Free · 36 picture lessons · No sign-up

How chips work,
one picture at a time.

Short lessons for people who just joined the chip industry. One idea per lesson, in plain English. No engineering degree needed.

Start learning

Each lesson takes a few minutes.

What is a CPU?1 of 4 laptopCPU A small chip inside every computer What is a CPU?2 of 4 1. Take 22. Add 33. Show it5ProgramCPUResult It follows a recipe, one step at a time What is a CPU?3 of 4 1 secondwork moves on every tick3 billion ticksevery second, at 3 GHz Billions of steps every second What is a CPU?4 of 4 1 core8 cores Many cooks in one chip

How a lesson works

Big ideas, in small steps

Every lesson follows the same simple path, so you always know what comes next.

Get the answer first

Each lesson opens with a one-sentence answer. If that is all you need today, you are done.

Lesson 4 of 36 · Chips from zero What is a CPU? The short answerA CPU is the part of a computer that follows a program's instructions, one tiny step at a time, billions of times every second. 4 pictures4 words1 question

See it, one picture at a time

Then four pictures build the idea step by step. Read one, tap Continue, and the next one appears.

1. Take 22. Add 33. Show it5ProgramCPUResult Picture 2 of 4 It follows a recipe, one step at a time A program is a list of tiny steps, called instructions, like a recipe. The CPU reads a step, does it, then reads the next one. Continue

Learn the words, then check yourself

You meet the few words people use at work, see where the idea shows up in the job, and answer one quick question.

Clock speed (GHz)
How many times a second the CPU's clock ticks. 1 GHz is one billion ticks a second.
Check yourselfA CPU runs at 4 GHz. About how many ticks is that each second?Show the answer

About 4 billion. Giga means billion.

The course

36 lessons in six sections

Start at the beginning, or jump to the part you need this week.

  1. Section 1 · 7 lessonsChips from zeroWhat a chip is, what it is made of, and the main kinds of processors.
  2. Section 2 · 6 lessonsInside a modern processorThe parts, signals and software that every power feature depends on.
  3. Section 3 · 6 lessonsHow chips save powerThe main tricks a chip uses to spend less energy without feeling slow.
  4. Section 4 · 4 lessonsSleep and safety limitsHow a computer sleeps, and how limits keep a chip cool and safe.
  5. Section 5 · 6 lessonsThe test labThe machines, settings and tools used to test a new chip.
  6. Section 6 · 7 lessonsWorking in chip validationHow a power-management validation team turns all of this into daily work.
See all 36 lessons

Who it is for

Made for your first weeks in the chip industry

New in a lab, a project team, sales or support? The words come fast in your first meetings. These lessons explain them with pictures and short sentences, so you can follow along and ask better questions.

  • A picture for every idea
  • Plain English, short sentences
  • Works well on a phone
  • Free, with no sign-up

Ready for lesson 1?

Section 1 starts from zero: what a chip is, what it is made of, and the main kinds of processors.

Start learning