Deck

Hardware

Cards for the physical parts that make AI run.

CPU Legendary

Hardware · Base Set

LegendaryHardwareBase Set

Power 10 · Danger 9 · Speed 10 · Difficulty 8

Description

It is the central brain that runs every program on your computer. It handles all the thinking and calculations, so if it stops, everything stops.

Analogy

It is like a single chef in a busy kitchen who must cook every dish at once.

Example (Intel or AMD chips)

top

Flavour

The crystalline heart that pulses with the rhythm of the machine.

Effect

It is the central brain that runs every program on your computer. (POWER 10, DANGER 9, SPEED 10, DIFFICULTY 8)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

GPU Legendary

Hardware · Base Set

LegendaryHardwareBase Set

Power 10 · Danger 9 · Speed 10 · Difficulty 8

Description

It handles heavy graphics and complex calculations by splitting work among thousands of tiny workers. It is the engine that powers video games, artificial intelligence, and deep learning models.

Analogy

It is like a stadium full of people lifting a single heavy weight together at the exact same moment.

Example

nvidia-smi

Flavour

The crystalline heart that beats with the rhythm of a thousand tiny hammers.

Effect

It handles heavy graphics and complex calculations by splitting work among thousands of tiny workers. (POWER 10, DANGER 9, SPEED 10, DIFFICULTY 8)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

VRAM Epic

Hardware · Base Set

EpicHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 1 · Speed 8 · Difficulty 2

Description

It is the fast memory built into the graphics card. It holds the pictures and data the computer needs to draw things on the screen. If the workbench is too small, the computer slows down or stops.

Analogy

It is like a small kitchen counter where you can only cook one meal at a time.

Example

nvidia-smi

Flavour

The crystal workbench that holds the light before it becomes a picture.

Effect

It is the fast memory built into the graphics card. (POWER 4, DANGER 1, SPEED 8, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

RAM Rare

Hardware · Base Set

RareHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 1 · Speed 8 · Difficulty 2

Description

It holds the things you are working on right now so the computer can reach them instantly. When you turn off the power, everything on this table is swept away.

Analogy

It is like a kitchen counter where you keep the ingredients you are cooking with right now.

Example

8GB

Flavour

The crystal table that vanishes when the lantern dies.

Effect

It holds the things you are working on right now so the computer can reach them instantly. (POWER 4, DANGER 1, SPEED 8, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

SSD Epic

Hardware · Base Set

EpicHardwareBase Set

Power 6 · Danger 1 · Speed 9 · Difficulty 1

Description

It stores your files on a solid block of memory with no spinning parts. Because nothing moves, your pictures and documents open almost instantly.

Analogy

It is like a library where every book is already open on the table, ready to read.

Example (NVMe SSD)

sudo apt install

Flavour

The crystal heart that beats without a pulse.

Effect

It stores your files on a solid block of memory with no spinning parts. (POWER 6, DANGER 1, SPEED 9, DIFFICULTY 1)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

HDD Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 1 · Speed 2 · Difficulty 2

Description

It stores your files on a spinning disk inside a box. It is slow to read and write, but it holds a lot of data for a low price.

Analogy

It is like a vinyl record player that spins to find the right song.

Example

/dev/sda

Flavour

The ancient wheel that remembers every song ever played.

Effect

It stores your files on a spinning disk inside a box. (POWER 4, DANGER 1, SPEED 2, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Motherboard Epic

Hardware · Base Set

EpicHardwareBase Set

Power 9 · Danger 8 · Speed 5 · Difficulty 6

Description

It is the main board that connects everything inside your computer. Every part talks to every other part through its paths. If it fails, the whole machine stops working.

Analogy

It is like the town's road network, where every house connects to every other house.

Example

sudo lshw -class motherboard

Flavour

The crystalline heart that binds the scattered shards into one living body.

