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35 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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system unit
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a case that contains electronic components of the computer used to process data
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motherboard
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sometimes called a system board, is the main circuit board of the system unit
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chip
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a small piece of semi-conducting material, usually silicone, on which circuits are etched
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CPU
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central processing unit, interprets and carries out the basic instructions that operate a computer
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microprocessor
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a very small chip that processes information and data
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system clock
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a quartz crystal circuit that controls the timing of all computer operations
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clock speed
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the pace of the system clock measured in ticks per second
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gigahertz
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one billion ticks per second
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binary system
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a number system that has two unique digits: zero and one (bit)
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bit
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short for binary digit, it is the smallest unit of data a computer (PC) can process
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volitile memory
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memory that loses it contents when power supply turns off
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nonvolitile memory
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does not lose its content when power is removed from the computer
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RAM
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random access memory, also called main memory, consists of memory chips that can be read from and written to the processor
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memory module
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a small circuit board in which RAM chips reside
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memory slots
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hold memory modules onto the motherboard
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L 1 cache
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built directly into the processing chip, usually are small and hold up to 128 kb of data
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L 2 cache
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slightly slower than L 1 but has much larger capacity (16 mb) and connects to more advanced processors
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ROM
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read only memory that can be accessed but not modified
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flash memory
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a type of nonvolitile memory that can be erased electronically and rewritten
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access time
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the amount of time it takes for a processor to read data
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nanosecond
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one billionth of a second
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expansion slot
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a socket on the motherboard that can hold an adapter card
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peripheral
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a device that connects to the system unit and is controlled by the processor
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adapter card
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circuit board that enhances the funtion of system unit components
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sound card
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enhances sound generated capabilities
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video card
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converts computer output into a video signal that travels through a cable to the monitor
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port
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a point at which peripheral attaches to or communicates with the system unit so that it can transfer data
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USB port
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short for universal serial bus port, can connect up to 127 different peripherals with one connector
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SCSI port
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allows you to attach skuzzy peripherals such as disk drives and printers
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port replicator
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an external device that provides connections to peripherals through ports built into the device
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docking station
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external device that attaches to a mobile computer or device
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bus
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allows the various devices both inside and attached to the system unit to connect to each other
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bay
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an opening inside the system unit in which you can install additional equiptment
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drive bay
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a rectangular opening that typically holds disk drives
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power supply
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the component on the system unit that converts the wall outlet AC power into DC power
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