| A | B |
|---|
| Basic Imput Output system BIOS | firmware that can control much of computer's imput / output functions such as communication with floppy drive with a monitor. Also called ROM BIOS |
| Bit | A one or zero used by a binary system |
| BUS | the paths or lines on a mother board on which data - instructions - electrical move from componant to componant |
| Byte | collection of 8 bits that's equivilant to a single character. When referring to system memory an additional error- checking bit might be added making the total 9 bits. |
| cards | adapter boards or interface cards placed into expansion slots to expand functions of a computer allowing it to communicate with external devices such as monitors or speakers |
| central processing unit CPU | also call a microprocessor or processor. The heart and brain of the computer with receives data imput processing information and executes instructions. |
| chip set | a group of chips on a motherboard that control timing and flow of data and instruction to and from the CPU. |
| curcuit board | a computer component such as the main mother board or an adapter board that has electronic curcuits and chips |
| clock speed | the speed or frequency expressed in MHz that controls activity in the mother board and is generated by crystal or osillator located some where on the mother board |
| CMOS configuration chip | a chip on the mother board that contains a very small amount of memory or ram - enough to hold confituration or set up - information about the computer. the chip is powered by a battery the PC is turned off. also called CMOS set up chip or CMOS RAM chip |
| CMOS RAM chip | CMOS configuration chip |
| CMOS set up | 1 the CMOS configuration chip 2 the program in system BIOS that can change the values in the CMOS ram. |
| CMOS set up chip | see CMOS configuration chip |
| Complementary Metal-Oxide semi conductor (CMOS) | the technology used to manufacture micro chips. CMOS chips require less energy - hold data longer after the electricity is turned off - are slower - and produce less heat than earlier technologies. The confituration or set up- chip is a CMOS chip. |
| Data Bus | lines on the system bus that the CPU uses to send and receive data. |
| Data Path Size | the number of lines on a bus that can hold data - for example ;(8) (16) (32) and (64) lines - which can accomodate (8) (16) (32) and (64) bits at a time |
| Dual Inline Memory Module DIMM | a miniature curcuit board used in new computers to hold memory. DIMMs can hold up to 2 GB of RAM on a single module. |
| Dual Inline Package (DIP) Switches | a switch on a curcuit board or other device that can be set on or off to hold configuration or set up information |
| Expansion Card | a curcuit board inserted into a slot on the mother board to enhance the capabilities of the computer |
| Expansion Slot | a narrow slot on the mother board where an expansions card can be inserted. Expansion slots connet to a bus on the mother board. |
| Firmware | software that is permantly stored on a chip. the bios on a motherboard is an example of firmware. |
| Flash ROM | ROM that can be reprogramed or changed with out replacing chips. |
| Gigahertz (GHz) | 1000 MHz or one billion cycles per second |
| Hard copy | out put from a printer to paper |
| Hard Drive | the main secondary storage device of a PC - a small case that contained magnetic coated platters that rotate at high speed. |
| Hardware | the physical components that constitute the computer system - such as the monitor - the keyboard - the motherboard and the printer |
| Hertz (Hz) | unit of measurement for frequency calcuated in terms vibrations or cycles per second. For example (for a 16 bit stereo sound a frequency 44 thousand Hz. See also megahertz. |
| Host BUS | see memory bus or system bus - |
| Jumper | Two wires that stick up side by side on the motherboard that are used to hold configuration and information. The jumper is considered closed if the cover is over the wires and opened if the cover is missing. |
| Keyboard | a common imput device through with data and instructions may be typed into computer memory. |
| Main Board | see motherboard |
| Megaherts (MHz) | one million hertz Hz or one million cycles per second see hertz - Hz |
| Memory | physical micro chips that can hold data and programing - Located on the motherboard or expansion cards |
| Micro Processor | see processor |
| Monitor | the most commonly used output device for displaying text and graphics on the computer. |
| Mother Board | the main board on the computer also called the system board --- The CPU - ROM chips - SIMMs - DIMMs - RIMMs - interface cards are plugged into the mother board. |
| Mouse | a pointing and imput device that allows the user to select programs with the click of a button |
| Nonvolatile | refers to a kind of RAM that is stable and can hold data as long as electricity is powering the memory |
| Parallel Port | a female 25 pin port on a computer that can transport data in parallel - (8 bits at time) and is usually use with a printer. The names for the parallell LPT1 and LPT2 |
| Peripheral Device | divices that communicate with the CPU are not located directly on the mother board such as monitor amd floppy drive and mouse |
| Plug and Play (PnP) | a standard design to make the installation of new hardware devices easier by automatically configuring devices to elimate system restore complex (such as IRQ or I-O address complex) PnP is supported by windos 9x windows 2000 and windows XP. |
| Port | 1-another name for an I/O address. See also I/O address 2- a physical connector usually at the back of the computer that allows the cable peripheral device such as a printer a mouse or modem to be attached. |
| Power Supply | a box inside the computer case that supplies the power to the mother board and other insalled devices. Power supplies provide (3.3) (5) (12) voltz DC. |
| Primary Storage | Tempory storage or memory on the motherboard used by the CPU to process data and instructions. Memory is considered primary storage. |
| Printer | a peripheral device that produces printed output to paper. different types include - ink jet - laser - dot matrix |
| Processor | see CPU |
| Program | a set of step by step instruction to a computer. Some are burned directly into chips while others are stored as program files. Programs are written in languages such as BASIC and C++. |
| Protocol | a set of rules and standards that two entries use for communication. |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | Memory modules on the motherboard containing micro chips used to temporty hold data and programs while the CPU processes both. Information in RAM is lost when the PC is turned off. |
| Read Only Memory (ROM) | Chips that contain programming code and can not be erased. |
| RIMM | a type of memory module devoloped by Rambus Inc. |
| Secondary Storage | Storage that is remote to the CPU and permanantly holds data. (even when the PC is turned off such as hard drive) |
| Serial Port | a male 9 pin or 25 pin ports on the computer used for transmitting serially - one bit at a time. serial ports are somtimes configures as COM1 - COM2 - COM3 - COM4 |
| Single Inline Memory Module (SIMM) | a miniture curcuit board used in older computers to hold RAM. SIMMs hold (8) (16) (32) (64) MB on a single module. |
| Software | computer programs or instructions to preform a specific task. Software may be BIOS - OSs or application software such as a word processing or spread sheet program like excell or word. |
| Start Up BIOS | Part of system BIOS that is responsible for controlling the PC when it is first turned on. Start up BIOS give control over to the OS once it is loaded. |
| System BIOS | BIOS located on the mother board. |
| System Board | see mother board. |
| System BUS | the bus between the CPU and memory on the mother board. The BUS frequency in the documentation is call the system speed such as 400 MHz. Also called memory bus - mother board BUS - Host bus - external bus or front side bus. |
| System Clock | a line on a bus that is dedicated to timing the acitivies of components connected to bays and are a good choice for computer useres who anticipate making significant upgrades |
| Trace | a wire on a curcuit board that connects two components or devices |
| Universal Serial Bus (USB) Port | a type of port designed to make installation and configuration of I/0 devices easy - providing room for as many as 127 devices daisy chained together |
| Video Card | an inaterface card installed in the computer to control visual output on a monitor. Also called disply adapter. |
| Volatile | referrs to a kind of RAM that is temporary - can not hold data very long and must be frequently refressed. |
