Just that. I don’t understand how computers interface with a quartz crystal and the quartz crystal stores data. How does that work?
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Quartz crystals are used to generate a clock. No data storage involved.
Think of a crystal like a flute or a single pipe from a pipe organ… you cut the pipe to a specific length to tune it to make a specific sound (frequency), then blow into it to make that sound.
Quartz crystals are cut at the factory to set the frequency just right for the purpose.
Your computer likely has many of these crystals inside…
It has a 32,768Hz crystal to keep current time (it is 12:23am). This is the same basic circuit as inside a watch and it runs from a small battery on the motherboard. It runs even when the computer is off and unplugged in order to keep time.
It has other crystals that are used to clock different digital systems. Anything that has a MHz is likely based on a crystal.
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