| Bluetooth: |
A
short range wireless connection that allows mobile and stationary
devices to exchange information. For example, Bluetooth enables
hand-held PDAs (personal digital assistants) to transmit data
wirelessly to a desktop computer. |
| Bus: |
The
wire connection between computer components through which data is
transferred. |
| Clock
cycle: |
Used
as a signal to coordinate the functions of computer circuits. |
| Clock
speed (clock rate): |
The
performance of microprocessors and buses is measured by clock speed.
Computer instructions are processed more quickly at higher clock
rates. Clock speeds are expressed in megahertz (Mhz) or gigahertz (Ghz). |
| CPU: |
See
processor. |
| CRT
(Cathode Ray Tube): |
A
display technology used for televisions and computer monitors.
Because CRT monitors are bulky, with advances in LCD
technology, CRT monitors have nearly become obsolete for desktop
PCs. However, CRT monitors offer a higher level of resolution and
clarity than LCDs and are still preferred by many
professionals. |
| DDR-SDRAM: |
Double-data
rate-synchronous DRAM doubles the throughput of memory data on each
clock cycle, which allows memory data to be accessed more quickly. |
| DDR2-SDRAM |
The
second generation of DDR-SDRAM technology with some significant
performance advantages over DDR-SDRAM. DDR2-SDRAM memory is not compatible
with DDR-SDRAM memory slots. |
| Digital
media (memory care) reader: |
Ports
that are designed to read flash memory cards from digital devices,
such as a digital camera. The ports may be internal ports on a
desktop or notebook computer, or on an external device connected to
a computer via USB. |
| Dual-core
processor: |
A
single computer chip that holds two
independent processors and their individual caches and cache
controllers. Although dual-core processors may operate at lower
clock speeds than single processors, they throughput data more
quickly than single processors, which boosts performance.
|
| Ethernet: |
A
commonly used networking technology that requires the use of
coaxial, twisted-pair, or fiber cable. The most common standard for
data transfer is 100 million bytes per second (Mbps). |
| FireWire
(IEEE 1394): |
A
type of cable that allows for the quick transfer of data between a
computer and a peripheral device, such as a digital camera. |
| Front
side bus (FSB): |
The
wire connection between the processor (CPU) and other computer
components, including memory (RAM). |
| Hard
drive: |
The
primary and permanent storage unit on desktop and notebook
computers. Data is written to, and erased from, the hard drive
magnetically. |
| L2
cache: |
Located
adjacent to the CPU, the L2 cache holds recently executed commands.
The size of the L2 cache and its nearness to the CPU increases the
speed at which the CPU can execute commands, improving the overall
performance of the computer. |
| LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display): |
The
display commonly used on digital cameras and notebook computers. LCD
monitors are becoming increasing affordable and popular for desktop
PCs. Applying an electronic field adjusts the liquid crystals to
display an image. |
| Memory
(RAM): |
Random
access memory is the temporary memory used within computers to store
programs and information. RAM is lost when the computer is shut
down. |
| Microprocessor: |
The
single chip processor used in desktop and notebook personal
computers. |
| Modem: |
The
connection port for a telephone line in a desktop or notebook
computer that allows it to connect to other computers, generally via
the Internet. The common standard for modem speed is 56 kilobytes per second
(Kbps).
|
| Multithreading: |
The
process of dividing a single application into multiple threads.
Relative to PC technology, these threads are processed
simultaneously by dual-core processors, increasing the throughput of
data. |
| Optical
drive: |
Using
lasers, optical drives read from and, with some formats, write (burn) to CDs and
DVDs. |
| Processor
(CPU): |
The
processor performs the majority of a computer’s calculations and
is often referred to as the brains of a computer.
|
| Sound
card: |
A
circuit board that allows a computer to play sounds. |
| USB
(Uniform Serial Bus) 2.0: |
A
type of serial wire connection between computers and peripheral
devices (i.e. printers). |
| Video
(graphics) card: |
Contains
the circuits used to create and display images and text for
computers. New computer systems should use the PCI Express interface,
which transmits data more quickly than older (AGP and PCI)
interfaces. The terms "video card," "graphics
card," and "graphics accelerator" are essentially one
and the same. |
| Video
memory: |
Memory
housed with a video card that holds data used to
display graphics on a computer monitor. Because video memory is
separate from the computer memory, graphics can be display quicker
and more smoothly. |
| Wireless: |
Refers
to the use of electromagnetic waves to transmit a signal. The common
wireless networking protocol for desktop and notebook computers is
802.11 b/g. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology based on the 802.11
specifications.
|
