I knew comp hardw iniatialy when i start my first year in university.
The key is knowing vocabulary (words) that use in hardware, this is my experience.
At the first time i dont know what the memory, procesor, hard drive, motherboard and so on..
then i ask my friends, buy some magazines that related with computer hardware. Base on that i try to 'touch' those things. The habit and desire to know more about computer makes me familiar with them.
I consider that need much time to know more abot computer hardware and another thing also.
The knowledge of computer (hardware and software) so dynamic, then i think cant mastering all of that ,,i have to focusing on some subjects that i love for instance hardware or networking.