached to the graphics card and cannot be upgraded separately.

What is High Bandwidth Memory (HBM)?

A type of memory introduced by SK Hynix in 2013, offering much higher bandwidth than GDDR, primarily used in high-end graphics cards.

What are the versions of High Bandwidth Memory?

HBM and HBM2, with HBM2 released in 2016.

What are the limitations of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM)?

Limited benefits for average users and expensive to manufacture.

How much RAM is recommended for gaming?

16 to 32 gigabytes, with 8 GB being the minimum for some games, but running extra applications is not feasible.

What is the minimum RAM recommended for browsing and media?

4 GB is the minimum, but 8 GB is recommended for better performance.

What are the benefits of having more RAM?

More RAM improves multitasking capabilities.

What are the common memory slot configurations for RAM installation?

One 16GB stick, two 8GB sticks, or four 4GB sticks.

What happens if one RAM stick fails in a multi-channel setup?

The computer can still operate with the remaining sticks, but if the only RAM stick fails, the computer will not work.

How is data saved on a hard drive?

Data is saved using a write head that creates a magnetic field to set the direction of magnetic domains on the disk platter.

How does the read head retrieve data from a hard drive?

It detects changes in magnetic direction between adjacent domains, interpreting low resistance as binary '1' and high resistance as binary '0'.

What is Classic Magnetic Recording (CMR)?

A standard method for data storage that uses parallel tracks with guard bands to prevent interference.

What is Shingled Magnetic Recording (SMR)?

A method that increases data density by partially overlapping new tracks over existing ones, allowing more data to fit on the same platter.

What is the difference between the write head and read head in SMR?

The write head is wider than the read head, allowing it to overlap neighboring tracks during writing.

What is Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR)?

A technology that uses a tiny laser to heat the magnetic layer before writing, stabilizing smaller magnetic domains.

Why is HAMR important for data storage?

It allows for higher data density by stabilizing magnetic domains that would otherwise be unstable at normal temperatures.

What is the role of magnetic domains in hard drives?

Magnetic domains act like miniature magnets, storing data by pointing in different directions.

What does the write head do when saving data?

It sends electrical signals to create a magnetic field that aligns magnetic domains to store data.

How does the read head differ from the write head?

The read head detects changes in magnetic direction rather than writing data.

What material does the read head use to detect magnetic fields?

It contains Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) material that changes electrical resistance in response to magnetic fields.

What is the significance of guard bands in CMR?

Guard bands prevent interference between data tracks, ensuring that writing to one track does not affect adjacent tracks.

What happens to the magnetic domains after the write head moves away?

The magnetic domains retain their set direction, thus storing the data for a long time.

What is the main advantage of using HBM in graphics cards?

It provides much higher bandwidth, making it suitable for memory-intensive applications.

What is the impact of using different RAM sticks in a multi-channel setup?

Using different sticks can lead to compatibility problems.