What I studied

This week I worked through the first 6 levels of Linux Wargames while also starting my CompTIA A+ studies.
I focused mainly on hardware fundamentals, cable types, motherboard basics, CPU architecture, and common ports/connectors.

At the same time, the Linux Wargames helped me get more comfortable using the terminal, navigating directories, and thinking more logically about systems instead of relying on GUIs.

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Key concepts

• A byte is 8 bits, while megabytes (MB) and megabits (Mb) measure different things
• Binary is the foundation of computing using 1s and 0s (on/off states)
• USB standards matter because speed, power delivery, and compatibility vary between versions
• VGA and DVI are legacy display standards, while HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, and Thunderbolt dominate modern systems
• AMD CPUs commonly use PGA sockets while Intel commonly uses LGA sockets
• x64 processors are the modern standard because they support more RAM and better performance
• ARM processors are becoming increasingly important because they produce less heat and use less power
• SATA is still heavily used for storage devices, although USB-C and Thunderbolt are replacing many older external connections
• Larger graphics cards often require multiple expansion slots because cooling and power requirements increase with performance

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What I didn’t understand at first

At first, a lot of the cable and connector standards felt like random names to memorise.

USB-C, Thunderbolt, HDMI, DisplayPort, SATA, SAS, SCSI — it all blended together initially.

I also struggled a bit with understanding processor architectures and why ARM is becoming more dominant despite x64 still being the standard for desktops.

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What clicked

The biggest shift was realising that computer hardware is mostly about solving practical engineering problems:

• Faster data transfer
• Better cooling
• Lower power usage
• Backwards compatibility
• Smaller physical size
• More efficient communication between components

Once I stopped viewing cables, sockets, and architectures as isolated facts and started seeing them as design solutions to real problems, the entire subject became much easier to understand.

The Linux Wargames also reinforced something important:

The terminal looks intimidating at first, but underneath it is just logic and navigation. Every level solved builds confidence because you start understanding how systems are structured instead of randomly clicking around.

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What I’ll do next

Next, I’ll:

• Continue progressing through Linux Wargames
• Finish the motherboard and CPU sections of CompTIA A+
• Start learning RAM, storage, and BIOS/UEFI concepts
• Spend more time using Linux commands manually instead of relying on notes
• Begin building stronger terminal confidence through repetition and troubleshooting