an interface specification developed designed especially for the demands of 3-D graphics
the built-in software that determines what a computer can do without accessing programs from a disk; on PCs, the BIOS contains all the code required to control the keyboard, display screen, disk drives; BIOS is typically placed in a ROM chip on the motherboard
the ‘brain’ of the computer; it is here that most calculations take place
a device driver is a program that controls a device such as a printer or graphics card; many drivers, such as the keyboard driver, come with the operating system — for other devices such as a sound card, you may need to load a new driver when you connect the device to your computer; the driver is specific to an operating system
a connector on the motherboard that allows an expansion card to be plugged in to allow additional functionality to a computer, such as a sound card; on a motherboard you will find possible three types of expansion slots:
(1) ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) – this is being phased out
(2) PCI (Peripheral Connect Interface) – the most common type of slot for all expansion cards except graphics cards
(3) AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) – most commonly used for graphics cards
The form factor of a component or device describes the physical size and layout of the component. The form factor can also describe features of a device such as voltages used and connector types. By working with a common form factor, manufacturers of different devices can ensure that their products will be compatible. For example, a motherboard with an ATX form factor will be suitable for a case with an ATX form factor.
an interface for mass storage devices, in which the controller is integrated into the disk or CD-ROM drive
a metal bridge that closes an electrical circuit; typically, a jumper consists of a plastic plug that fits over a pair of protruding pins and is used to configure a device
a computer network that covers a local area, like a home, office or small group of buildings
a system designed to transmit information between electronic musical instruments; MIDI allows computers, synthesizers, sound cards and drum machines to control one another, and to exchange system information
a disk drive which reads and/or writes to a disk where the information is stored
the most common type of slot for all expansion cards except graphics cards
When you first turn a computer on, BIOS runs the POST which is a test to check that devices the computer will rely on are functioning, and initializes devices. Then BIOS goes through a preconfigured list of devices until it finds one that is bootable.
In common usage, the term RAM is synonymous with main memory, the memory available to programs. RAM memory is volatile, meaning that the contents of RAM memory are lost when the power is turned off.
ROM memory is memory chips that usually store critical programs such as BIOS. ROM memory is non-volatile, meaning that the contents are not lost when the power is turned off.
an interface for mass storage devices that allows up to 7 or 15 devices (depending on the bus width) to be connected to a single SCSI port in daisy-chain fashion
a high-speed bus used to connect peripherals
the unit of measurement for voltage, or electrical pressure