Questions tagged [computers]
Questions regarding architectures or design of specific parts, not consumer-related questions.
342
questions
0
votes
0answers
21 views
Clock module for my module computer
Inspired by the Ben's Eater series, I want to create my own computer but instead of using breadboards, I would like to use a PCB where each module is a different PCB and everything is connected by a ...
0
votes
0answers
28 views
Using adapter with a different voltage for a laptop monitor in the car [closed]
Edit: I read some other answers on this site and am getting conflicting messages, ie. "it might damage the monitor", "could cause a fire" or "it should be fine as the ...
14
votes
4answers
4k views
Electrical reason for the minimum altitude (-50 feet) in the computer specs?
Are if there any electrical reasons not to operate or store my Dell OptiPlex computers below the altitude of -50 feet, as written in the specifications?
Screenshot of the original Dell OptiPlex ...
-1
votes
0answers
64 views
What might I have damaged by grounding a data line of an ISA slot on this motherboard?
One of the routine things I do when I get a new motherboard for my vintage computer collection is test various things before putting any of my rare or expensive components into what is an unknown ...
7
votes
1answer
1k views
Enable vendor-disabled hardware on tablet? [closed]
I have a nextbook tablet (one of those cheap things from walmart) that I was looking to try to improve the RAM situation on to breath some new life into it as it apparently only has 1G of it. I ...
8
votes
1answer
71 views
Backwards compatibility of PCIe AC coupling capacitors
The PCIe base spec mentions that platforms operating only at 2.5GT/s or 5GT/s may use AC coupling capacitors in the 75nF-265nF and that platforms supporting 8GT/s and above must use 176nF-265nF.
...
3
votes
3answers
3k views
Why aren't current CPUs designed for more powerful cooling systems? [closed]
Chips on the present can't get smaller, higher speeds and voltages increase heating, so why don't CPU manufacturers aim for more powerful cooling systems instead of looking for parallelization?
We are ...
-1
votes
2answers
93 views
What is the most important CPU price factor [closed]
I have two intel CPUS with distinct features.
intel i7 8550U
intel i5 8300H
Which have big performance difference with the cheaper 8300H being higher in memory ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Where or when is it unsafe to clean using compressed air? [duplicate]
There's this lesson on ICT for us in cleaning computers and their equipment. One of the components that can be used for cleaning is something called compressed air.
Just to make sure, which computer ...
10
votes
9answers
2k views
Was the Intel 186 chip commonly used anywhere? Was it only found in industrial computers? Why not PCs?
I don't think the Intel 186 was in any "home computers" or PCs, but I see other people referencing it as a common chip. Also, I've heard that NEC V20s had the 186 instruction set in addition ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
Will a computer fail sooner the more you use it? [closed]
Is a computer like a car in the sense that the more you use it the quicker it will break down? Assuming that we have a regular computer with SSD that is running 24/7 versus a computer that is run ...
3
votes
1answer
91 views
Why can't you make a thunderbolt 3 hub?
So laptops with thunderbolt 3 are pretty common, docks are common, every other kind of USB seems to be able to be used with a hub. I know thunderbolt 3 can be daisy chained, theoretically eliminating ...
0
votes
2answers
135 views
Which alcohol is bad to use when cleaning computers?
I heard there are some alcohols that are prohibited to be used when cleaning a computer or an electric device.
Apart from beverages, which ones are these?
2
votes
1answer
108 views
Doubt in pipelining forwarding in MIPS
I am fairly new to computer architecture and having a tough time solving problems based on pipelining. I was trying to solve a problem from this pdf I found on Google
I have a doubt in part ...
0
votes
2answers
62 views
reversal of computer camera image [closed]
Why do so many embedded cameras in computers, etc., prsent a mirror image? It means anything with writing on it is backwards.
Why is this desirable?
0
votes
1answer
47 views
How do I send a signal from my computer to my USB antenna
I'm trying to make an RC car that can be controlled by my computer.
The heart of the car is a simple mother board from an old toy. It basically accepts a signal 49MHz from a controller with a 9V ...
0
votes
0answers
102 views
PWR ON motherboard with Touch sensor TTP223 and Transistor
I have a TTP223 touch sensor, a BC347 Npn transistor and 10Kohm resistor. I want to make a touch button as substitution for my pwr physical button on the case of my pc.
