DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory - it's the generic term given to all main mernory used in a computer. The 'dynamic' means that it has to be refreshed every few milliseconds otherwise it forgets. The computer takes care of this automaticatly.
EDO RAM: Extended Data Out Random Access Memory - this was an improvement over ordinary FPRAM that added slightly extra performance. Used mainly in Pentium-class computers. Comes in the same size package as FPRAM.
FPRAM: Fast-Page Random Access Memory - the standard memory found in most older PCs including some 486 systems.
L2 Cache: Known as secondary-level cache memory, it acts like a turbo for the processor. Normally found in 256Kb increments. The Pentium II processor has L2 cache memory built-in.
Mb: Megabyte. One m6gabyte equals 1,048,578 bytes, however; it is often shortened back to a simpler 1,000,000 bytes.
RAM: Random Access Memory. - this is the main memory inside a computer. It is a temporary storage place for data the processor is currently working on. It can be your files or computer program files. Pretty much everything goes through RAM.
SDRAM: Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Mernory. - the latest memory format found in latest model Pentium-MMX and Pentium II computers. Gives upwards of 20 per cent improvement over EDO RAM.
SGRAM: Stands for Synchronous Graphics Random Access Memory - Uses a similar architecture to SDRAM but is found in graphics cards. Very high speed that allows the card to create effects such as 3D backgrounds on-the-fly.
SIMM: Single In-line Memory Module - They look similar to DIMMs but have only a 32-bit wide data path. and chips only on one side of the printed circuit board. Need to be installed in pairs to comply with 64-bit memory access in most Pentium motherboards.
Processor Terminology
486: Term that describes a class of a processor based on Intel's 80486 processor. A similar chip is AMD's K5 chip.
BIOS: Basic Input/Output System. Refers to the instructions stored inside a read-only memory (ROM) chip that handle low level data transfer functions.
Chipset: The term given to a group of chips mainly responsible for the procesror's housekeeping. They handle functions such as transferring data from the processor to memory.
Clock speed: Rate at which a function cycles though one complete step, measured in Hertz (Hz). When referred to a processor, it means the MHz rating of the processor, for example, 200MHz.
Data bus speed: Term given to the path that data travels through in your computer. Its speed is measured in megahertz (MHz). The general rule is, the faster, the better. A 64-bit bus can transfer 64 bits of data at a time.
MMX: Multi-Media eXtensions. A set of instructions developed by Intel to improve multimedia performance in the Pentium and Pentium Pro processors, such as sound and graphics.
Over-clocking: The process whereby a processor is clocked at a higher rate than its specified rating.
Pentium: Intel's fifth generation processor. It debuted in 1993 with a clock speed of 60MHz.
Pentium II: The Intel name given to the upgraded Pentium Pro processor with MMX instructons.
Pentium Pro: The first of Intel's sixth generation processors based on a new architecture known as P6.
Processor: Short for Microprocessor and used in place of 'Central Processing Unit' (CPU). The brains inside your computer that does all the work.
Socket 5: Connection socket used for older Pentium processor up to 100MHz.
Socket 7: Connection socket used for newer Pentium and Pentium-MMX processors above 133MHz. Also used with AMD K5 and K6 chips, Cyrix/IBM 6x86 and IDT's Winchip C6.
Motherboard Terminology
AGP: Advanced Graphics Port. An Intel feature in Pentium II motherboards designed to speed up the performance of graphics cards. It is also appearing now in some Socket 7 motherboards.
Chipset: The term given to a group of chips mainly responsible for the processor's housekeeping. They handle funcions such as transferring data from processor to memory.
Data Bus:
Term given to the path that data travels through in your computer. Its
speed is measured in megahertz (MHz). The general rule is, the faster,
the better. A 64-bit bus can transfer 64 bits of data at a time.
Front-side bus:
Another term for data bus.
ISA:
Industry Standard Architecture -is the name given to the original PC expansion
bus where your sound and graphics cards used to plug into. It's old and
slow by today's standards but is adequate for many devices and is still
used. Comes in 8-bit and 16-bit versions with the latter using a wider
two-section connector.
PCI:
Peripheral Component Interconnect - is the format of the most recent expansion
slot. Designed by Intel, it runs at double the speed of ISA and also supports
Plug and Play.
Slot One: The name given to the connector that supports Intel's Pentium II processor. Is currently a proprietary design and not used by any other processor vendor.
