I have a fairly strong understanding of how code like C is compiled into machine code and how transistors form gates which can be put together to compute lots of operations which can eventually become a computer. Say you have a machine instruction that says to add the contents of register 3 and register 5 and put the result in register 6. What is physically putting the voltages on the transistors in a way that achieves the desired result given that nothing is flipping a mechanical switch?
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The basic concept of a transistor used in digital devices is that it operates as a solid state switch. ELI5 It turns on and off and allows electrical connection between the transistor output and the supply voltage (for “high”) or ground (for “low”). If you connect the output of some transistor to the input of another transistor in specific configurations, you end up with basic logic gates.
Powering the CPU is to provide it with voltage and ground and that allows the transistors insided it to function.
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