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How a PC Works

A computer is an electronic device that processes data according to instructions provided by software, performing calculations, storing information, retrieving data, and producing outputs at high speed. Modern computers are digital, binary systems capable of general-purpose programmable operation, transforming inputs via hardware components like processors, memory, storage, and input/output devices. The concept of automated computation traces back to antiquity. The Antikythera mechanism, discovered in an ancient Greek shipwreck, is the earliest known analogue computer—a complex geared device that mechanically modeled astronomical positions, predicted eclipses, and tracked planetary motions. In the 19th century, Charles Babbage designed the Difference Engine (begun 1822, unfinished) and the more advanced Analytical Engine (1830s concept), mechanical programmable calculators using punched cards for instructions and data—considered foundational to the programmable computer, though never fully built during his lifetime. In the mid 20th century, key electronic and electromechanical machines emerged: Konrad Zuse's Z3 (1941, Germany) — the first fully automatic, programmable digital computer (electromechanical). The British Colossus (1943–1944) — the world's first programmable electronic digital computer, used for code-breaking. The Bombe (designed by Alan Turing and others, deployed 1940 onward) — an electromechanical device for decrypting Enigma-encrypted messages. ENIAC (1945, USA) — the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, using vacuum tubes for high-speed calculations. Later milestones include the UNIVAC I (1951), the first commercial computer, used for business and government tasks like predicting the 1952 U.S. presidential election. The personal computer era began with the Altair 8800 (1975), a kit-based microcomputer that popularized hobbyist computing and inspired Microsoft. It was followed by landmark consumer systems like the Apple II (1977), IBM PC (1981)—which standardized the PC architecture—and the Apple Macintosh (1984), introducing the graphical user interface to the masses. Contemporary computers rely heavily on semiconductor advancements. Intel (founded 1968) pioneered the microprocessor with the 4004 (1971) and dominated the x86 CPU market that powers most PCs and servers. AMD (Advanced Micro Devices, founded 1969), a long-time competitor to Intel, gained prominence with x86-compatible processors (e.g., Athlon, Ryzen series) and acquired ATI in 2006 to enter the GPU market. NVIDIA (founded 1993) revolutionized graphics with GPUs (starting with the GeForce series), enabling 3D gaming, accelerated computing, and—since the 2010s—dominant roles in AI, machine learning, and parallel processing via CUDA and specialized hardware. From ancient mechanical predictors to today's AI-accelerated systems, computers have evolved from specialized calculators to ubiquitous tools driving science, industry, communication, and entertainment.