# How do computers generate random numbers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-computers-generate-random-numbers/177169>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 24, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-computers-generate-random-numbers/177169 "2003-05-24T03:02:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-computers-generate-random-numbers/177169/21 "2003-05-24T15:28:13Z")

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Could work well as a r **o** ndom spelling mistake maker, though.

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**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-computers-generate-random-numbers/177169/22 "2003-05-24T16:54:59Z")

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Every intel chipset since the i81x series has had a true RNG onboard. The new Via CPU’s also have a true RNG. I dont think its been untilised much though.

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