Glossary
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- access time
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- The time it takes for drives to
find data.
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- bays, drive
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- The space allotted in most computer
cases for drives. Bays typically come in two sizes, 5
1/4” and 3 1/2”.
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- bus speed
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- The speed of data transfer from and
to your motherboard. CPU speed is often useless without a
high bus speed.
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- cache
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- Extra storage space set aside in
computers and computer components, where data is stored
until needed.
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- cards
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- Cards fit into a computers' slots
to provide enhanced sound, graphics, and the ability to
use the Internet.
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- case
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- The metal box that fits over and
around the components of your computer. Cases come in
many sizes including: tall or slim desktops, and full,
mid, and mini towers.
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- CD-RAW drive (Read And Write)
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- Currently also called rewritable or
recordable CD drives. Drives that allow the user to
record data or music on a CD-ROM.
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- CD-ROM drive (Read Only Memory)
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- A drive that will only read CD-ROMs.
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- COM port
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- A COM port is typically set aside
for use by communications hardware.
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- CPU (Central Processing Unit)
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- The center of the computer, the CPU
does the calculations that allow the computer to compute.
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- data cables
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- Cables that carry data to and from
drives and boards.
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- drive bays
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- See: bays, drive
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- drives
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- The different devices used by a
computer to store and retrieve information.
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- DVD
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- A new drive that has high-capacity
storage capability.
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- floppy drive
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- The floppy drive uses floppy
diskettes to store and retrieve information.
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- form factors
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- The different internal
configurations of cases.
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- graphics card
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- The graphics card allows your
computer to translate complex images onto your monitor.
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- heatsink
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- A fin-like piece of metal that fits
over the CPU and dissipates heat-buildup.
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- GB (gigabytes)
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- 1,000,000,000 bytes of information.
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- IDE controllers
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- IDE controllers control many hard
drives.
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- jumper cables
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- Jumper cables carry electricity and
signals to and from your motherboard to different parts
of the computer.
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- Kbps
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- Thousands of bits per second.
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- LPT port
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- The ports usually set aside for
printers.
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- MHz
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- Mega Hertz or millions of Hertz.
MHz measures the frequency for regularly repeating
waveforms that occur in one second.
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- modem
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- The modem allows the computer to
connect to the Internet, and send or receive faxes
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- motherboard
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- The board on which many components
sit.
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- multi-tasking
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- The ability of the computer to do
more than one thing at a time.
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- PC
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- Personal computer.
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- power supply
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- Supplies power to your computer.
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- RAM (Random Access Memory)
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- A collection of small chips usually
set on a board that fits into a slot on the motherboard.
Most multi-tasking is dependent upon the amount of RAM in
the computer.
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- RPM
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- Revolutions per minute.
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- SCSI
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- Small computers system interface.
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- SCSI controller
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- The controller, usually a board or
a chip, that allows your computer to use SCSI.
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- sound card
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- The sound card allows the computer
to play complex sounds.
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- USB port
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- A port that accepts many kinds of
devices.
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