On the motherboard I have 2 pin,...
0
votes
2answers
78 views
Why do server mainboards use different capacitors for their VRMs?
Recently I noticed that server mainboards use a different type of capacitor as part of their VRMs (after the inductor). I believe they are ceramic capacitors, whereas consumer boards usually use ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
PC ATX12VO (12V only) standard - Why does everybody say it has higher efficiency?
To my understandings, the new 12-volt only standard moves the 5V and 3.3V supplies off from the ATX power supply "box" to the motherboard.
According to PC World (which is cited by Wikipedia),...
3
votes
2answers
180 views
What type of electronics is typically used to interface between PCs and custom hardware? [closed]
I have tried to make this question acceptable for StackExchange, I am not looking for buying advice, just either examples of hardware that could have been used or the name of types of devices I should ...
0
votes
3answers
118 views
Has there been any deliberate implementation of combinational logic soft error correction in any consumer-level product, like a CPU/microcontroller? [closed]
Prologue
It is well known that many error detection, mitigation, and correction methods, such as parity or ECC, have been available in large memory banks, like for RAM, for decades now, and even in ...
0
votes
1answer
92 views
I spilled candle wax on the video card in my computer, should I be concerned?
I have just accidentally spilled lavender scented candle wax onto my video card. This is a RX480, the kind with holes that expose parts of the circuitry. the way the candle wax fell, it got onto that ...
0
votes
1answer
390 views
How can I modify single-cycle MIPS processor to implement jal command?
Hello Stack exchange community
I was wondering which modification should I have to make in order to enable single-cycle MIPS processor to run a jal(jump and link) command?
My most pressing confusion ...
0
votes
0answers
44 views
Single Light switch to turn on/off based on computer program running
Brand new here so please be gentle lol Im interested in creating a light switch that turns on/off based on whether a computer program is running (Mac for now). I'm not entirely sure what components I ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Can two x-bit ALUs/FPUs be combined to create an equivalent a single 2x-bit ALU/FPU?
I was wondering, can 2 16-bit ALUs/FPUs be combined to create a 32-bit ALUs/FPUs, or are 4 ALUs/FPUs required? I was wondering if lower precision ALUs/FPUs can be combined in any way to create a ...
0
votes
3answers
132 views
Are FPUs made of ALUs, and how many ALUs are needed to make up an FPU?
In GPUs/CPUs, are FPUs made up of ALUs? If not, what would be a smaller "logical unit" that FPUs are made up of? If FPUs are made up of ALUs, how many ALUs would it take to make up a 16-bit ...
0
votes
1answer
52 views
Choosing the right DC-DC converter for a computer
I am looking at converting a computer to run off of a 12V battery, which means replacing its PSU with a DC-DC converter.
So, assuming that the computer is currently using 600 Watt PSU, then I assume ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
Is a loose psu plugged into a three prong outlet but off a good thing to clip to an esd mat aligator clip?
I bought an anti static mat, ifixit portable, so I wear the wrist strap, clip it to the mat, the ground wire that came with the mat clips the the mat the other aligator clip clips to the grill of a ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Is unplugging computer power cable from PSU the same as electricity outage?
I am not sure if they are the same, but something puzzling just happened. My dell precision workstation 2007 has been fine ever since, with many, many power outages over the years. But there is a time ...
-3
votes
1answer
66 views
Removed component on motherboard [closed]
(Is this even a electronics related or computer related?)
Does anyone owns a Dell Optiplex 780 DT? I was adding a graphics card and I accidentally bumped the bracket into the PCB and I checked the ...
0
votes
2answers
65 views
Why computers can be modeled as sample and hold system
I was reading digital control system from book by Norman S.Nise and in book it is written that
"computers can be modeled as a sample and hold system "
Isn't computer is discrete time system ...
0
votes
1answer
138 views
Is it possible to make a keyboard with "Game Controller" style printed circuit boards and buttons?
For a long time I've wondered if it's possible to make a keyboard with PCBs similar to the ones used in NES controllers or just video game controllers in general. If it can be done with keyboards it'd ...
0
votes
2answers
414 views
Is EMI/EMC still a big concern for a PC case?
