iskout Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 I was in a conversation with a friend of mine about computers, and I found myself in a predicament. I was attempting to explain how RAM works, and realized that he had no idea what I was talking about, as he had no computer background. He didn't know what terms like CAS latency, voltage, and Frequency referred to. This got me thinking: How do you guys explain stuff like this? Do you totally avoid the conversation, or do you have some fun analogies? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 If you're explaining to someone with no computer background, you need to keep it real simple. As for RAM, I'd just make a general point about the volatile nature of info in RAM vs. non-volatile storage of the hard drive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prunes Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 I always use the desktop example. It gives a very basic idea as to how things work. Tell you friend to imagine sitting in front of a desk. To his right is some drawers. They are the hard disk(s), where you can store a lot of things, but it takes long time to find a specific item. The desk surface is the RAM, because there's not as much space as in the drawers, but it's faster and easier to find. So when you're working on something you usually keep all the things you need for that task on you desk. The CPU is your friend's head, which does all the "calculations", and, I guess, the GPU is your friend's eyes. Hope that can help 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iskout Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 I always use the desktop example. It gives a very basic idea as to how things work. Tell you friend to imagine sitting in front of a desk. To his right is some drawers. They are the hard disk(s), where you can store a lot of things, but it takes long time to find a specific item. The desk surface is the RAM, because there's not as much space as in the drawers, but it's faster and easier to find. So when you're working on something you usually keep all the things you need for that task on you desk. The CPU is your friend's head, which does all the "calculations", and, I guess, the GPU is your friend's eyes. Hope that can help I might have to use the Desktop example in a thread that I'm making in another forum. I'm basically one of 3 people that can help with computer issues, though some people try to. (One of them suggested someone with a $1K budget build a computer based on a 770g last night) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suchuwato Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 can you tell i've got an arts degree? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yuridude Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 can you tell i've got an arts degree? That is just great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iskout Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 can you tell i've got an arts degree? needs moar arrows Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest_Jim_* Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 I normally try to explain RAM as short-term memory too. suchuwato, are those dotted arrows showing the heat coming out of the system Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjloki Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 can you tell i've got an arts degree? a picture is worth a thousand words sir ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
suchuwato Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 I normally try to explain RAM as short-term memory too. suchuwato, are those dotted arrows showing the heat coming out of the system It's what leads onto the second diagram, explaining conservation of energy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulktreg Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 Yeah, what about the PC's carbon footprint? But on second thoughts perhaps we shouldn't go there! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IVIYTH0S Posted June 8, 2011 Posted June 8, 2011 I always use the desktop example. It gives a very basic idea as to how things work. Tell you friend to imagine sitting in front of a desk. To his right is some drawers. They are the hard disk(s), where you can store a lot of things, but it takes long time to find a specific item. The desk surface is the RAM, because there's not as much space as in the drawers, but it's faster and easier to find. So when you're working on something you usually keep all the things you need for that task on you desk. The CPU is your friend's head, which does all the "calculations", and, I guess, the GPU is your friend's eyes. Hope that can help That's actually a pretty awesome way to simplify it, I may use this method for the PC storage explanations Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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