Jargon Hardware

AGP

Accelerated Graphics Port. Slot designed specifically for graphics cards.

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange. An encoding scheme by which characters are represented by numbers. For example, ‘A’ is represented in decimal as 65. 7-bit ASCII supports 128 different characters; extended ASCII supports 256.

ATA

Advanced Technology Attachment. A type of connection for computer drives. Also called Parallel ATA.

bank

A slot into which RAM is inserted.

base-10

A system for representing numbers with sequences of digits, each of which can take on one of ten possible values (0 through 9).

base-2

A system for representing numbers with sequences of digits, each of which can take on one of two possible values (0 or 1).

binary

See base-2.

BIOS

Basic Input Output System. Software burned into ROM that enables a computer to bootstrap itself. Passes control of computer to an operating system after checking RAM, etc. Handles low-level communication with drives, keyboard, printer, etc.

bit

A 0 or 1.

block

A group of clusters.

bus

A pathway for data.

byte

Eight bits.

CD-R disc/drive

Storage disc that can hold 650-700 MB of data. CD-Rs can only be written to once

CD-ROM disc/drive

Storage disc that can store up to 700 MB of data. Can only read from disc not write.

CD-RW disc/drive

Storage disc that can hold up to 700 MB. Unlike CD-ROMs and CD-Rs, CDRWs can be written and rewritten over and over again, similar to a floppy or zip disk.

chassis

The case (sides, top, and bottom) and structural support of a computer.

cluster

Smallest storage unit on a disk.

CMOS

Refers to hardware that stores BIOS settings (e.g., date, time, boot sequence, etc.).

color depth

Number of colors that can be displayed per pixel on a monitor.

computation

Calculation (i.e., determination by mathematical means).

computer

Something that calculates (produces output from input via mathematical means).

connector

Something that attaches to something else.

cookie

Floppy, circular material inside of a floppy disk.

CPU

Central Processing Unit. The brains of a computer. Speed measured in megahertz or gigahertz.

daughterboard

A logic board that plugs into a motherboard.

decimal

See base-10.

defragment

To rearrange bits on disk so that each file’s bits are contiguous.

DIMM

Dual Inline Memory Module. Type of RAM found in newer computers. Has 168 pins.

display

A computer monitor.

dot pitch

Space (measured in millimeters) between each dot on a computer screen.

driver

Software that enables an operating system to communicate with a device.

DVD-R/+Rdisc

Digital Versatile Disc-Recordable. Once-writeable, optical storage disc capable of storing up to 4.7 GB.

DVD-RAM disc

Digital Versatile Disc-Random Access Memory. Rewriteable, optical storage disc capable of storing up to 9.4 GB (4.7 GB per side).

DVD-ROM disc

Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory. Non-writeable, optical storage disc capable of storing between 4.7 GB and 17 GB.

DVD-RW/

Digital Versatile Disc-Rewriteable. Rewriteable, optical storage disc capable of -RW disc storing up to 9.4 GB (4.7 GB per side).

expansion bus

Connects processor to expansion slots.

expansion card

Allows user to put in additional capabilities for a computer (e.g., a modem or Ethernet card).

FAT

File Allocation Table. Table on a HDD mapping filenames to specific locations on disk.

FDD

Floppy Disk Drive. 3.5” disk encased in hard plastic, used for backing up data. Has a capacity of 1.44 MB.

FireWire

Formally known as IEEE 1394, a type of bus that allows for transfer rates up to 800 Mbps along a cable.

flash

To flash a computer’s BIOS is to upgrade it with manufacture-provided software.

fragmented

A state in which a file’s bits are not contiguous on disk.

game port

Serial port on the back of a PC into which a joystick or the like can be plugged.

giga-

A prefix denoting billion.

hardware

Computer equipment.

HDD

Hard Disk Drive. Internal disk that stores all information needed to run your computer. This includes the Operating System, applications, personal files, etc. Typical amount of space on a hard drive today is about 40 GB (gigabytes).

heat sink

A metallic construct designed to absorb and dissipate excess heat, most commonly from a processor.

I/O device

A device that allows data to be either inserted or outputted from the computer.

