Term
| AGP - Accelerated graphics port |
|
Definition
| A 32-bit wide bus standard developed specifically for video cards that includes 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, and 8x standards. Has been replaced by the PCI Express standards |
|
|
Term
| ALU - arithmetic logic unit |
|
Definition
| is a digital circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The most common form factor for PC systems presently in use, originally introduced by Intel in 1995. Motherboards and cases make better use of space and resources than did the earlier AT form factor |
|
|
Term
|
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. Capacitors are often found in computer power supplies. |
|
|
Term
| CMOS Battery - complementary metal-oxide semiconductor |
|
Definition
| The battery on the motherboard used to power the CMOS chip when the computer is unplugged |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The heart and brain of the computer, which receives data input, processes information, and executes instructions. |
|
|
Term
| C-RIMM - continuity Rambus Inline Memory module |
|
Definition
| A placeholder RIMM module that provides continuity so that every RIMM slot is filled. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A technology by ATI Technologies that allows for multiple video cards to be installed in the same system |
|
|
Term
| DDR - Double Data Rate SDRAM |
|
Definition
| A type of memory technology used on DIMMs that runs at twice the speed of the system clock |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A version of SDRAM that is faster and uses less power than the first version. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A version of SDRAM that is faster and uses even less power than the second version. |
|
|
Term
| DIMM - dual inline memory module |
|
Definition
| A miniature circuit board installed on a motherboard to hold memory. DIMMs can hold up to 4 GB of RAM on a single module |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An electronic device that allows electricity to flow in only one direction. Used in a rectifier circuit. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The most common type of system memory, it requires refreshing every few milliseconds |
|
|
Term
| DVI - Digital Visual Interface |
|
Definition
| video port that works only with digital monitors |
|
|
Term
| ECC - error-correcting code |
|
Definition
| A chipset feature on a motherboard that checks the integrity of data stored on DIMMs or RIMMs and can correct single-bit errors in a byte. More advanced schemas can detect, but not correct, double-bit errors in a byte |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A standard for managing the interface between secondary storage devices and a computer system. A system can support up to four parallel ATA IDE devices such as hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and DVD drives |
|
|
Term
| EMI - electromagnetic interference |
|
Definition
| A magnetic field produced as a side effect from the flow of electricity. It can cause corrupted data in data lines that are not properly shielded. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A standard for external drives that uses a special external shielded cable up to 2 meters long. It is up to six times faster than USB or FireWire |
|
|
Term
| ESD - electrostatic discharge |
|
Definition
| Another name for static electricity, which can damage chips and destroy motherboards, even though it might not be felt or seen with the naked eye. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| any device that protects against an electromagnetic field. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Standards for an expansion bus that can also be configured to work as a local bus. It is expected to replace the SCSI bus, providing an easy method to install and configure fast I/O devices. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Software that is permanently stored in a chip. The BIOS on a motherboard is an example of it |
|
|
Term
| FRU - field replacement unit |
|
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 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| One thousand MHz, or one billion cycles per second. |
|
|
Term
| GPU - graphics processing unit |
|
Definition
| These processors use graphics RAM installed on the card so that RAM on the motherboard is not tied up with video data |
|
|
Term
| HDMI - High-Definition Multimedia Interface |
|
Definition
| A digital audio and video interface standard currently used on televisions and other home theater equipment and expected to ultimately replace DVI. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A piece of metal, with cooling fins, that can be attached to or mounted on an integrated chip (such as the CPU) to dissipate heat. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Unit of measurement for frequency, calculated in terms of vibrations, or cycles per second |
|
|
Term
| IDE - integrated device electronics |
|
Definition
| A hard drive whose disk controller is integrated into the drive, eliminating the need for a controller cable and thus increasing speed, as well as reducing price. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Two wires that stick up side by side on the motherboard or other device and are used to hold configuration information. The jumper is considered closed if a cover is over the wires, and open if the cover is missing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| land grid array socket type |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| is a tool used to test a serial, parallel, USB, network, or other port. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| one million cycles per second |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small amount of faster RAM that stores recently retrieved data, in anticipation of what the CPU will request next, thus speeding up access. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A device used to measure the various components of an electrical circuit. The most common measurements are voltage, current, and resistance |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The factor by which the bus speed or frequency is multiplied to get the CPU clock speed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| That portion of the chipset hub that connects faster I/O buses (for example, AGP buses) to the system bus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The standard unit of measurement for electrical resistance. |
|
|
Term
|
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. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An older IDE cabling method that uses a 40-pin flat or round data cable or an 80-conductor cable and a 40-pin IDE connector. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| latest evolution of A bus common to desktop computers that uses a 32-bit-wide or a 64-bit data path |
|
|
Term
| POST - power on self test |
|
Definition
| A self-diagnostic program used to perform a simple test of the CPU, RAM, and various I/O devices |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| diagnostic card you place into a free expansion slot to test your computer during boot. |
|
|
Term
| RDRAM - Direct Rambus DRAM |
|
Definition
| A memory technology by Rambus and Intel that uses a narrow network-type system bus. Memory is stored on a RIMM module |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An electrical device that converts AC to DC. A PC power supply contains one. |
|
|
Term
|
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 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| memory module developed by rambus |
|
|
Term
| S/PDIF - Sony-Philips Digital Interface |
|
Definition
| A sound port that connects to an external home theater audio system, providing digital output and the best signal quality. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An ATAPI cabling method that uses a narrower and more reliable cable than the 80-conductor cable |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| That portion of the chipset hub that connects slower I/O buses (for example, a PCI bus) to the system bus. |
|
|
Term
| SPD - serial presence detect |
|
Definition
| is a DIMM technology that declares to system BIOS at startup the module’s size, speed, voltage, and data path width. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| memory chips that retain information without the need for refreshing, as long as the computer’s power is on. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Round plastic or metal pegs that separate the motherboard from the case, so that components on the back of the motherboard do not touch the case |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A 4-pin round video port that sends two signals over the cable, one for color and the other for brightness, and is used by some high-end TVs and video equipment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The bus between the CPU and memory on the motherboard. The bus frequency in documentation is called the system speed, such as 400 MHz. Also calledthe memory bus, front-side bus, local bus, or host bus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A line on a bus that is dedicated to timing the activities of components connected to it. The system clock provides a continuous pulse that other devices use to time themselves |
|
|
Term
| TPM - trusted platform module |
|
Definition
| A chip on a motherboard that holds an encryption key required at startup to access encrypted data on the hard drive. Vista BitLocker Encryption can use this |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A device that changes the ratio of current to voltage. A computer power supply is basically a transformer and a rectifier |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An electronic device that can regulate electricity and act as a logical gate or switch for an electrical signal. |
|
|
Term
| USB - universal serial bus |
|
Definition
| type of port desigen to make installation and configuration of I/O devices easy providing room for at many as 127 devices daisy chained together. |
|
|
Term
| VGA - video graphics adapter |
|
Definition
| outdated VESA standard for CRT monitors. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| electrical power measured in watts |
|
|
Term
| ZIF - Zero insertion force socket |
|
Definition
| A socket that uses a small lever to apply even force when you install the microchip into the socket |
|
|
