How much do you know about computers?

[stok3r]

I know a bit. A little beyond just how to use it. But I have a friend, he's 16, I just turned 17, and he's built his own computer and mine. I bought the parts and he built it. It's awesome.

So I was just wondering, how many of you are like him and could build your own computer if you wanted to?

Alot I guess. If i tried I could put my own together.

 

[Agayek]

Considering I've got a degree in Computer Science and have swapped out everything but the CPU (damn you watercooling system I'm afraid to touch!) on multiple computers, I think I've got a fairly solid grasp on it.

I've never built my own, but that's more because I'm lazy and like warranties rather than an inability to actually do it.

I kinda want to build my own Operating System at some point, but that's entirely too much effort for how lazy I am.

 

[Agayek]

I can figure out how to get files working and other random things the internet calls for, but it's more messing around enough to succeed and I don't understand some of what I'm doing (despite a few explanations, I have no idea what CD mounting is). Really, while in my extended transition period to Ubuntu (haven't used it much, though; I've been typing all this on my mom's study PC) I'm pretty much dependent on my friend to do things beyond basic operations.

CD mounting is basically just a way for the OS to recognize the data on the disc.

Your computer accesses memory, be it RAM, HDD, or CD, by assigning a number to each byte of data. That number is known as the data's address. Mounting a CD on an OS basically just assigns the CD's addresses and logs it with the OS (technically the kernel, but that would take entirely too much explanation to get into here).

 

[Composer]

i click a button, and things happen

 

[atalanta]

Honestly, I know fuck-all about computers, but I still built my own. It's not really very difficult; a little bit of Googling and one call home to my dad and I was done.

As for software side of things, I know a teeny bit of programming and I can use the command line for super simple commands. In practice, if I can't fix the problem by restarting or a system restore, I'm totally useless.

 

[EnzoHonda]

I know nothing about certain things, and a lot about very specific things. The things I know a lot about are usually related to having to do something to get a game to work.

 

[Enigmers]

I built my own computer, it was pretty easy. The manual that comes with your motherboard will save your balls, because the ports themselves aren't very well-labelled.

I'm going into Computer Science as a University course later in my life so evidently I'm interested in that newfangled "software" jargon what all the kids seem to be talking about these days.

 

[brainfreeze215]

I also built a computer back in the day. My dad did help me, and he knows computers better than anyone I know. But I know enough to replace bad parts and such. That is, if we're talking about desktops, I would never open a laptop.

 

[SulfuricDonut]

Building your own computer isn't really that hard.

You just have to make sure you buy parts that are compatible with each other, then just plug them in wherever they fit.

 

[DragonsAteMyMarbles]

I press a button, and the big square thingy lights up. Hurr. Pretty.

 

[hamster mk 4]

After taking Computer science classes I have a general understanding of how a simple OS works and how a micro chip processes instructions. I also know enough to build a computer from store bought bits. There is an area in between store bought bits and micro processing that I am not to familiar with, and I don't claim to know how the underlying physics of the magnetic switches that comprise the chip work. The more you learn the more you realize how much you don't know.

 

[Barry Bragg]

I am a junior computer science student at Virginia Tech. I built my desktop last summer. Its really not that tough, mostly just making sure parts are compatible and not being a moron. As a CS student, its like against the commandments of CS to buy a prebuilt desktop. If you havent built a computer, you are generally the laughing stock of the classroom.

 

[JDLY]

Got a Bachelor's in computer science and can easily take apart a computer and put it back together.

I'm really good with taking intricate things apart and putting them back together correctly. I took apart my old broken PS3 to see if there was anything obvious wrong with it. I put it back together and it still worked until the YLOD came on like usual. So I managed to put it back together correctly, but it was still broken.

I could easily take apart a computer and put it back together. Just don't expect me to know what all the parts are or what the hell they do.

 

[multiple_man]

they run on magic and god's will, right?

-this message brought to you by multiple_man, who thinks in plurals because they are

 

[Deadlock Radium]

I've built, repaired and changed parts in several computers without problems lots of times, so I think that hardware-wise, I know at least a bit. Software-wise, I know even more.

 

[Saint_Zvlkx]

A bunch. I've built several computers on my own, and am the go-to person at my school for computer issues.

 

[Outright Villainy]

Eh, not really at all no. I wouldn't even know how to start building, what's needed, what goes together with other parts, how much is good, how much i need etc etc. I'm learning basic programning in C and finding that difficult, so I'm hardly on the cutting edge of software either. I can usually figure out most Computer related problems though, and I script quite a bit for Team fortress. So, a lot more than the average person, but as a nerd I fail hard.

 

[DazZ.]

Building a computer is about as hard as the Lego you get as a kid, it's all made to just slot together.

I know a few languages, not made anything worthwhile yet though. Better at Flash and Web building than I am at applications.

I know how they work and what parts do exactly what, I would get annoyed if I spent this amount of time on something and I didn't know how it does the things it does.

Always learning though.

 

[AvsJoe]

How much do you know about computers?

Very little. Almost nothing when it comes to hardware. I know the Interblag, not computers.

 

[Destal]

I can figure out how to get files working and other random things the internet calls for, but it's more messing around enough to succeed and I don't understand some of what I'm doing (despite a few explanations, I have no idea what CD mounting is). Really, while in my extended transition period to Ubuntu (haven't used it much, though; I've been typing all this on my mom's study PC) I'm pretty much dependent on my friend to do things beyond basic operations.

CD mounting is basically just a way for the OS to recognize the data on the disc.

Your computer accesses memory, be it RAM, HDD, or CD, by assigning a number to each byte of data. That number is known as the data's address. Mounting a CD on an OS basically just assigns the CD's addresses and logs it with the OS (technically the kernel, but that would take entirely too much explanation to get into here).

That's kind of funny that you mention the kernel, we are just starting to talk about that in one of the CIS classes.

I'd say I am fairly knowledgeable. I'm about halfway through my B.S. in Computer Information Systems and I am starting a Systems Engineering job at the end of this month.