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CST 150 Chapter 1 Key terms
key terms for chapter 1 of CST 150 textbook
67
Computer Science
Undergraduate 1
01/08/2012

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Cards

Term
Adapter Card
Definition
a small circuit board insterted in an expansion slot and used to communicate between the system bus and a peripheral device. also called an interface card.
Term
Binary number system
Definition
The number system used by computers; it has only two numbers, 0, and 1 called binary digits, or bits.
Term

BIOS

(Basic input / output system)

Definition
Firmware that can control much of a computers input/ output functions, such as communication with the floppy drive and monitor.
Term
BIOS Setup
Definition
The program in system BIOS that can change the values in CMOS RAM. Also called CMOS setup.
Term
Bit
Definition
A 0 or 1 used by the binary number system.
Term
Byte
Definition
A collection of eight bits that can represent a single character
Term
Bus
Definition
The paths, or lines, on the motherboard on which data, instructions, and electrical power move from component to component.
Term
Cards
Definition
Adapter boards or interface cards placed into expansion slots to expand the functions of a computer, allowing it to communicate with external devices such as monitors or speakers.
Term
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Definition
Also called a microprocessor, or processor. The heart and brain of the computer, which receives data input, processes information, and executes instructions.
Term
Chipset
Definition
A group of chips on the motherboard that controls the timing and flow of data and instructional to and from the CPU.
Term
Clock speed
Definition
the speed, or frequency, expressed in MHz, that controls activity on the motherboard and is generated by a crystal or oscillator located somewhere on the motherboard.
Term
CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor)
Definition
The technology used to manufacture microchips, CMOS chips require less electricity, hold data longer after the electricity is turned off, and produce less heat than earlier technologies. The configuration or setup chip is a CMOS setup.
Term
CMOS RAM
Definition
Memory contained on the CMOS configuration chip.
Term
CMOS setup
Definition
The program in system BIOS that can change the values in CMOS RAM. Also called BIOS setup.
Term
Data bus
Definition
The lines on the system bus that the CPU uses to send and receive data.
Term
Data path size
Definition
The number of lines on a bus that can hold data, for example, 8, 16, 32, and 64 lines, which can accomidate 8, 16, 32, and 64 bits at a time.
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
Expansion card
Definition
A circuit board inserted into a slot on the motherboard to enhance the capability of the computer.
Term
Expansion slot
Definition
A narrow slot on the motherboard where an expansion card can be inserted. Expansion slots connect to a bus on the motherboard.
Term
Firmware
Definition
Software that is permanently stored in a chip, The BIOS on a motherboard is an example of Firmware.
Term
Flash ROM
Definition
ROM that can be reprogrammed or changed without replacing chips.
Term
Floppy disk drive (FDD)
Definition
A drive that can hold either a 5 1/2 inch or 3 1/4 inch floppy disk. Also called a floppy drive.
Term
Front side bus (FSB)
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 called the memory bus, local bus, host bus, or system bus.
Term
Gigahertz (GHz)
Definition
One thousand MHz, or one billion cycles per second.
Term
Graphics card
Definition
An interface card installed in the computer to control visual output on a monitor. Also called display adapter or video card.
Term
Hard copy
Definition
Output from a printer to paper.
Term
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Definition
The main secondary storage device of a PC. Two technologies are currently used by hard drives: magnetic and solid state. Also called a hard drive.
Term
Hardware
Definition
The physical components that constitute the computer system, such as the monitor, the keyboard, the motherboard, and the printer.
Term
Hertz (Hz)
Definition
Unit of measurement for frequency, calculated in terms of vibrations, or cycles per second. For example, for 16-bit stereo sound, a frequency of 44,000 Hz is used. Also see megahertz (MHz)
Term
Host bus
Definition
same as front side bus.
Term
Keyboard
Definition
common input device through which data and instructions may be typed into computer memory.
Term
Magnetic hard drive
Definition
One of two technologies used by hard drives where data is stored as magnetic spots on disks that rotate at a high speed. The other technology is solid state drive (SSD)
Term
Main board
Definition
The "main board" in the computer, also called the system board. The CPU, ROM chips, DIMMs, RIMMs, and interface cards are plugged into the main board. Also known as the motherboard.
Term
Megahertz (MHz)
