How to learn to understand iron?

Question

Books

Good afternoon. I have been developing and programming for a long time, but somehow in the process I missed such an important thing as hardware. I have never studied this issue in particular. In general, of course, I understand why a video card is needed, a RAM, and what will happen if you pull out the power supply, but I don’t understand the intricacies. I naturally get lost in the names of models and descriptions of their properties. Without Wikipedia, for example, I can’t figure out how DDR3 is fundamentally different from DDR4, or USB2 from USB3, which of course is a shame for a programmer (I think so).
Tell me some literature or materials to study the topic of iron most fully. Of course, I would also like to learn how to understand models, series, "be in trend" - maybe you can give some advice. Thank you.

Answer 1

From a programmer's point of view, I would additionally study the following things:
1) Processor pipeline
2) Cache memory
3) Data bus
4) Processor multithreading (AMD has one now, Intel has another)
5) Speed-up instructions like SSE
Nothing more if not to engage in calculations on the video card, it is not necessary, by and large.

Answer 2

You know, without Wikipedia, I also don’t know how DDR3 is fundamentally different from DDR4, or USB2 from USB3, and I don’t worry, because I don’t need it at all, I won’t earn money on this knowledge. It's a shame for a programmer to write shitty programs, and let those who are supposed to deal with iron

Answer 3

And why do you need it? To really understand this well, you need to constantly follow it, as well as the news in development and programming, and this is also the time.
If you are not engaged in low-level programming, then IMHO, deep knowledge in the issue you are interested in is not needed (only if you really have a lot of free time, which I doubt). Personally, I climb into this jungle only when it comes time to upgrade the computer, and even then more because of my corrosiveness. ))
In general, again, IMHO, it is enough to know that DDR3 differs from DDR4 only in the location of the key (well, okay, the second one is a little faster), and USB3 from USB2 in the presence of blue plastic inside (well, again, speed, though much more significant).

Answer 4

Вы таки будете смеяться, но именно для программиста - если это программист-прикладник - разные поколения одних и тех же железок не отличаются НИЧЕМ!!!

Answer 5

Для начала попробовать слегка разогнать свое железо. Статьи на оверклокерских форумах помогут. За этим обычно следует апгрейд, покупка кучи дорогого крутого железа. Наконец, приходит осознание, что практической пользы в этом мало, что это лишь интересное хобби. Но при этом да, лет 5-10 ты - в тренде, и все советуются с тобой о покупке компа.

Answer 6

most importantly do not buy amd

Answer 7

I agree with SyavaSyava, nothing will help better than practice. But I also advise you to read related forums and IT technology news.