The world of computers has its own language. After a while it can be easy to throw word or acronyms out without realizing some people may not understand them.
From time to time I may use a term that you arent familiar with, or perhaps an acronym that may have more than one meaning. So I started this glossary of terms to make sure we are all on the same page.
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ACPI- Advanced Configuration Power Interface. An industry standard that defines power management on computers.
AGP- The Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) is an expansion slot which provides a high speed tunnel from the video card to the processor. Mostly used for 3D gaming and graphics rendering programs. Typically the AGP is a brown expansion slot closest to the CPU.
Adware- (see also spyware)(see also malware)-
ASCII- American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Represents English characters as numbers. Most computers use ASCII in one form or another. This allows for portability of data.
Bandwidth- The rate that data can be moved across a transmission channel. Usually measured in bits-per-second (bps)
BIOS- Basic Input Output System. The ROM program flashed into the CMOS that is located on the motherboard. This is the very first sub-system to start up when you turn on a computer. The BIOS hands off to the Operating System after it loads up the hardrive, mouse, keyboard, floppy and CD/DVDROM drivers.
Bit- BInary digiT. The smallest unit of binary measurement. This can be either a 1 or a 0.
Boot Process - The process of starting the computer. It starts with the BIOS and ends with the Operating System having been loaded.
Burner- Used to describe either a CD or DVD writer. Called a burner because of the geek slang to "burn a cd"
Byte- Abbreviated term for BinarY TErm. A unit of storage capable of holding a single character. On modern Operating systems it is equal to 8 bits.
CMOS - Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor, this is the chip that the BIOS is loaded onto.
CPU- Central Processing Unit. The is the brain of the computer. Measured in cycles per second. Modern CPU's usually do 2 billion (2 ghz) cycles per second or more. A cycle is one computation, this means that a 2gig processor can do 2 billion computations per second.
DOS- Disk Operating System
Fdisk- a DOS based program that allows you to create partitions on a harddrive.
Floppy Drive- In the old days thre was the 5.25" disk that you could save data to. These were literally "floppy" hence the name. These days it is used to describe a 3.5" disk. Most system built today do not come with these as standard equipment.
Giga- Literally 1,000,000,000. In binary terms though 1 Gigabyte (Gb) is 1024 Megabytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes.
Hard Drive- Also called Non-Volatile Memory. This is where the Operating System and all your other files will be stored.
IDE- Integrated Drive Electronics. This is the standard interface used to connect harddrives and most media reading (CDROM, DVDROM and burners) hardware to a computer.
IRQ- Interrupt ReQuest line. IRQ's are hardware lines that a device can send an interrupt signal to the CPU.
Kilo- Literally 1000. In binary terms though 1 Kilobyte (Kb) is 1024 bytes.
Malware- (see also spyware)(see also adware)-
Mass storage- Refers to techniques or devices (floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks, tapes) for storing sizable amounts of data. Mass storage devices hold thier data after power has been turned off. Also refered to as non-volatile memory.
MBR - Master Boot Record, a small program, usually located on the first sector of your hard disk. Used to begin the boot process
Mega- Literally 1,000,000. In binary terms though 1 Megabyte (Mb) is 1024 Kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes.
Memory- Also called volatile memory, usually just called RAM (Random Access Memory). This is usually measured in Megabytes (Mb).
Motherboard- Sometimes called the Mainboard, this is the place that everything gets plugged into and provides the BUS for information to flow from one device to another or to the CPU.
Optical Drive- Term used generically for any drive using a laser. This could include CD or DVD ROM or Burners.
POST - Power On Self Test, the BIOS runs this test to make sure that everything on the computer is running properly.
Processor- This is the brains of the computer. Also called the CPU (Central Processing Unit), it shouldnt be confused with the entire box that encloses the computer.
RMA- Return Materials Authorization - When you have a piece of defective equipment that is under warranty, technical support will give you an RMA number to track the issue with the part.
Spyware- (see also adware)(see also malware)- Software that allows a third party to monitor or possibly control a computer they would otherwise have no control over.
Storage- (see mass storage)
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