| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
AGP |
interface specifically developed for use by the video sub-system |
BIOS |
self test performed by a computer system when it is first turned on which tests devices such as CPU, RAM and various I/O devices |
PCI |
interface that runs at speed of up to 33 MHz commonly used by most expansion cards |
IDE |
hard drive system whose disk controller is integrated into the drive |
POST |
software permanently stored in a chip on the motherboard that controls most of a computer system’s input/output functions such as the floppy drive, hard drive, RAM chips and the monitor |
form factor |
the physical size and layout of the component and can also describe features of a device such as voltages used and connector types |
RAM |
the main memory available to programs when the computer is powered on; this memory is volatile, meaning that the contents of RAM memory are lost when the power is turned off |
CPU |
the brains of the computer; it is here that most calculations take place |
driver |
program that controls a device such as a printer or graphics card, these programs are specific to an operating system |