[NBLUG/talk] Bare metal question

[Steve Zimmerman]

Steve Zimmerman wrote:

> > Proposition:  A register is a mediator between
> > electricity and memory, and a register
> > serves in the transformation of electricity into memory.

ME replied:

> "Electricity" here is a bit too general. Such generalizations could then
> be applied to other objects:
>
> This toaster serves in the transformation of electricity, bread and time
> into toast. ;-)  (I guess I am more of a "splitter" than a "lumper" here.)

Steve replied back:

Point well taken, yet it's obvious that a "toaster" makes "toast,"
but not at all obvious that a "register" makes "regist."  ;-)  When
trying to grasp something, an overgeneralization can be helpful.

Mike replied (as if in real time):

> If I were forced to make a broad generalization, I might try a different
> route. The above example may be better applied to the CPU as a whole (with
> its registers) and substituting RAM for memory:
>
> "A CPU is a mediator between electricity and memory"
> Since it is the CPU that actually uses the electricity to modify bits on
> registers and in RAM. But this is a failed example, since electricity does
> not get converted to/from data/instructions by itself - data/instructions
> are converted to data/instructions and use electricity in this process,
> making electricity a requirement.
>
> Another view:
> Registers are one of the three parts of CPU, RAM and instructions.
> Or:
> Registers act as glue between the CPU/instructions and RAM.
>
> -ME
>
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-- 
Steve Zimmerman