Eli5 how do the mechanics in CPUs work?

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Like, yes, i know it’s electric and such. But I recently talked to an engineer and he, as I understand, said that there are still switches and other mechanics but microscopic inside CPUs and circuit boards.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Silicon is a weird element. It is a metalloid and a semiconductor, which means it acts like a conductor sometimes and not a conductor other times. One of the ways to control whether it acts like a conductor at any moment is a combination of trace elements and electricity.

This means that silicon can be used to create non-moving, electrically controlled ‘switches’ that we call transistors. Some conduct between the ends when they are powered, others stop conducting between the ends when they are powered.

There is nothing practically moving inside the CPU (electrons and heat technically count).

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