2 replies to this topic

[RichieRich1986]

Hello guys (and perhaps girls),

I've been doing some reading on the basics of computer hardware
because I really want to understand how a computer operates.
I've found some great documentation on the subject, but what I
just can't seem to wrap my head around is this:

I know a CPU intercepts packets of binary code and processes these
which then become essentially a program in action. The CPU can read
these packets and can translate them into something else. But what
exactly does this translating? Is this some sort of program inside the
CPU and if that's the case, shouldn't this in itself be activated by binary
code too?

I can't make my question any more clearer, so I hope someone gets
my drift. It's basically a "What came first? The bird or the egg?" -type
of question and maybe it's just so simple that's I overlook the obvious,
but it's nagging my brain and I need to understand this! :D

[WingedPanther]

At the lowest level, there is a hard-coded program in the CPU that interprets instructions given to it. It's written in circuits.

[RichieRich1986]

okay, I see. Thanks for clearing that up