Socket 7: The latest in a series of processor sockets. It supports the latest Pentium-MMX processors from Intel as well as the K5 and K6 from AMD, the Ml, M2 and 6x86 from Cyrix and IBM. About to be upgraded for AMD's new high-speed K6-2 chip.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Terminology
ATA:
Advanced Technology Attachment. - an international standard for the IDE
format.
Cluster:
Within a partition, the drive space is divided
into smaller addressed sections known as clusters. Each cluster can be
accessed by the computer to store or retrieve data.
Controller:
Another term for 'interface'.
FAT:
File Allocation Table - it's like a street directory and phonebook for
your files. The most common FAT is FAT16, which divides the drive into
65,536 possible clusters. FAT32 is more efficient and allows for space
savings (slack-space) and larger drives.
IDE:
Integrated Drive Electronics - a format invented by Compaq that became
the international standard known as ATA. This is the basic format of drive
you'll find in most PCs.
Interface:
This is the device that connects your computer's hard disk drive with the
motherboard. In order for everything to work, the interface must be the
same type as the drive.
Partition:
With drives becoming increasingly large, it can become necessary to divide
the disk into several sections; each one is called a partition. It works
and acts like a completely separate hard disk drive and can be used as
such.
SCSI:
Small Computer Systems Interface (pronounced 'skuzzy'). The other drive
format. It really refers to a connection system not only for hard disk
drives but also for CD-ROM drives, scanners, tape drives and even printers.
Ultra-ATA: The format used by many current hard disk drives. Faster than the older IDE format. It allows up to four devices such as CDROM drives and hard disk drives to be connected up to a PC. It has a top data transfer speed of 33Mb/sec.
Monitor Terminology
Colour temperature: A measurement of the intensity of colour from a monitor or picture tube, measured in degrees Kelvin and usually ranges from 5300K to 9000K. Pictures with a lower colour temperature appear more sepia in colour while high colour temperature pictures show a blu-ish tinge.
Colour-bleeding:
The effect whereby colours merge together due to an error in the video
signal.
Contrast:
A control that adjusts the difference between the brightest and darkest
areas on the screen.
Dot pitch:
The screens of colour monitors are made up of a structure of red, green
and blue dots. The dot pitch is the distance between one dot and the next
of the same colour and measured in millimetres (mm). The lower this figure,
the sharper the image quality.
Graphics card:
The device card that fits inside your computer. It controls the video and
what you see on the screen.
OSD:
Stands for On-Screen Display. Most late-model monitors have replaced rotary
controls with push-buttons that activate processor-based controls within
the monitor. The types of controls appear as a menu on your screen.
Pincushioning:
An error that causes the sides of the picture to bend inwards or outwards.
The correct image should produce clean right-angles at all four corners.
Resolution:
Term given to how many pixels are displayed on the screen.
Pixel:
A shortened form of "picture element" and refers to the number of -addressable
dots available horizontally and verticaly on a screen.
SVGA:
Term that describes an image with 800 (horizontal) x 600 (vertical) pixels.
SXGA:
Term that describes an image with 1280 x 1024 pixels.
Test pattern:
A special purpose image designed to show up non-linearity and colour errors
in a monitor.
Vertical scan rate:
The imageon a monitor is actually being redrawn many times per second.
This is the term given for how many tmes per second the full screen is
updated, measured in (Hz). The higher this figure, the better.
VGA:
Term that describes an image with 640 x 480 pixels.
Viewing area:
Because of picture tube and mounting limitations you don't get to see all
of the available picture tube. The viewing area is the area that you can
see and is usually one inch less than the tube size.
XGA:
Term that describes an image with 1024 x 768 pixels.
DVD-ROM Jargon
DIVX (Digital video Express).
A competing format to DVD-Video that will allow a 'pay per play' system.
Dolby Digital (AC3) Audio.
A clever system that enables up to six different sound channels to be digitally
encoded
into a movie to create a 'surround sound'.
DVD (Digital
Versatile Disc): The new
disc format that offers multi-layer data storage up to 17Gb.
DVD+RW:
Rewritable DVD format supported by Sony, Philips and HP. Not yet on the
market although expected sometime in 1999.
DVD-RAM:
Rewritable DVD format supported by Toshiba and Panasonic. Stores 2.6Gb
of data on each side of the disc.
DVD-ROM (DVD-Read-Only-Memory):
Format used for DVD-specific software. Similar to CD-ROM, it can only be
read, not used to store data.
DVD-Video:
The format used for most DVD movies, it includes global-regional coding.
MPEG-2:
The latest compression/decompression standard set by the Motion Picture
Experts Group.