Need to know what that tech said? Geek got you confused? Here is a small
glossary of definitions I have put together to lower the confusion level.
Page two, M to Z.
Memory - Two types of memory - non -volatile - read only, or volatile -
changeable. Non volatile is a type of write once, once it is written it can not
be changed, like a CD or DVD. Volatile memory is memory that can be changed, you
write to it, change your mind and erase it, then write to it again. Your
Computer ram is writeable memory.
Modem - A device that communicates with another device across a long distance.
Dial up modems connect to a phone line, this is a analog signal, the modem
converts a digital signal from the computer to analog to send the data and back
to digital when it receives data. (Modem transfer speed is measured in KBS).
MBS - Data transfer speed, Mega Bytes per Second. (Network transfer speed is
measured in MBS).
N
Non-Volatile - Something that can not be changed with out destroying it.
O
OS - Operating System, high level program that controls the computer, allows for
input and output.
Overclocking - A process of making a chip (memory or processor) perform beyond
the manufactures specifications from when the device was made. Say you have a
processor that is rated at 800 MHz you if change this to 850 MHz the computer
may run faster. Overclocking the memory or processor can lead to damage of the
component or the main board or both.
Not Recommended.
P
Partition - Before a raw hard drive can be formatted it has to have physical
pointers applied to the hard drive physical disk platters, these are the
starting and ending points for the format program to its job.
PCB - Printed Circuit Board
- A multi layered sheet of fiberglass with copper traces (flat thin copper
wires) embedded between the layers. All electronic devices have a PCB to mount
and connect the individual components.
Port - A term used for any opening that the computer can use to communicate with
a external device, program, or data. Computers have connections for external
devices, these connections are called ports.
POST - Power On Self Test - Most computer manufactures provide a way to test the
computer when it is powered up, checking components for malfunctions, this
program is built into a program called BIOS.
Processor - Or CPU - The brains of the outfit. This
small thin silicon wafer has millions of transistors
embedded in it. Each transistor has two power states, off and on, the state
represents a number, one ( 1 ) is on and zero ( 0 ) is off. The state of
this transistor is called a bit, this bit to humans is
represented as data. The processor processes the 1's and 0's and the result is
displayed on your video screen. There is a lot more to it than this but it will
fill two large volumes of printed books.
Q
Quad - Four, as in Core 2 Quad, this is a four processor PCB that
installs into one socket on the motherboard giving the motherboard four
processor capability.
R
Ram - Physical Random Access Memory. Ram is a silicon chip that is
electronically charged and discharged to retain data.
S
Storage - Physical devices that retain data when power is removed from the
device.
SVGA - Super Video Graphics Adapter:: The VGA
adapter allowed for memory and a processor to be incorporated on the card.
The resolution went from thousands of colors to millions of colors.
T
U
USB - Universal Serial Bus. USB is used for connecting external devices to your
computer, it is an upgrade to the serial bus specification allowing for more
than one device to connect to the bus at one time..
V
VGA - Video Graphics Adapter: The first video adapters were mono chrome and did
not display graphics, characters only. Then came the CGA, Color Graphics
Adapter. This adapter displayed 16 colors then 256 colors. The VGA adapter
allowed for memory and a processor to be incorporated on the card. The
resolution went from 256 colors to thousand of colors over night.
Virtual - In the computing world virtual means
emulation, there are numerous virtual devices, CD or DVD Drives, Network
connections, even computers. These software programs emulate the device making
them easier, faster, and cheaper to use.
W
Winchester: The first hard drives were called Winchesters, this was the code
name for the development of the small hard drive for PC's by IBM. (Small
is relative, the original IBM hard drive was 5 1/4 inches wide, 7 inches long,
and 3 inches high and weighed approximately 9 pounds!)
changeable. Non volatile is a type of write once, once it is written it can not
be changed, like a CD or DVD. Volatile memory is memory that can be changed, you
write to it, change your mind and erase it, then write to it again. Your
Computer ram is writeable memory.
modem
converts a digital signal from the computer to analog to send the data and back
to digital when it receives data. (Modem transfer speed is measured in KBS).
your
computer, it is an upgrade to the serial bus specification allowing for more
than one device to connect to the bus at one time..
not display graphics, characters only. Then came the CGA, Color Graphics
Adapter. This adapter displayed 16 colors then 256 colors. The VGA adapter
allowed for memory and a processor to be incorporated on the card. The
resolution went from 256 colors to thousand of colors over night.