Effect

It is the main board that connects everything inside your computer. (POWER 9, DANGER 8, SPEED 5, DIFFICULTY 6)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Power Supply Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 5 · Danger 2 · Speed 1 · Difficulty 2

Description

It takes the electricity from the wall and turns it into the steady flow that every part of your machine needs to run. If it is too small, the whole system will stutter or shut down.

Analogy

It is like a water pump that takes water from a big pipe and sends it to small cups for each plant.

Example

500W

Flavour

The silent heart that beats for the crystal veins.

Effect

It takes the electricity from the wall and turns it into the steady flow that every part of your machine needs to run. (POWER 5, DANGER 2, SPEED 1, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Cooling Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 3 · Danger 2 · Speed 5 · Difficulty 2

Description

It keeps the machine from overheating by moving heat away. Without it, the parts burn out and the work stops.

Analogy

It is like the exhaust fan in a kitchen that clears the smoke so you can keep cooking.

Example

fan_speed = 100

Flavour

The breath that keeps the crystal heart from shattering.

Effect

It keeps the machine from overheating by moving heat away. (POWER 3, DANGER 2, SPEED 5, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

NVIDIA CUDA Epic

Hardware · Base Set

EpicHardwareBase Set

Power 10 · Danger 9 · Speed 10 · Difficulty 8

Description

It is the special language that tells NVIDIA graphics cards how to think. Without it, the powerful chips sit silent and useless, waiting for instructions.

Analogy

It is like a master key that unlocks a massive vault of energy, letting you pour all that power into one single task.

Example

cudaMalloc(&ptr, size);

Flavour

The violet sigil that binds the crystal heart to the will of the mage.

Effect

It is the special language that tells NVIDIA graphics cards how to think. (POWER 10, DANGER 9, SPEED 10, DIFFICULTY 8)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

TDP Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 3 · Danger 2 · Speed 1 · Difficulty 2

Description

It sets the maximum heat a chip is allowed to produce. If the chip gets hotter than this limit, the system slows down or shuts off to stay safe.

Analogy

It is like the speed limit on a highway, keeping the engine from overheating.

Example

65W

Flavour

The invisible ceiling that holds the burning heart in check.

Effect

It sets the maximum heat a chip is allowed to produce. (POWER 3, DANGER 2, SPEED 1, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

PCIe Rare

Hardware · Base Set

RareHardwareBase Set

Power 8 · Danger 1 · Speed 10 · Difficulty 2

Description

It is the wide path that lets the graphics card talk to the rest of the computer. It moves data fast so games and videos look smooth.

Analogy

It is like a wide highway that lets cars travel without getting stuck in traffic.

Example (PCIe x16 slot)

lspci

Flavour

The crystal bridge that carries the spirit of the machine.

Effect

It is the wide path that lets the graphics card talk to the rest of the computer. (POWER 8, DANGER 1, SPEED 10, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

NVMe Epic

Hardware · Base Set

EpicHardwareBase Set

Power 9 · Danger 1 · Speed 10 · Difficulty 3

Description

It is the special language that lets modern storage drives talk directly to the computer. It skips the old slow roads and sends data straight to the brain, making everything feel instant.

Analogy

It is like a private express elevator that goes straight to your floor without stopping at every other level.

Example (NVMe over PCIe)

nvme list

Flavour

The crystalline bridge that carries light across the void in a single breath.

Effect

It is the special language that lets modern storage drives talk directly to the computer. (POWER 9, DANGER 1, SPEED 10, DIFFICULTY 3)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Ethernet Rare

Hardware · Base Set

RareHardwareBase Set

Power 6 · Danger 1 · Speed 8 · Difficulty 2

Description

It connects your computer to the internet using a physical cable. It sends data through a steady, reliable pipe that does not drop the signal.

Analogy

It is like a private water pipe that carries fresh water directly to your house without leaking.

Example

ping 8.8.8.8

Flavour

The unbroken vein that carries the pulse of the world.

