01 Mar 2026

But How Does a Computer Actually Work? (from scratch, no prior knowledge needed)

Milen Patel

The video explains how a computer works, starting with the basics of binary and logic gates. It progresses to building a CPU from scratch, detailing how computers represent numbers and perform arithmetic. The discussion covers two's complement for representing negative numbers and introduces fundamental logic gates like AND, OR, and XOR. It then advances to constructing a full adder and chaining them to create an 8-bit adder. The concept of memory is explored through RAM and registers, culminating in the design of a control unit using a read-only memory (ROM). The video concludes by relating these concepts to a modern ARM processor and demonstrating a program that turns on an LED, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Outlines

Part 1: Binary Foundations

Part 2: Logic Gates and Basic Circuits

Part 3: Memory and Data Storage

Part 4: CPU Architecture and Control Logic

Part 5: Programming and Practical Application

Part 6: Modern Systems and Interfacing

Continue

Preview

How to Get Rich: Every EpisodeNaval

But How Does a Computer Actually Work? (from scratch, no prior knowledge needed)

Milen Patel

Part 1: Binary Foundations

Foundations of Decimal and Binary Number Systems

Converting Binary Values to Decimal Representation

Translating Decimal Integers into Binary Code

Arithmetic Operations and Carry Logic in Binary

Representing Negative Numbers with Two's Complement

Part 2: Logic Gates and Basic Circuits

Fundamental Logic Gates and Deterministic Circuits

Building Selector Circuits and Half Adders

Full Adder Design and Multi-Bit Arithmetic

Constructing an 8-Bit Adder for CPU Operations

Implementing Subtraction in the Arithmetic Logic Unit

Part 3: Memory and Data Storage

Sequential Logic and Data Storage with Latches

Flip-Flops and Register-Based Counting

Random Access Memory and Address Decoding

Connecting Components via a Central Bus

Part 4: CPU Architecture and Control Logic

Visualizing Data with Seven-Segment Displays and ROM

Instruction Registers and the Fetch-Execute Cycle

Program Counters and Control Logic Brains

Defining a Complete Instruction Set

Microcode Implementation and Clock Synchronization

Part 5: Programming and Practical Application

Programming Algorithms: From Counters to Fibonacci

Physical Computer Construction and the SAP-1 Architecture

Part 6: Modern Systems and Interfacing

Scaling to Modern Processors and ARM Architectures

Hexadecimal Notation and Memory-Mapped I/O

Hardware Interfacing and the Future of Computing

But How Does a Computer Actually Work? (from scratch, no prior knowledge needed)

Milen Patel

Part 1: Binary Foundations

00:00Foundations of Decimal and Binary Number Systems

Foundations of Decimal and Binary Number Systems

18:04Converting Binary Values to Decimal Representation

Converting Binary Values to Decimal Representation

31:38Translating Decimal Integers into Binary Code

Translating Decimal Integers into Binary Code

46:16Arithmetic Operations and Carry Logic in Binary

Arithmetic Operations and Carry Logic in Binary

55:53Representing Negative Numbers with Two's Complement

Representing Negative Numbers with Two's Complement

Part 2: Logic Gates and Basic Circuits

1:16:43Fundamental Logic Gates and Deterministic Circuits

Fundamental Logic Gates and Deterministic Circuits

1:37:22Building Selector Circuits and Half Adders

Building Selector Circuits and Half Adders

2:07:04Full Adder Design and Multi-Bit Arithmetic

Full Adder Design and Multi-Bit Arithmetic

2:31:52Constructing an 8-Bit Adder for CPU Operations

Constructing an 8-Bit Adder for CPU Operations

2:55:52Implementing Subtraction in the Arithmetic Logic Unit

Implementing Subtraction in the Arithmetic Logic Unit

Part 3: Memory and Data Storage

3:19:53Sequential Logic and Data Storage with Latches

Sequential Logic and Data Storage with Latches

3:54:15Flip-Flops and Register-Based Counting

Flip-Flops and Register-Based Counting

4:25:31Random Access Memory and Address Decoding

Random Access Memory and Address Decoding

5:20:10Connecting Components via a Central Bus

Connecting Components via a Central Bus

Part 4: CPU Architecture and Control Logic

5:41:13Visualizing Data with Seven-Segment Displays and ROM

Visualizing Data with Seven-Segment Displays and ROM

6:11:48Instruction Registers and the Fetch-Execute Cycle

Instruction Registers and the Fetch-Execute Cycle

6:34:48Program Counters and Control Logic Brains

Program Counters and Control Logic Brains

7:20:00Defining a Complete Instruction Set

Defining a Complete Instruction Set

8:14:14Microcode Implementation and Clock Synchronization

Microcode Implementation and Clock Synchronization

Part 5: Programming and Practical Application

9:15:03Programming Algorithms: From Counters to Fibonacci

Programming Algorithms: From Counters to Fibonacci

10:12:30Physical Computer Construction and the SAP-1 Architecture

Physical Computer Construction and the SAP-1 Architecture

Part 6: Modern Systems and Interfacing

10:27:19Scaling to Modern Processors and ARM Architectures

Scaling to Modern Processors and ARM Architectures

10:57:32Hexadecimal Notation and Memory-Mapped I/O

Hexadecimal Notation and Memory-Mapped I/O

11:14:01Hardware Interfacing and the Future of Computing

Hardware Interfacing and the Future of Computing