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Acronyms Part 1

Terms

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A collection of wires connecting the CPU with main memory that is used to identify particular locations (addresses) in main memory
Address Bus
hardware lines over which devices can send interrupt signals to the microprocessor. When you add a new device to a PC, you sometiems need to set its number by setting a DIP switch. This specifies which interrupt line the device may use.
IRQ
A special type of EEPROM that can be erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. Many modern PCs have their BIOS stored on such a memory chip.
Flash memory
built-in software that determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk. On PCs, contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives, serial communications, and a number of miscellaneous functions.
BIOS
A widely used type ofsemiconductor. Use both NMOS and PMOS circuits. Since only one of the circuit types is on at any given time, these type of chips require less power than chips using just one type of transistor. This makes them particularly attractive
CMOS
A special high-speed storage mechanism. It can be either a reserved section of main memory or an independent high-speed storage device. Two types are commonly used in PCs: memory and disk.
Cache
Input/Output
I/O
A component designed to lower the temperature of an electronic device by dissipating heat into the surrounding air. All modern CPUs require one.
heat sink
A set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications.
API
IBM PC model introduced in 1984
AT
The modern-day shape and layout of PC motherboards. It improves on the previous standard.
ATX motherboard/case
A type of connector used with coaxial cables such as the RG-58 A/U cable used with the 10base-2 Ethernet system
BNC
A passive electronic component that holds a charge in the form of an electrostatic field. They are often used in combination with transistors in DRAM, acting as storage cells to hold bits.
Capacitor
A number of integrated circuits designed to perform one or more related functions.
Chip Set
The mechanism that reads and writes data on a hard disk. Many disk drives improve their performance through a technique called caching.
HDD
A programming environment integrated into an application. For example, Microsoft Office applications support various versions of the BASIC programming language, you can develop a WordBasic application while running MS Word.
IDE
An IDE interface for mass storage devices in which the controller is integrated into the disk or CD-ROM drive.
IDE Drive Cable
An electrical component that generates a magnetic field when a current is passed through it and stores the entery in the form of the magnetic field. It is typically a loop or coil of wire.
Inductor
In DOS systems, the name of a serial communications port. DOS supports four of them. Most software uses system interrupts to access these ports, and there are only two IRQ lines reserved, so the four ports share the two IRQ lines.
COM
The physical connections that carry control information between the CPU and other devices within the computer.
Control Bus
Brains of the computer. Where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, it is the most important element of a computer system.
CPU
A common technique for detecting data transmission errors. Transmitted messages are divided into predetermined lengths that are divided by a fixed divisor. According to the calculation check, the remainder number is appended onto and sent with the messag
CRC
A collection of wires through which data is transmitted from one part of a computer to another.
Data Bus
An interprocess communication system built into the Macintosh, Windows, and OS/2 operating systems: enables two running applications to share the same data.
DDE
A small circuit board that holds memory chips.
DIMM
An electric component that conducts electric current in only one direction, functioning as a one-way valve. Typically made from semi-conductor materials such as silicon, germanium, or selenium and are used as voltage regulators, signal rectifiers, oscill
Diode
a new DVD-ROM format promoted by several large Hollywood companies. A movie (or other data) loaded onto a DVD-ROM is playable only during a specific time fram, typically two days. As soon as you begin playing a disc, the counter starts. Each player is co
DIVX
a memory cache built into the microprocessor, the primary one
L1 cache
memory that is external to the microprocessor, the secondary one
L2 cache
1,000,000 bytes
MB
internal storage areas in the computer
memory module
a non-volatile RAM memory technology that uses magnetic charges to store data instead of electic charges, such as those used in SRAM and DRAM technologies
MRAM
a client/server application designed by Sun Microsystems that allows all network users to access shared files stored on computers of different types.
NFS
an expansion board you insert into a computer so the computer can be connected to the internet
NIS
An ISO standard for worldwide communications that defines a networking framework for implementing protocols in seven layers.
OSI
refers to processes that occur simultaneously, meaning the device is capable of receiving more than one bit at a time
Parallel
A local bus standard developed by Intel Corporation. Most modern PCs include one of these in addition to a more general ISA expansion bus. Also used on newer versions of the Mac computers.
PCI
A type of memory used in most personal computers.
DRAM
a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge
EEPROM
A U.S. legal document that designates that digital signatures carry the legal force of handwritten signatures (i.e., they are legally binding for contracts and transactions). The act defines an electronic signature as any electronic symbol, sound, or pro
ESA

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