| A | B |
|---|
| Bits | the “base-2” number system, also known as the binary number system |
| Bytes | They are almost always bundled together into 8 bit collections |
| Kilo | thousand |
| Mega | million |
| Giga | billion |
| Tera | trillion |
| Peta | 1,125,899,906,842,624 |
| Exa | 1,152,921,504,606,846,976 |
| convert bytes to kilobytes | divide the bytes by 1000 |
| convert kilobytes to megabytes | divide the kilobytes by 1000 |
| convert megabytes to kilobytes | multiply the megabytes by 1000 |
| hard drive | where all of your programs and data are stored |
| Performance | the speed at which the PC boots up and programs load is directly related to hard disk speed |
| Storage Capacity | A bigger hard drive lets you store more programs and data |
| Software Support | Newer software needs more space and faster hard disks to load efficiently |
| platter | a round magnetic plate that constitutes part of a hard disk |
| Most platters | platters require two read/write heads |
| landing zone | most disks set aside a special track that is designated to be where the heads will be placed for takeoffs and landings |
| head parking | process of moving the heads to the designated area |
| crash | occur if even the smallest bit of dust makes its way onto the platter, the flight is disrupted and the head |
| platter spin speed | ,600 to 7,200 rpm when the drive is operating |
| Tracks | concentric circles on the surface of a disk where data can be written |
| Sectors | pie-shaped wedges on a track |
| Clusters | are made up of two or more sectors |
| Disk Defragging | a process where data is relocated so that it can be accessed more quickly thus speeding up programs |
| RAM | an acronym for “random access memory |
| RAM 2 | the most common type of memory found in computers and other devices, such as printers |
| ROM | special memory used to store programs that boot the computer and perform diagnostics |
| RAM 3 | is the workhorse behind the performance of your computer. It temporarily stores information from your operating system, applications, and data in current use |
