Chapter 2. How Circuits Juggle Data
UNDER the big top of your computer, the microprocessor—the central processing unit—is always the headliner. You don’t see ads or reviews raving that a new PC has “revolutionary 100-ohm resistors!” Hard drives and graphics cards have the top supporting roles, but when it comes to the components on the motherboard—the mother of all boards—the CPU steals the spotlight.
There are many good reasons for the CPU’s fame, but like all stars, it owes a lot to the little components—the circuit board supporting parts without which the central microprocessor would be only a cold slab of silicon. Without them, electronic messages ...
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