A+ Core Hardware

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What are the two types of SCSI termination?: Internal and External
FRU: Field Replaceable Unit

A computer element a tech can replace/upgrade w/o send to manufacturer
BINARY NUMBERING: All system elements are defined as strings of 1's and 0's read from right to left and each position is based on powers of 2.
DECIMAL NUMBERING: Base 10: Each position is based on powers of 10, read from left to right.
BIT: Acronym for single binary digit (b). Represents a binary value of 1 or 0 (computer sees presence/absence of data)
NIBBLE: 4 bits or 1/2 of a byte.
BYTE: 8 bits (Capital B)
The stand unit for measuring memory, file size, etc.
WORD: The amount of data that a microprocessor can handle at one time. Usually 16 bits (two bytes).
OTHER DATA AMOUNTS: Kilo-1024 bits or bytes
Mega-1024 Kb/KB or million B
Giga-1024 Mb/MB or billion B
HEXADECIMAL NUMBERING: Base 16 (contains sixteen elements)

0-9 and A-F
ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange: A standard code for storing text values. Orig 7 bit/128 values, now ext character set adds another 128.
UNICODE: An international 16-bit encoding standard that can represent the 65,536 characters in major world languages.
COM: Communication
PC serial ports with max transmission of 115kbps, one bit at a time.
LPT: Line Printer Port

PC parallel ports
PARALLEL COMMUNICATION: More than i bit at a time. Usually 8 bits (a byte) or 16 bits (a word). Each bit requires separate line plus one controller (9 or 17 tot)
SERIAL COMMUNICATION: One bit at a time over a single line. Only 1 bit b/c a single line can only have 1 value (on or off).
RELATIVE COMMUNICATION SPEEDS: Serial--115 Kbps
Parallel--500Kbps
USB 1.0/1.1: 12 Mbps (1.5 MBps
USB 2.0: 480 Mbps (60 MBps)
SYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION: Uses a timing signal to keep conversation synched. More efficient but harder to implement due to additional control overhead.
ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION: Communication occurs at anytime, requiring use of start/stop bits to identify start/end of data stream.
BUS: A circuit or path that carries data between computer components. Can have varied spees and data capabilites, wires can't cross!
GUI: Graphical User Interface (gooey)
An environment that uses sophisticated graphics to represent system elements such as files, directories, and hard drives (Windows).
CLI: Command Line Interface--An environment that uses command lines to interface between machine/operator (DOS)
Name two machine to user interfaces and give an example of each: GUI--Windows
CLI--DOS
ISA: Industry Standard Architecture--A 16-bit bus standard that has been largely replaced by faster ones. Based on original IBM PC AT bus structure.
EISA: Extended ISA

Uses a 32-bit bus. Also considered a legacy standard and often referred to as ISA.
PCI: Peripheral Component Interconnect

The current standard for desktop computers. Originally a 32-bit bus and also supports 64-bit bus. This is the most currently used expansion slot type.
System Bus Width: The amount of data the bus can accomodate at one time, measured in bits. Common widths are 16, 32, and 64.
System Bus Speed: The measurement of how quickly the bus can transport data, measured in MHz or GHz. Common ones are 750MHz, 2 and 3 GHz.
Desktop Form Factors: Tower
Mini-tower
Desktop
Low-profile (more for servers)
Chassis: Metal frame that holds and acts as a ground for all components.
Front Cover: Plastic piece that covers openings otherwise occupied by peripherals.
Slots: Designed for holding expansion cards, including ISA and PCI cards.
Slot Cover: Thin metal plate that covers the slots normally occupied by PCI or ISA cards.
Bays: Areas in the chassis designated for holding drives and other internal components. Also called "storage bays."
Eurocard Industry Standard System: System used for measuring server cases. Basic unit is "u" which is 1.75 inches high. Impt for rack server assemblies. 1u often called a pizza box.
Proprietary Component: A device that is only compatible with equipment made by a particular manufacturer.
Infrared: The use of red-spectrum light to send data. Based on line of sight.
Three basic functional blocks of a computer: I/O, storage, and processing.
Touch Screen: Video display used as an input device.
I/O Card: A special computer card that coordinates all I/O devices. Usually integrated on the Mobo.
LCD: Liquid Crystal Diodes

Laptop screens and flat panels.
NIC: Network Interface Card

AKA "network adapters." Combination I/O device between and computer and a LAN (local area network).
Volatile Storage: Short-term storage of programs and data. Lost when power goes off or system resets. Most obvious example is RAM (random access memory).
Nonvolatile Storage: Long-term storage of data and programs. Once written, it will remain until erased, over-written, or lost due to failure. Floppies, CD, DVD...
DVD: Digital Video Disc

Storage technology often seen as replacement for CD-ROM devices. Usually for video storage and sometimes called "Digital Versatile Disc".
<Control> + <Shift> + <Escape>: Straight to Task Manager.
Virtual Memory: When RAM is insufficient, the OS tricks the computer and "borrows" space from the hard drive. Data is temporarily stored in C:\pagefile.sys (swap file). Much slower than real RAM.
Multi-tasking Operating System: An OS that allows you to run multiple concurrent applications (Windows).
Superscalar: Ability of a micro-processor to perform multiple operations in parallel (simultaneously) to save processing time.
Software: A series of program steps that can be executed by the micro-processor.
Two types of software: OS-Required to make the computer start/run. Controls hardware, provides user interface, provides environment for running apps.

Applications--Everything else
Hardware: Everything you can physically see and touch in the computer, including external peripherals.
Motherboard: MoBo

The main circuit board in a computer. The micro-processor, physical memory, and support circuitry are located on the MoBo.
Firmware: A hybrid between hardware and software. It is a chip that has executable programs "burned" into it. it is nonvolatile and can be upgraded. BIOS is a good example.
BIOS: Basic Input/Output System

Firmware that contains the software programs required to help the system begin loading the OS into memory. Runs system diagnostics during startup.
ACPI: Advanced Configuration and Power Interface

Power control and management system designed to help minimize system power requirements. Allows for hibernation, etc.
Chipset: Set of integrated circuits that provides the MoBo support and device interface circuitry.
DMA: Direct Memory Access

Memory management method in which devices can read and write directly to system memory w/o going thru the CPU.
EIDE: Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics

Most common HDD, CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD/DVD-RW disk drive interface. Integrated into the MoBo circuitry as part of the chipset
Expansion Slots: MoBo slots into which adapter boards are installed.
I/O Address: Small area of memory used for communication between the micro-processor and peripheral devices, including adapter boards and standard serial/parallel ports.
IRQ: Interrupt Request

Signal used for controlled communications between the microprocessor and other devices installed on the MoBo (like raising your hand)
Jumper: Conductive device used to complete the circuit betweeen exposed pins and used for device configuration
POST: Power On Self Test

Series of diagnostic tests that are run during system start-up.
SCSI: Small Computer System Interface

Device interface used for connecting both int/ext devices.
Socket: Means of attaching ICs to a printed circuit board that allows removal/replacement by technicians.
SEC: Single-Edge Connector

Another way to connect an IC to the MoBo. Most modern Pentiums use this form. SECs are also called "slot connectors".
System Bus: Data and control signal pathway on the MoBo that connects the micro-processor, memory, and expansion bus slots together.
USB: Universal Serial Bus

Two standards for attaching peripherals:
1.0/1.1--Nominal 12Mbps, slow 1.5 Mbps
2.0--Up to 480 Mbps
PnP: Plug and Play

A component that is seen and installed by the computer automatically (auto-detect). PCI cards are PnP, ISA cards are not.

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