IDE

Integrated Drive Electronics. Type of secondary storage interface found in PCs.

installed in pairs.

ISA

Industry Standard Architecture bus. Older technology that allows expansion of computer’s functionality. Black in color.

kilo-

A prefix denoting thousand.

L1 cache

Very fast memory usually found “on die” (inside of a CPU). Found in such quantities as 16 KB, 32 KB, etc. Enables CPU to retrieve instructions quickly, avoiding relatively slower RAM.

L2 cache

Pretty fast memory sometimes found “on die” (inside of a CPU), else in the CPU’s packaging or on the motherboard.

LCD

Liquid Crystal Display. Found in laptops and most flat panel desktop monitors in new PCs.

level-1

cache See L1 cache.

level-2

cache See L2 cache.

logic board

A plastic (and often green) board with circuits, chips, and other hardware.

mega-

A prefix denoting million.

monitor

Device that displays a computer’s visual output.

motherboard

Main logic board of a computer. “Central artery system” through which almost all hardware communicates.

non-volatile memory

Electronic storage that doesn’t require power for preservation.

overclocking

Process by which a computer’s CPU is made to run at a higher speed (clock frequency) than intended by the manufacturer.

parallel port

Port on the back of a PC through which bits travel in parallel (8 at a time). Often used to connect printers. (Before USB, scanners, Zip drives, and more were often connected via the parallel port.)

PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect bus. Newer and faster than ISA slots, allows expansion of computer’s functionality. White in color.

platter

Fixed, rapidly rotating disk inside a hard drive.

port

A connector on the back of a computer.

POST

Power-On Self-Test. Sequence of steps performed by a BIOS upon startup (memory check, keyboard check, etc.).

printer

Output device that displays a computer’s output on paper.

processor

See CPU.

RAM

Random Access Memory.

read/write head

Magnetic recording and playback device that goes back and forth over the surface of a HDD’s platters.

refresh rate

The number of times per second that each pixel on a monitor is updated.

resolution

Measurement, in terms of dots per inch (dpi), of the clarity of a picture displayed by a monitor or a printer.

RIMM

Rambus Inline Memory Module. Type of RAM found in newer computers. Smaller than DIMMs. Can be installed singly.

RJ-11

Type of connector found on a phone cord.

RJ-45

Type of connector found on an twisted-pair Ethernet cable.

ROM

Read Only Memory. Type of memory found on a computer’s motherboard that stores the BIOS. Can be “flashed” with updates.

SATA

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. Uses smaller cables and has faster capacity than (parallel) ATA.

SCSI

Small Computer System Interface. Bus standard used in connecting hard disks, floppy drives, and CD-ROM drives.

SDRAM

Synchronous dynamic random access memory. Called synchronous because it is synchronized with the CPU’s bus speed.

secondary storage

Non-volatile, writable storage like hard disks, floppy disks, CD-Rs, etc.

sector

Radial division of a HDD’s platter.

serial port

Port on the back of a PC through which bits travel serially (one at a time). Used to connect mice and modems on older computers.

shutter

Sliding, metallic cover on a floppy disk, protecting its cookie.

SIMM

Single Inline Memory Module. Type of RAM found in older computers. Oldest version had 30 pins; newer (but now old) version had 72. Has to be

slot

Fairly long, narrow connector found on some motherboards for CPUs.

socket

Connector found on some motherboards for CPUs. Usually a square containing many, tiny holes for CPU’s pins.

spindle

Inner, cylindrical core of a HDD’s platter responsible for its spin. Also refers to a “stack” of CDs or DVDs (that you can buy in bulk) on a plastic rod.

system bus

Main pathway on a motherboard along which data travels.

tera-

A prefix denoting trillion.

track

A concentric circular band on computer disks where data is stored.

USB

Universal Serial Bus. Relatively new, fast bus to which peripherals (digital cameras, printers, keyboards, mice, etc.) can be connected.

virtual memory

Hard disk space used as though it were RAM.

volatile memory

Electronic storage that requires power for preservation

writeable

Signifies that data can be changed on a medium.

writeprotected

Signifies that data cannot be changed on a medium.