Term
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Definition
| Current that cycles back and forth rather than traveling in only one direction. |
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Term
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Definition
| A unit of measurement for electrical current. One volt across a resistance of one ohm. |
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Term
| ground bracelet (wrist strap) |
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Definition
| A strap you wear around your wrist that is attached to the computer case, ground mat, or another ground so that ESD is discharged from your body before you touch sensitive components inside a computer. |
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Term
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Definition
| The most common form factor for PC systems presently in use, originally introduced by Intel in 1995. Make better use of space and resources than did the earlier AT form factor. |
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Term
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Definition
| A power supply that provides a 12V power cord with a 4-pin connector to be used by the auxiliary 4-pin power connector on motherboards used to provide extra power for processors. |
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Term
brownouts
Also called sags. |
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Definition
| Temporary reductions in voltage, which can sometimes cause data loss. |
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Term
| BTX (Balanced Technology Extended) |
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Definition
A form factor used by motherboards and computer cases that was expected to replace ATX. It has higher quality
fans, is designed for better air flow, and has improved structural support for the motherboard. Has not gained full acceptance by the computer manufacturer community. |
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Term
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Definition
| A card that plugs into a motherboard and allows for expansion cards to be mounted parallel to the motherboard. |
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Term
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Definition
| An electronic device that can maintain an electrical charge for a period of time and is used to smooth out the flow of electrical current. Often found in computer power supplies. |
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Term
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Definition
| The maximum voltage allowed through a surge suppressor, such as 175 or 330 volts. |
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Term
compact case
Also called low-profile or slimline cases. |
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Definition
| A type of case used in low-end desktop systems. Follows either the NLX, LPX, or Mini LPX form factor. They are likely to have fewer drive bays, but they generally still provide for some expansion. |
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Term
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Definition
| A surge protector designed to work with the telephone line to a modem. |
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Term
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Definition
| A computer case that sits flat on a desktop doing double duty as a monitor stand. |
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Term
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Definition
| Adapter cards designed to discover and report computer errors and conflicts at POST time (before the computer boots up), often by displaying a number on the card. |
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Term
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Definition
| An electronic device that allows electricity to flow in only one direction. Used in a rectifier circuit. |
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Term
| DIP (dual inline package) switch |
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Definition
| A switch on a circuit board or other device that can be set to on or off to hold configuration or setup information. |
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Term
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Definition
Current that travels in only one direction
(the type of electricity provided by batteries) |
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Term
| electromagnetic interference (EMI) |
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Definition
A magnetic field produced as a side effect from the flow of
electricity. Can cause corrupted data in data lines that are not properly shielded. |
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Term
| electrostatic discharge (ESD) (static electricity) |
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Definition
| Can damage chips and destroy motherboards, even though it might not be felt or seen with the naked eye. |
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Term
| field replaceable unit (FRU) |
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Definition
A component in a computer or device that can be replaced with a new component without sending the computer or
device back to the manufacturer. Examples: power supply, DIMM, motherboard, floppy disk drive. |
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Term
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Definition
| A version of the ATX form factor that allows for maximum flexibility in the size and shape of cases and motherboards. Ideal for small, custom systems. |
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Term
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Definition
| A set of specifications on the size, shape, and configuration of a computer hardware component such as a case, power supply, or motherboard. |
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Term
intelligent UPS
Also called smart UPS. |
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Definition
| A UPS connected to a computer by way of a USB or serial cable so that software on the computer can monitor and control the UPS. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that converts DC to AC. |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of work or energy. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that regulates, or conditions power, providing continuous voltage during brownouts and spikes. |
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Term
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Definition
| A version of the ATX form factor. Addresses some new technologies that were developed after the original introduction of ATX. |
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Term
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Definition
| The most versatile and popular computer case, which is midrange in size and generally has around six expansion slots and four drive bays; provides moderate potential for expansion. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device used to measure the various components of an electrical circuit. The most common measurements are voltage, current, and resistance. |
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Term
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Definition
| A low-end form factor that is similar to LPX but provides greater support for current and emerging processor technologies. Designed for flexibility and efficiency of space. |
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Term
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Definition
| Used for notebook computers, which are proprietary in design, leave almost no room for expansion, and include a thermometer that controls the case fan. |
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Term
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Definition
| Running a processor at a higher frequency than is recommended by the manufacturer, which can result in an unstable system, but is a popular thing to do when a computer is used for gaming. |
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Term
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Definition
| Power connection on an ATX or BTX motherboard, which can have 20 or 24 pins. |
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Term
| POST (power-on self test) |
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Definition
| A self-diagnostic program used to perform a simple test of the CPU, RAM, and various I/O devices. The POST is performed by startup BIOS when the computer is first turned on, and is stored in ROM-BIOS. |
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Term
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Definition
| A line conditioner that regulates, or conditions, power, providing continuous voltage during brownouts. |
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Term
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Definition
| A box inside the computer case that supplies power to the motherboard and other installed devices. Provide 3.3, 5, and 12 volts DC. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that can test the output of each power cord coming from a power supply. |
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Term
| radio frequency interference (RFI) |
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Definition
| Interference produced by a magnetic field that is a side effect of electricity and is in the radio frequency range. |
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Term
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Definition
| An electrical device that converts AC to DC. |
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Term
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Definition
| An electronic device that resists or opposes the flow of electricity. A resistor can be used to reduce the amount of electricity being supplied to an electronic component. |
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Term
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Definition
A button or switch on an ATX or BTX
system that allows an OS to power down the system and a feature that allows for activity such as a keystroke or network activity to power up the system. |
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Term
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Definition
Temporary surges in voltage, which can
damage electrical components. |
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Term
surge protector
or
surge suppressor. |
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Definition
| A device or power strip designed to protect electronic equipment from power surges and spikes. |
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Term
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Definition
| They stand vertically and can be ashigh as two feet tall. They have more drive bays and are a good choice for computer users who anticipate making significant upgrades. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that changes the ratio of current to voltage. |
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Term
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Definition
| An electronic device that can regulate electricity and act as a logical gate or switch for an electrical signal. |
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Term
| uninterruptible power supply (UPS) |
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Definition
A device designed to provide a backup power supply during
a power failure. |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of potential difference in an electrical circuit. |
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Term
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Definition
| A switch on a computer power supply used to set voltage to 115 V or 230 V. |
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Term
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Definition
| The unit used to measure power. |
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Definition
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Definition
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