Term
| Computationally Infeasible |
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Definition
| Algorithms that are so complicated they would take too long to run on today's systems. |
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Term
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Definition
| Addresses issues such as control signals and memory types, and encompasses all physical aspects of computer systems. |
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Term
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Definition
| The structure and behavior of the system. Refers to the logical aspects of system implementation as seen by the programmer. Includes things such as instruction sets and formats, operation codes, data types, the number and types of registers, addressing modes, main memory access methods as well as various I/O mechanisms. |
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Term
| Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) |
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Definition
| The agreed-upon interface between all the software that runs on the machine and the hardware that executes it. |
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Term
| Principle of Equivalence of Hardware and Software |
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Definition
| Any task done by software can also be done using hardware, and any operation performed directly by hardware can be done using software. |
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Term
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Definition
| Clock Frequency measured in cycles per second. |
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Term
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Definition
| Group of wires that moves data and instructions to carious places within the computer. |
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Term
| Synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) |
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Definition
| Memory that can synchronize itself with a microprocessors's bus. Much faster then conventional ram. |
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Term
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Definition
| Special kind of memory that speeds up access to frequently used data. |
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Term
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Definition
| The manner in which a component connects to the system. |
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Term
| Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) |
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Definition
| Newer type of hard drive connection. |
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Term
| Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) |
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Definition
| System that was in place but is being phased out by SATA |
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Term
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Definition
| Allows movement of data to and from devices external to the computer. |
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Term
| Universal Serial Bus (USB) |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The ability to configure devices automatically. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ability to add and remove devices while the computer is running. |
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Term
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Definition
| Openings on the motherboard where various boards can be plugged in to add new capabilities to a computer. |
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Term
| Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) |
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Definition
| I/O bus standard that supports the connection of multiple peripheral devices. |
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Term
| Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) |
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Definition
| Graphics interface designed bu Intel specifically for 3D graphics. |
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Term
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) |
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Definition
| Processor responsible for performing the necessary calculations to render the graphics so the main processor of the computer is not required to do so. |
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Term
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Definition
| Type of monitor that creates images by moving an electron beam back and forth across the screen, lighting up phosphor dots inside the tube. |
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Term
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Definition
| How many times the image is repainted on the monitor in one second. |
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Term
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Definition
| The distance between two dots of the same color on a CRT Monitor. |
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Term
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Definition
| Directs the electron beam that paints the monitor picture on the phosphor coating inside the glass. |
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Term
| Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) |
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Definition
| A liquid crystal material sandwiched between two pieces of polarized glass. Electric currents cause the crystals to move, allowing different levels of back lighting to pass through creating images. |
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Term
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Definition
| Uses one transistor per pixel in LCD monitors. Provides better quality |
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Term
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Definition
| Uses one transistor to activate columns or/and rows in LCD monitors. Provides better cost effectiveness. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ratio of horizontal pixels to vertical pixels that the monitor can display. |
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Term
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Definition
| LCD monitors designed for a specific resolution, changes can be made but might result in quality reductions. |
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Term
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Definition
| The rate at which pixels in an LCD can change color. |
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Term
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Definition
| A measure of the amount of light an LCD montor emits. |
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Term
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Definition
| Measures the difference in intensity between bright whites and dark blacks. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ratio of the brightest point on the monitor to the darkest point on the monitor that can be produced at a given instant in time. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ratio of the darkest point in one image to the lightest point in another image produced at separate points in time. |
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Term
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Definition
| Number that reflects the number of colors a monitor can produce at one time. |
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Term
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Definition
| An international standard networking technology for wired networks with two options for connections. |
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Term
| Network Interface Card (NIC) |
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Definition
| Connects to the motherboard via PCI slot and allows connection through Ethernet wires. |
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Term
| Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) |
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Definition
| Organization dedicated to the advancement of the professions of electronic and computer engineering. |
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Term
| International Telecommunications Union (ITU) |
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Definition
| Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ITU concerns itself with the interoperability of telecommunications systems, including telephone, telegraph , and data communication systems. |
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Term
| American National Standards Institute (ANSI) |
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Definition
| American organization representing the US 's interests within various international groups. |
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Term
| British Standards Institution (BSI) |
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Definition
| British organization representing Britain's interests within various international groups. |
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