“Why are computers always hungry?”/“Because they can only eat microchips.”

There have been many puns about computers, bytes and (micro)chips. One riddle was printed in a 1990 newspaper:
 
Q: What did the hungry computer eat at snacktime?
A: Chips, one byte at a time.
 
Another riddle was posted on Reddit—Jokes on May 27, 2017:
 
Q: Why are computers always hungry?
A: Because they can only eat microchips.
 
   
Wikipedia: Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit (also referred to as an IC, a chip, or a microchip) is a set of electronic circuits on one small flat piece (or “chip”) of semiconductor material, normally silicon. The integration of large numbers of tiny transistors into a small chip resulted in circuits that are orders of magnitude smaller, cheaper, and faster than those constructed of discrete electronic components. The IC’s mass production capability, reliability and building-block approach to circuit design ensured the rapid adoption of standardized ICs in place of designs using discrete transistors. ICs are now used in virtually all electronic equipment and have revolutionized the world of electronics. Computers, mobile phones, and other digital home appliances are now inextricable parts of the structure of modern societies, made possible by the small size and low cost of ICs.
     
15 September 1990, Indiana (PA) Gazette, pg. 15, col. 4:
What did the hungry computer eat at snacktime?
Chips, one byte at a time.
 
Google Books
Family Jokes & Riddles
By Jeffrey S. Nelsen
New York, NY: Checkerboard Press
1991    
Pg. 13:
What snacks do computer scientists’ families like to eat?
Microchip cookies.
 
13 November 1992, The Town Talk (Alexandria, VA), “Mighty Funny’s Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 4, col. 2:
WHAT DO COMPUTERS EAT FOR LUNCH?
MICROCHIPS!
 
26 November 1995, Newsday (Long Island, NY), “Smiles,” Kidsday, pg. 1:
What does a computer eat for a snack? Micro chips.
Mary Marcus, Amityville
 
Google Books
The World’s Most Crazy, Wacky, & Goofy Good Clean Jokes for Kids
By Bob Phillips
New York, NY: Galahad Books
1999
Pg. 54:
Abner: How did the joker eat a computer?
Abigail: I give up.
Abner: Byte by byte.
 
Claud: What does the computer eat for lunch?
Chloe: I don’t know.
Claud: Floppy Joes and microchips.
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Puns of the Weak 6/22/01
Stan Kegel
6/22/01
(...) 
What does a computer eat when it’s hungry? It eats its chips, one byte at a time. (Andrew)
     
Google Groups: alt.religion.rabbet
Humor from the Net
Bill McCray
5/6/03
(...)
What kind of snacks do computers munch?
Microchips.  (Michael Driscoll)
 
Google Books
Joke & Riddle Jackpot
By Michael J. Pellowski
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
2005
Pg. 28:
What does a hungry modem snack on?
Computer chips.
 
What does a hungry modem on a diet snack on?
Microchips.
 
Google Books
Hooked on Riddles:
A Guide to Teaching Kids Math, Science, English, and Other Subjects Using Fun Word Plays and Silly Jokes
By Mary Quijano
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2012
Pg. 102:
How does a computer eat?
With megabytes.
Riddlemaster answer:
With microchips.
       
Twitter
AJ Sanchez‏
@ajtsanchez
Joke of the day… off of a pizza hut menu… “what did the hungry computer have for a snack”... “microchips” haha xD…. k, bye now.
7:18 PM - 23 Jun 2012
 
Twitter
Roman‏
@RomanOnARiver
Microchips, megabytes, cookies. I feel like computer terms exist to make you hungry.
9:37 AM - 8 Jan 2013
 
Twitter
Brobuild‏
@brobuild
#jokeoftheday- What does a #computer eat when it gets hungry? Microchips! http://ow.ly/i/760AC
7:45 AM - 5 Oct 2014
 
Twitter
Loz‏
@laurenthomaso
What do computers eat when they’re hungry? ...microchips😃😂 @KingslandRd @ConnorKingsland #KingslandRoadTour
1:55 PM - 9 Dec 2014
 
Twitter
As We Once Were‏
@awowband
My computer is hungry and wants a byte, better go feed it some microchips.
6:43 AM - 11 Nov 2015
 
Google Books
1001 Kid’s Jokes
By Kay Barnham
London, UK: Arcturus Publishing
2016
Pg. ?:
What did the enormous computer eat for dinner?
A megabyte!
 
What do computer teachers pack as a snack?
Chips.
 
What do really tiny computer teachers pack as a snack?
Microchips.
 
Google Books
Robots Rule the School
By Ada Hopper
New York, NY: Little Simon *Simon & Schuster)
2016
Pg. 50:
“What did the computer like to eat? Microchips and dip.”
 
Twitter
Wake ‘N’ Bacon‏
@Daleyinsanity
What does a computer do when it’s hungry?
It eats microchips
#badjokemonday
10:55 AM - 5 Sep 2016
 
Twitter
Nikatine‏
@NikatineStream
#howto Find a Mate
JOKES 😅🤣😍💑
Me: What do you feed a hungry computer?
You: The blood and wallets of a thousand consumers?
Me: Microchips!
4:53 PM - 18 Mar 2017
 
Reddit—Jokes
Why are computers always hungry?
submitted May 27, 2017 by WKJ1508
Because they can only eat microchips.