Entry 1: Starting Things Off
Goals
Over the next six cycles, I'll be learning about and building a
fully functional computer. My goals for this project are pretty straight
forward, to have a computer that can access the internet for under $140. Some
side goals of mine are to have an understanding of all the components to the
extent where I could predict how certain upgrades would affect the computer,
and to improve at scavenging, searching, and negotiating with people. I will
post all my experiences searching for the cheapest parts I can find, that
includes any interviews and people I meet. Posting all of my progress will
include research, pictures of the computer coming together, and a chart that
will keep track of all the money spent.
Research - Parts List
To kick off my project I did a little but of research on the necessary parts for a computer. Here's what I came up with:- Central Processing Unit (CPU) ----------------------------------------------- $54
- Motherboard -------------------------------------------------------------------- $74-100
- Graphics Card ------------------------------------------------------------------- $35
- Memory (RAM)------------------------------------------------------------------$7
- Storage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------$20
- Power Supply ------------------------------------------------------------------- $20
- Case ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $20
- Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------$253
I quickly scanned on partspicker.com for the cheapest prices I could find online. Now I know that 250 bucks is nowhere near my goal, but I strongly believe that I'll be able to find parts either from people I know or Chinese websites.
Research - CPU
Figuring out how the central
processing unit works was the first step of my research. The central
processing unit or CPU of the computer have had the same three step function
since they were first introduced; fetch, decode, and execute. The fetch step of
the CPU is to find information to receive. The instruction that the CPU
actually gets is received from the short term memory unit (RAM). Each part of
information is just one small part of an operation so it is crucial for the CPU
to know the order of all the instructions. Each instruction has an address that
is stored in the program counter and then that is all placed into an
instruction register. Then as instructions keep coming in the program counter
continues to grow in length. The decode step involves decoding the
instructions and getting them ready to send through to other parts of the CPU,
just like how the golgi apparatus packages and distributes complex molecules to
different parts of the cell. In the final step of the process the CPU
sends the decoded information on to the relevant parts of the CPU that will be
able to execute the operation.Update - Work Space/Price Log
I also created a Google Sheets document where I will log all of the money spent on this project. Click here to see the price log.
Ethan, your topic is the definition of a project perfectly balanced between preexisting knowledge and seeking new experiences. The application of your already existent interest for robotics and technology into this project is resourceful; although you already have experience in robotics and technology, constructing a working computer on the lowest possible budget definitely poses a new challenge. As a person that has always been interested but is not knowledgeable at all in building computers, I am interested to see the different challenges relating to the construction of your computer and how the quality of the parts might affect the computer's ability to function.
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