100Base TX= 100 Meg/sec transmission
10Base 2= Uses coaxial wires, much like your TV cable cord.
10Base F= Fiber optic wire which is used in long distance, high speed network communication.
10Base T= (UTP) uses Unshielded Twisted Pair wires -Rj45. A wire related to the phone cord but uses 8 wires instead of the conventional 4 wire-phone cord.
A-B BOX= A switching mechanism that is designed to toggle certain devices , mostly used in printer networks and monitors.
Active Matrix Display= This is an advanced LCD screed that used a transistor for each pixel on the screen instead of conventional LCD screens.
Adapter= this simply is a printed circuit board that plugs into an expansion port to enhance the capabilities of the computer. For example: a sound card or a modem is an adapter.
Bit= The smallest unit of information which is represented be a 1 or 0.
Applet= A small program that is inserted into a larger program
ASCII= (American Standard for Information Interchange) Pronounced "askee" which as a standard for coding character sets on your computer.
AT = (Advanced Technology)
BIOS= (Basic Input Output Services) This is software for your basic hardware and settings
Boot record= This is where the operating system is stored on your hard disk.
BPS= (Bits Per Second) This refers to the transfer rate of data over a network or a drive
Branch Prediction Logic- Designed for the Pentium and Pentium compatible processors, this feature analyzes loops and "if-then statements" and predicts where they are going to jump in the program.
Buffer= An area of memory set aside for temporary storage which helps speed up processing by allowing a continuos flow of information. For example: when your CD-ROM is in use while your CPU says "STOP I am busy ", Instead of your CD-ROM stopping it just puts the information into a buffer until it is called upon.
Bug= A programming or hardware flaw that causes problems
BUS= a path way for digital or analog signals to travel.
BYTE= 8 bits of information.
CACHE= Pronounced "cash",this is block of memory which is used to store the most commonly used programming.
CD-ROM= (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) A large storage device that can only be written on once
CGA= (Color Graphics Adapter) This first and poorest color display adapter.
CMOS=(Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) This is where your ROM BIOS settings are stored
CPU= (Central Processing Unit) This is where all the main decision making is done in your computer
DIP Switch= (Duel Inline Package)This a small series of switches that fit into a package, usually for settings
DNS= (Domain Name Services)
DOS= (Disk Operating System) This is a the mane program that runs your PC
ECC= (Error Correcting Code) Uses the parity function to correct data errors "ram"
ECP= (Enhanced Capabilities Port) A standard in the IEEE 1284 series that increases the speed of the average parallel port. The ECP protocol was designed for printer-like devices and is activated in the ROM SETUP.
EDO= (Extended Data Out) D-type memory that needs not be refreshed as often
EGA= (Enhanced Graphics Display) Replaced the CGA due to its wider range of colors and text
EIDE= (Enhanced Industry Drive Electronics) Allows faster speeds and higher concentration of memory
EMS= (Expanded Memory Specification) This was designed be Intel/ Microsoft/ Lotus for DOS only
EPP= (Enhanced Parallel Port) A standard in the IEEE 1284 series that increases the speed of the average parallel port. The EPP protocol was designed for non-printer devices such as scanners and is activated in the ROM SETUP. On occasion you will need to have both advantages of ECP and EPP, computers manufactures after 1994 this function is present the form of "ECP/EPP" or "bi-directional".
FAT Table= (File Allocation Table) A system of communication that works in conjunction with the Root Directory. When a file is called upon, the root directory knows which file you want while the FAT knows where the file is located on the hard disk. The FAT table can also take into account where bad sectors are on the hard disk so that no file is ever saved to that spot in the future.
Firmware= This is software written in the form ROM, it cannot be altered or changed by any means of programming. Two examples of firmware are your ROM BIOS or a conventional CD-ROM.
Floating Point -The floating point is a way of showing numbers, The integer can only display 1,2,3,4… while the floating point can show numbers after the decimal point.
FPMRAM =(Fast Page Mode Random Access Memory) One of the earliest forms of memory which with a react speed of about 120 nanoseconds, today's memory runs around 8 nanoseconds.
GUI- (Graphical User Interface) Pronounced "gooey" this is a form of programming that uses graphics instead of text to perform tasks.
Hot-swapping= A newer technology derived from networks and mainframes that allows peripherals to be added and subtracted while machine is still on.
IDE= (Integrated Drive Electronics) Is actually ATA which means AT attachment
Interrupt Vector Table- Along with the BIOS, this is the first layer of many that the computer uses to run programs, here is the instructions to access the floppy disk drive, video display, hard disk, and much more. This is really what makes different operating systems incompatible with one another.
IP= (Internet Protocol)
IPX= (Internet Packet eXchange)
OEM- Original Equipment Manufacture
PC= (Personal Computer) Computers with ether a LBX, ATX, AT, motherboard
PCI=(Peripheral Component International)-Is a bus that was developed in 1992 by Intel which was developed to keep up with the increasing demand for speed. The PCI bus can be used in 32 and 64-bit motherboards at clock speeds between 25Mhz and 100Mhz which is equivalent to 500MBs Per Second.
Pipeline- your standard CPU has an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) which does the actual processing which is known as a pipeline.
PLCC= (Plastic Leaderless Chip Carrier) An interface for the math co-processor
PQFP= (Plastic Quad Flat Package) Four sided chips that are soldered to the main board
Protected Mode- one of the earliest memory allocation, which designed by Intel in the 286 processor, this mode protects the operating system from interfering with different code segments in other programs running in memory.
RAM= (Random Access Memory) This is where programs are stored temporarily
Registers- these are conditional situations that are the biases of all computer programs. For example, there are registers for adding numbers and determining if a number is negative or positive along with some 22 other registers.
SEC "Cartridge" =(Single Edged Contact) A package designed by Intel for the Pentium 2 and above
SVGA= (Super Video Graphics Array) Compatible with the VGA, the SVGA extends the current limits
TCP/IP= (Transfer Control Protocol/ Internet Protocol)
UPS= ( Uninterruptable Power Supply) This power supply ensures that your will still be able work long enough for you to finish in cases of blackouts or brownouts.
USB= (Universal System Bus) This is one of the latest devices which allow information to and from external hardware. The USB port is an advanced technology joint developed by Compaq, IBM, Microsoft, NEC, Northern Telecom, Intel, and DEC, which allows up to 127 devices per USB port which can be connected and used simuitaneously at a transfer rate of 12 megs/ second
VGA= (Video Graphics Array) This is the was the current display adapter before the release of the SVGS
Virtual Mode- Implemented in the 386 and above, this mode allows programs (in RAM) to run at the same time acting like individual computers for individual programs. This explains the concept that the more RAM you acquire the more programs that can run in memory at one time.
VISA= (Video Industry Standards Association) The VISA slot was introduced to the trailing edge of the 486 era when high-speed graphics were being introduced. Its unique shape resembles a regular ISA slot with a PCI slot attached to the back, which allows faster transfer of data through a 32 to 64-bit data bus.
VRAM =(Video Random Access Memory) This is a high-speed memory that can be accessed simutaniously between two sources unlike any form of D-type or S-type RAM.
XT =(eXtended Technology)
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