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| Date | 2026-04-02 22:51 -0400 |
|---|---|
| Subject | Re: Mercury |
| Newsgroups | comp.os.linux.misc |
| References | (8 earlier) <njt0amx477.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <8f2cnUWvT4L8SFD0nZ2dnZfqnPidnZ2d@giganews.com> <tr12amxjrq.ln2@Telcontar.valinor> <goqdne0QMPjDNVP0nZ2dnZfqnPednZ2d@giganews.com> <10qn15c$1hpad$1@dont-email.me> |
| From | c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> |
| Organization | wokiesux |
| Message-ID | <U8ucnYMDksbRtlL0nZ2dnZfqn_adnZ2d@giganews.com> (permalink) |
On 4/2/26 20:21, Rich wrote: > c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> wrote: >> On 4/2/26 07:51, Carlos E.R. wrote: >>> On 2026-04-02 04:32, c186282 wrote: >>>> On 4/1/26 21:33, Carlos E.R. wrote: >>>>> On 2026-04-02 02:18, c186282 wrote: >>>>>> On 2026-04-01 21:16, c186282 wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Not too long before he died he asked me to explain >>>>>> exactly how a CPU worked - and I found I could not >>>>>> provide a low-level description. Still can't, have >>>>>> no idea how instruction-fetch/decode/data-routing >>>>>> works at the bare transistor level. >>>>> >>>>> It is actually simple, but using gates, not transistors. Well, >>>>> transistors is one step further, each group form a gate. And a group >>>>> of gates form functions, like registers. It is overwhelming from >>>>> scratch, but if someone explains a function at a time, it becomes >>>>> "understandable". At least an old 8 bit CPU, like the 8085 or 6502. A >>>>> modern one is more steps in complexity. >>>> >>>> I tried to study a 4004 ... but still couldn't >>>> really assemble a mental model of how the needed >>>> steps were done at the lowest level. >>>> >>>> 'Gates' are made from transistors. Those I get >>>> just fine ... but how to build a CPU "machine" >>>> out of them ............ >>> >>> You need somebody explaining it. Or a book that explains it. Trying to >>> study it doesn't work. It is complex, but there is a trick, a method of >>> explaining it and suddenly the mind does "click!" and you understand it >>> all. >> >> Could never get the 'click' alas. The sheer complexity of >> how even a 'simple' CPU works is daunting. Oh well, too >> old now, I'll never get it. Can form an abstract picture, >> but the silicon details ... nope ..... > > If you've no experience in the area, then trying to study a 4004 to > determine how a CPU works is still *way* too far up the complexity > curve to be able to easily grasp (absent a Herculean amount of effort). > > Do you "get" how an assembly line (i.e., auto assembly line) works? > > A loose (very loose) analagy is a CPU works somewhat like an auto > assembly line. Everything moves along a step at a time on the line in > unison to a clock pulse, and each stopping point on the "line" does > some small bit towards completion of the action called for by the > instruction. For this analogy the 'instructions' would be the cars > moving down the line. I get it in the abstract ... but how to get transistors to do it all click-click-click - sorry. The complexity becomes daunting VERY fast. In reference, my old uncle wanted to know how it was done at the transistor (or 'valve') level. If he was a bit younger he'd probably have tried to make a CPU out of vacuum tubes :-)
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Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-31 02:30 +0000
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-03-31 12:58 +0200
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-03-31 20:10 +0000
Re: Mercury Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-03-31 22:03 +0000
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-01 04:37 +0000
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-01 13:26 +0100
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-01 09:03 -0400
Re: Mercury Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-04-01 17:58 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-01 15:16 -0400
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-01 21:57 +0200
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-01 20:18 -0400
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-02 03:33 +0200
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-01 22:32 -0400
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-02 13:51 +0200
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-02 13:33 -0400
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-03 00:21 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-02 22:51 -0400
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-03 03:21 +0000
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-03 14:38 +0200
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-03 06:22 +0000
Re: Mercury Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-04-03 07:50 -0700
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 11:13 -0400
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-03 14:33 +0200
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 11:06 -0400
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-03 16:51 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 14:47 -0400
CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-04-03 12:57 -0700
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 22:45 -0400
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-04 03:27 +0000
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-04 04:57 +0000
CPU design "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-03 22:00 +0200
Re: CPU design c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 16:29 -0400
Re: CPU design "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-04 13:20 +0200
Re: CPU design c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-04 13:57 -0400
Re: CPU design "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-04 22:18 +0200
Re: CPU design Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-05 03:44 +0000
Re: CPU design "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-05 13:58 +0200
Re: CPU design c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-05 17:19 -0400
Re: CPU design The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-05 12:42 +0100
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-03 21:57 +0000
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-03 17:54 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 22:29 -0400
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-04 04:58 +0000
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-04 13:30 +0100
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-04 13:46 -0400
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-04 19:22 +0000
Re: Mercury Robert Riches <spamtrap42@jacob21819.net> - 2026-04-04 20:39 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-04 18:10 -0400
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-05 03:31 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-05 17:13 -0400
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-05 03:59 +0000
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-04 19:09 +0000
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-04 14:26 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-04 13:50 -0400
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-03 21:55 +0200
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-04 13:40 +0100
Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-04 14:32 +0000
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-04 18:44 +0200
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-04 19:02 +0000
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-05 12:17 +0100
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-05 13:59 +0200
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-05 13:10 +0100
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-05 19:50 +0200
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-05 22:02 +0000
Re: Mercury Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-04-05 17:01 -0700
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-06 02:05 +0000
Mandriva was Re: Mercury Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-04-05 21:18 -0700
Re: Mandriva was Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-06 16:02 +0000
Re: Mandriva was Re: Mercury Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-06 18:09 +0000
Re: Mandriva was Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-07 02:15 +0000
Re: Mandriva was Re: Mercury Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-04-06 14:53 -0700
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-06 11:01 +0100
CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-04-02 10:43 -0700
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-02 19:44 +0100
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-02 15:06 -0400
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 10:32 +0100
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-03 23:58 +0000
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-03 15:11 +0200
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-02 14:56 -0400
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-04-02 15:31 -0700
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-02 22:46 -0400
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-03 07:03 +0000
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 11:25 +0100
The New Feudalism Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-04-03 06:33 -0700
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-04-03 10:47 -0700
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) Richard Kettlewell <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 10:04 +0100
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 12:29 +0100
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 10:35 -0400
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-03 07:00 +0000
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 11:27 +0100
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-04-03 13:54 -0700
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-03 22:54 +0200
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-03 03:45 +0000
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-04-03 18:10 +0000
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-03 15:04 -0400
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 10:13 +0100
Re: CPU architecture (was Re: Mercury) Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-04-03 00:29 +0000
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-02 19:50 +0000
Re: Mercury Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-04-02 20:53 +0000
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-03 10:51 +0100
Re: Mercury The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-04-02 11:15 +0100
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-02 00:12 +0000
Re: Mercury rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-04-02 00:28 +0000
Re: Mercury c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-04-01 21:39 -0400
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-02 14:17 +0200
Re: Mercury "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-04-01 14:47 +0200
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