Definition
One million Hz, or one million cycles per second.
Term
Memory
Definition
Physical microchips that can hold data and programming, located on the motherboard or expansion slots.
Term
Microprocessor
Definition
Same as Central processing unit (CPU)
Term
Monitor
Definition
The most commonly used output device for displaying text and graphics on a computer.
Term
Motherboard
Definition
Same as main board
Term
Mouse
Definition
A pointing and input device that allows the user to move a cursor around a screen and select items with the click of a button.
Term
Non-Volatile memory
Definition
Refers to a kind of RAM that is stable and can hold data as long as electricity is powering the memory.
Term
Parallel ATA (PATA)
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
Parallel port
Definition
A female 25-pin port on a computer that can transmit data in parallel, 8 bits at a time, and is usually used with a printer. The names for parallel ports are LPT1 and LPT2.
Term
Peripheral device
Definition
Devices that communicate with the CPU but are not located directly on the motherboard, such as the monitor, floppy drive, printer, and mouse.
Term
Port
Definition
(1) As applied to services running on a computer, a number assigned to a process on a computer so that the process can be found by TCP/IP. Also called a port address or port number. (2) Another name for an I/O address. (3) A physical connector, usually at the back of a computer, that allows a cable from a peripheral device, such as a printer, mouse, or modem, to be attached.
Term
Power supply
Definition
A box inside the computer case that supplies power to the motherboard and other installed devices. Power supplies provide 3,3,4, and 12 volts DC. Also called a power supply unit (PSU).
Term
Primary storage
Definition
Temporary storage on the motherboard used by the CPU to process data and instructions. Memory is considered primary storage.
Term
Printer
Definition
A peripheral output device that produces printed output to paper. Different types include dot matrix, ink-jet, and laser printers.
Term
Processor
Definition
same as CPU
Term
Program
Definition
A set of step-by-step instructions to a computer. Some are burned directly into chips, while others are stored as program files. Programs are written in languages such as Visual Basic and C++
Term
Protocol
Definition
A set of rules and standards that two entities use for communication.
Term
RAM (random access memory)
Definition
Memory modules on the motherboard containing microchips used to temporarily hold data and programs while the CPU processes both. Information in RAM is lost when the PC is turned off.
Term
ROM (Read only memory)
Definition
Chips that contain programming code and cannot be erased.
Term
S/PDIF (Sony Phillips Digital Interface) sound port
Definition
A sound port that connect to an external home theater audio system, providing digital output and the best signal quality.
Term
Secondary storage
Definition
Storage that is remote to the CPU and permanently holds data, even when the PC is turned off, such as a hard drive.
Term
Serial ATA (SATA)
Definition
An ATAPI cabling method that uses a narrower and more reliable cable than the 80-conductor cable used in Parallel ATA.
Term
Serial port
Definition
A male 9-oin or 25-pin port on a computer system used by slower I/O devices such as a mouse or modem. Data travels serially, one bit at a time, through the port. Seial ports are sometimes configured as COM1, COM2, COM3, or COM4.
Term
Software
Definition
Computer programs, or instructions to perform a specific task. Software may be BIOS, OSs, or applications software such as a word-processing or spreadsheet program.
Term
Solid state drive (SSD)
Definition
A hard drive that has no moving parts, also defined in solid state device.
Term
Startup BIOS
Definition
Part of system BIOS that is responsible for controlling the PC when it is first turned on. Startup BIOS gives control over to the OS once it is loaded.
Term
System BIOS
Definition
BIOS located on the motherboard.
Term
System bus
Definition
same as front side bus
Term
System clock
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
Trace
Definition
A wire on a circuit board that connexts two components or devices.
Term
Universal serial bus (USB) port
Definition
A type of port designed to make installation and configuration of I/O devices easy, providing room for as many as 127 devices daisy-chained together.
Term
Video card
Definition
An interface card installed in the computer to control visual output on a monitor. Also called display adapter or graphics card.
Term
Video memory
Definition
Memory used by the video controller. The memory might be contained on a video card or be part of system memory. When part of system memory, the memory is dedicated by Windows to video.
Term
Volatile
Definition
Refers to a kind of RAM that is temporary, cannot hold data very long, and must be frequently refreshed.
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