I've recently started looking into researching potential concerns when it comes to using a non-metal material for a custom PC case, specifically wood. I've seen people talk about heat, electrical ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Understanding USB Descriptors speed
I have several USB devices that are capable of running High Speed 2.0 (480 Mbps) mode but runs Full Speed 1.1 (12 Mbps) instead.
Take for example a USB DAC:
It advertise USB 2.0 compliant and fall ...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
Why is overflow error in two's complement addition represented by XOR-ing the last two carries?
The first chapter of my textbook on microcontroller theory has the following paragraph.
Here is one of the examples provided.
The book shows three such examples, but provides no explanation for why ...
1
vote
1answer
127 views
Can someone help me establishing the polarity of this dc jack on my laptop motherboard?
So my laptop charger port is fried and I wanted to establish the polarity of the points on the board so I can solder a off the shelf jack instead of the original one which is not available anymore. I ...
-1
votes
2answers
163 views
Is it okay to use a 200W PSU as a replacement for a 500W one?
I had a strong PC which is no longer functional at this point. One day while i was using it, it made a click sound and turned off abruptly. It also gave some kind of burnt wire smell which made me ...
0
votes
2answers
57 views
Uninterruptible power supply - How it manages to provide electricity to electronic devices before it shutting down?
I believe there is a lag in time (I think the latency for the switch over can take some milliseconds) when a switch over to the battery backup happens. I understand the electric appliances like motor, ...
1
vote
0answers
233 views
Help needed finding laptop FFC keyboard connector
I have a Thinkpad T440 keyboard that I'd like to convert to a USB keyboard. I've been looking for an FFC connector for it and it's been difficult finding it. It has 32 pins and 0.5mm pin pitch. The ...
2
votes
1answer
199 views
8 Bit Computer Program Counter (4 bit Counter IC) Counting When Disabled
Awhile back I built a version of Ben Eaters 8 bit computer, on my build, I changed only AND, NOT, and OR gates to all NAND. Otherwise the design was exact. I tested it before touching it and found ...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Building my own on-off button for a PC
I'm looking to build my own power button for my computer.
Most motherboards have a pair of PWR_SW pins that your case power button typically attaches to via two ...
5
votes
7answers
4k views
Why do computer circuits tend to have so many resistors and capacitors? [duplicate]
As someone who has a decent understanding of computer architecture (but not of electrical engineering) I've always wondered why computer circuits tend to have so many resistors, capacitors, and other ...
0
votes
3answers
90 views
Can an instruction set do everything?
Given a certain instruction set, and that any high-level code is just converted to machine code anyway, then except simulating human intelligence, is it sufficient enough to do anything you want a ...
2
votes
5answers
683 views
How does a microprocessor control its transistors? [closed]
Or in other words, what is the more fundamental building block of an IC below transistors? When I load a code onto my microprocessor, how (fundamentally, sure some people here could write books about ...
1
vote
1answer
690 views
Is A XNOR B logically equivalent to A XOR (NOT B)?
I am just wondering if its fair to say that A XNOR B is logically equivalent to A XOR ~B? If yes, how do I justify that without a truth table?
1
vote
2answers
411 views
Why do idle computers make noises?
Suppose that you have a typical laptop computer that is turned on, muted, doing pretty much nothing (e.g. no fan, CD drive, or speaker use), has pretty much nothing being done to it (e.g. no presses ...
1
vote
2answers
47 views
Dynamically pushing instructions to SRAM IC
Sorry if this isn't the right place to ask this. Coming from a programming background, and I'm not 100% sure how to read some of these data sheets.
I'm looking at using IC 628512LP-70 CMOS SRAM" (or ...
0
votes
1answer
49 views
To control motor : 1phase, 230 V brushless, via RaspberryPi
Is there any preferable or possible way (i am still recognizing the borders),
To have set of equipment, where we would have 1phase, 230 V brushless electrical motor, (with the ventilator on the shaft)...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
How do laptops seamlessly switch from AC wall power to battery
So this is probably a rather simple question but electrical circuits are not my forte. I have been curious about how devices, specifically a laptop, can seamlessly switch between AC wall power (...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Resistor causing problems when in series with LED
I am wanting to dim the light on my computers power light, its just a 5mm LED what i am guessing gets 5v from the motherboard to power it
The problem I am having is that when adding a 100R resistor ...
