Glossary Of Computer Terms

Computer - "a usu. electronic device for storing and processing data (usu. in binary form),      according to instructions given to it in a variable program." (Oxford Dictionary) For our purposes, everything (hardware and software) needed to perform basic data processing tasks.

Motherboard - the principal printed circuit board assembly in a computer; includes core logic (chipset), interface sockets and/or slots, and input/output (I/O) ports

Printed circuit board (PCB) - a thin, laminated sheet composed of a series of epoxy resin and copper layers and etched electronic circuits (signal, ground and power)

Form Factor - the physical layout of a motherboard in regards the relative position of the adapter card expansion slots, the number of those slots, the relative size of the motherboard, and the orientation of the board in the chassis.

Chipset (or core logic) - two or more integrated circuits which control the interfaces between the system processor, RAM, I/O devises, and adapter cards.

Processor slot/socket - the slot or socket used to mount the system processor on the motherboard

Slot (AGP, PCI, ISA, RAM) - the slots used to mount adapter cards and system RAM

AGP - Accelerated Graphics Port - a high speed interface for video cards; runs at 1X (66MHz), 2X (133MHz), or 4X (266MHz).

PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect - a high speed interface for video cards, sound cards, network interface cards, and modems; runs at 33MHz.

ISA - Industry Standard Architecture - a relatively low speed interface primarily used for sound cards and modems; runs at approx. 8MHz.

RAM - Random Access Memory - see System RAM Port (serial, parallel, PS/2, USB, sound, LAN, VGA, SCSI) - interface connectors for the associated types of devices

Serial - a low speed interface typically used for mice and external modems

Parallel - a low speed interface typically used for printers

PS/2 - a low speed interface used for mice and keyboards

USB - Universal Serial Bus - a medium speed interface typically used for mice, keyboards, scanners, display panels (control features, not data), speakers (control features, not sound), scanners, and some digital cameras

Sound (interface) - the interface between the sound card or integrated sound connectors and speakers, mic, game controllers, and MIDI sound devices

LAN(interface) - Local Area Network - the interface to your local area network

VGA- Video Graphics Adapter - the interface from your video card or integrated video connector and the system display monitor

SCSI (interface) - Small Computer System Interface - the interface between a SCSI controller and an external or internal SCSI device

Jumper - a small block (approx .250" wide x .312" long x .125" thick with two holes running lengthwise which are connected with a metal structure), or the functionally equivalent electronic "interconnect"; used to enable, disable, or select operating parameter on a motherboard or other PCB by either electrically connecting two pins on the PCB (closed) or separating them (open - only one pin is covered or the jumper is removed).

Connector header - a series of two or more metal pins on the motherboard or other PCB; used to attach a cable to indicator lights, switches, and/or other devices in the computer

Jumper header - two pins or a series of two-pin groups where jumpers are used

BIOS - (Basic Input/Output System) - the program logic used to boot up a computer and establish the relationship between the various components.

Driver - software which defines the characteristics of a device for use by another device or other software

User's manual - documentation provided by the product manufacturer to assist the user in understanding and using the associated product

Cable set - one or more interface cables (typically, in relation to a motherboard, includes cables for a floppy drive, hard drive, and CD-ROM drive; may include cables between an internal connector header and a bracket or other opening at the front of rear of the system; may include cables for both IDE/ATAPI and SCSI devices).

Processor the "central processing unit" (CPU); the principal integrated circuit used for doing the "computing" in "personal computing"

System RAM - the random access memory (RAM) used by the CPU for computational purposes

Video Card (Graphics Accelerator) an interface card with dedicated video processor and RAM; used for processing data for display on a monitor or display panel

Video Monitor Interface - there are primarily two interfaces used today, standard VGA and digital flat panel (DFP). These interfaces use different connectors and work with different types of monitors. The standard VGA interface will work with standard analog monitors and analog LCD flat panels. The DFP interface will ONLY work with digital LCD flat panels. Most video cards which support DFP will also support standard VGA (using a separate standard VGA connector).

Monitor - the computer's display device; used to display text and graphics processed by the computer

Video Cable - the cable between the system monitor and video card or integrated video connector on the motherboard

Chassis - the structure used to house the various "internal" components of the computer (i.e., the motherboard, adapter cards, various storage devices, power supply, etc.)

Power Supply - the device used to convert, regulate, and transmit external power for use by the components housed inside the computer chassis

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