Effect

It connects your computer to the internet using a physical cable. (POWER 6, DANGER 1, SPEED 8, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 6 →

Wi-Fi Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 1 · Speed 5 · Difficulty 2

Description

It connects your device to the internet without cables. You can move around the house while it works, but thick walls or distance can make the signal weak.

Analogy

It is like a radio broadcast that reaches your phone through the air.

Example (5 GHz band)

connect to network

Flavour

The invisible thread that binds the wanderer to the crystal spire.

Effect

It connects your device to the internet without cables. (POWER 4, DANGER 1, SPEED 5, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 6 →

Router Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 1 · Speed 8 · Difficulty 2

Description

It takes one internet connection and shares it with every device in your home. It decides which phone, laptop, or tablet gets the data first.

Analogy

It is like a traffic officer standing at a crossroads, waving cars down different streets.

Example

192.168.1.1

Flavour

The silent gatekeeper that divides the river into many streams.

Effect

It takes one internet connection and shares it with every device in your home. (POWER 4, DANGER 1, SPEED 8, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 6 →

USB Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 3 · Danger 1 · Speed 5 · Difficulty 1

Description

It lets you plug in a drive, a phone, or a keyboard without opening the machine. You connect the cable, and the device starts working right away.

Analogy

It is like a universal key that fits every lock in the house.

Example (USB-C)

plug in a USB drive

Flavour

The silver gate that welcomes all travelers from the outside world.

Effect

It lets you plug in a drive, a phone, or a keyboard without opening the machine. (POWER 3, DANGER 1, SPEED 5, DIFFICULTY 1)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Storage Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 1 · Speed 3 · Difficulty 2

Description

It keeps your files safe for a long time, even when the power is off. Think of it as the pantry for your data, holding things until you need them.

Analogy

It is like a sturdy wooden chest that holds your treasures in the attic.

Example

cp file.txt /home/user/storage

Flavour

The silent vault that remembers what the mind forgets.

Effect

It keeps your files safe for a long time, even when the power is off. (POWER 4, DANGER 1, SPEED 3, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Fan Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 3 · Danger 1 · Speed 8 · Difficulty 1

Description

It spins to push hot air out of the machine. This keeps the parts from getting too hot and breaking.

Analogy

It is like a house fan that keeps the rooms cool on a summer day.

Example (CPU fan, case fans)

fan

Flavour

The silent breath that keeps the crystal heart from burning.

Effect

It spins to push hot air out of the machine. (POWER 3, DANGER 1, SPEED 8, DIFFICULTY 1)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

Thermal Paste Common

Hardware · Base Set

CommonHardwareBase Set

Power 3 · Danger 1 · Speed 5 · Difficulty 2

Description

It fills the tiny gaps between the hot chip and the metal cooler so heat can pass through. Without it, the chip stays hot and the fan works harder. It is a thin layer that helps things stay cool.

Analogy

It is like putting a thin layer of butter on bread so the heat spreads evenly.

Example

Apply a pea-sized drop on the CPU before mounting the cooler.

Flavour

The silent bridge that lets the fire speak to the ice.

Effect

It fills the tiny gaps between the hot chip and the metal cooler so heat can pass through. (POWER 3, DANGER 1, SPEED 5, DIFFICULTY 2)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

GPU Driver Uncommon

Hardware · Base Set

UncommonHardwareBase Set

Power 4 · Danger 2 · Speed 5 · Difficulty 3

Description

It translates the instructions from your computer into signals the graphics card can understand. Without it, the screen stays black or shows only basic shapes. It is the quiet interpreter standing at the door between the brain and the eye.

Analogy

It is like a tour guide who speaks two languages, helping a tourist understand a local museum.

Example

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535

Flavour

The silent scribe who whispers the true names of light to the sleeping crystal.

Effect

It translates the instructions from your computer into signals the graphics card can understand. (POWER 4, DANGER 2, SPEED 5, DIFFICULTY 3)

Learn this in chapter 9 →

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