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.