Glossary

Question 1

RAM

Answer 1

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Question 2

Chipset

Answer 2

A group of integrated circuits or chips that are designed to work together and usually marketed as a single product.

Question 3

Bus

Answer 3

A wire or group of wires that carry data from one place to the next.

Question 4

Serial

Answer 4

Sending one bit of data at a time over a single wire.

Question 5

Parallel

Answer 5

Sending multiple bits of data at a time. AKA using multiple processors to complete a task.

Question 6

MCH

Answer 6

Memory Controller Hub (MCH) or AKA the Northbridge

Question 7

ICH

Answer 7

I/O (input/Output) Controller Hub (ICH) or AKA Southbridge

Question 8

DMI

Answer 8

Direct Media Interface

Question 9

Hot swap

Answer 9

The process of adding or removing components from a computer system while the system is still powered on.

Question 10

DVI

Answer 10

Digital Video Input (DVI)

Question 11

Adapter

Answer 11

Connects two incompatible interfaces without changing the form of medium passing through it.

Question 12

Converter

Answer 12

Not only connects two incompatible interfaces but also converts the form of medium passing though. (i.e. Digital to Analog)

Question 13

ATX

Answer 13

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX)

Question 14

HTPC

Answer 14

Home Theatre Personal Computer (HTPC

Question 15

UMPC

Answer 15

Ultra Mobile Personal Computer (UMPC)

Question 16

BTX

Answer 16

Balanced Technology Extended (BTX)

Question 17

BIOS

Answer 17

Basic Input Output System (BIOS)

Question 18

CMOS

Answer 18

Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)

Question 19

Volatile

Answer 19

Loss of memory when powered off.

Question 20

POST

Answer 20

Power on Self Test (POST)

Question 21

Flashing

Answer 21

To erase and then replace.

Question 22

Firmware

Answer 22

A type of software that’s permanently embedded into a devices hardware to control how it functions.

Question 23

Persistent

Answer 23

Data that does not change.

Question 24

CPU

Answer 24

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Question 25

Clock Rate

Answer 25

The potential frequency (speed) of the CPU.

Question 26

Clock Speed

Answer 26

The actual frequency (speed) of the CPU.

Question 27

Motherboard/ External Speed

Answer 27

The speed of data moving across a bus.

Question 28

Internal Speed

Answer 28

The speed of the actual CPU. (Typically, the marketed speed of that CPU)

Question 29

Overclocking

Answer 29

Manually setting the CPU clock speed higher than factory intended via the BIOS.

Question 30

Cache

Answer 30

A temporary holding area for data within the CPU.

Question 31

Hyperthreading

Answer 31

The process of a single core virtually simulating two, allowing it to perform multiple processes at once.

Question 32

SVGA

Answer 32

Super Video Graphics Array.

Question 33

VGA

Answer 33

Video Graphics Array.

Question 34

Intrusion detection (BIOS)

Answer 34

If the computer has been physically opened.

Question 35

ZIF Socket

Answer 35

Zero Insertion Force. ZIF sockets use a lever to apply the correct pressure when installing a CPU to avoid issues cause by applying to much force during installation.

Question 36

PGA

Answer 36

Pin Grid Array. Pins are arranged in a square-shape array on the underside of the CPU.

Question 37

LGA Socket

Answer 37

Land Grid Array. The pins are on the socket instead of the underside of the CPU, where the contacts are placed instead.

Question 38

Heat Sink

Answer 38

Heat sinks are a series of metal pieces that directly touch the CPU. The head conducts through these metal pieces where they can more easily dissipate.

Question 39

Passive Cooling

Answer 39

Passive cooling is when there are no moving parts or additional electricity needed to provide cooling.

Question 40

Active cooling

Answer 40

Active cooling is a method of cooling down the CPU through the use of moving parts and/or electricity. (I.e. Fans require electricity and use moving parts.)

Question 41

On-die

Answer 41

On-die referrers to a component built directly into the CPU.

Question 42

SIMM

Answer 42

Single In-Line Memory Module. Either side of the RAM stick share contacts with the other. So contacts exposed on one side are the same contacts exposed on the other side.

Question 43

DIMM

Answer 43

Dual In-Line Memory Module. Both sides of the RAM stick have different contacts than the other. Essentially doubling the amount of available contacts per RAM stick.

Question 44

SDRAM

Answer 44

Synchronous Dynamic RAM.

Question 45

DRAM

Answer 45

Dynamic Random Access Memory.

Question 46

SRAM

Answer 46

Static Random Access Memory.

Question 47

ROM

Answer 47

Read Only Memory.

Question 48

Pipelining

Answer 48

The act of accepting new commands while processing older ones.