How Can I Understand Computer Hardware from Scratch?

Try a 'bottom-up and top-down' approach! Begin with the fundamentals of electronics—get familiar with concepts like transistors, logic gates, and flip-flops (which are basically 1-bit memory). After that, dabble in some simple programming to get a feel for how CPUs work. Learning assembly language for a simple CPU can give you a great grounding. Once you grasp these parts from both directions, you’ll have a solid foundation to build on!

It sounds like you're really diving into a challenging yet fascinating topic! One tip is to focus on your goals with this knowledge. Are you just learning for fun, or do you have specific objectives? If it's just for personal enrichment, don't rush through it. Start from the very basics and consider exploring the history of technology—it's actually quite interesting. Understanding concepts like what memory is can give you a fun context. Look into things like 'magnetic-core memory' from the 40s for a cool historical angle!

Check out Ben Eater's YouTube videos! He breaks things down really well, and his hands-on projects are super educational. Once you’ve watched his content, you might find you can revisit those books with a fresh perspective, making them much easier to digest.

It's great that you're seeking resources. What exactly are you finding confusing? Sometimes it's better to focus deeply on the books you’ve already got instead of constantly searching for new materials. Take your time with the reading and ensure you're completing the exercises. Understanding each step before moving on can really help to solidify your grasp on the material.

Understanding computers is a long journey, so prepare yourself for an adventure! If you want a solid foundational knowledge, consider the history of computers first. Learn about transistors, logic gates, and boolean algebra—all crucial in grasping how modern computing works. Plus, these topics will help you frame your research and questions better as you go along.