Midterm 50

Front 1

DMA

Back 1

A feature of a computer systems that allows certain hardware subsystems to access main system (RAM) memory independently of the central processing unit

Front 2

Defragment

Back 2

To rewrite a file to a disk in one contiguous chain of clusters, thus speeding up data retrieval.

Front 3

CAS latency

Back 3

A method of accessing timing to memory, which is the number of clock cycles which required to write or read a column of data off a memory module. CAS stands for Column Access Strobe.

Front 4

RAS latency

Back 4

A method of measuring access timing to memory, which is the number of clock cycles required to write or read a row of data off a memory module. RAS stands for Row Access Strobe.

Front 5

ECC

Back 5

Error correction code- a chipset feature on a motherboard that checks the integrity of data stored on DIMMs or RIMMs and can correct single-bit errors in a byte. More advanced ECC schemas can detect, but not correct, double-bit errors in a byte.

Front 6

DVI

Back 6

Digital video interface- a port that transmits digital or analog video

Front 7

DVI-D

Back 7

A DVI digital visual interface video port that works only with digital monitors

Front 8

Hypervisor

Back 8

Software that creates and manages virtual machines on a server or on a local computer

Front 9

Low level format

Back 9

A process (usually performed at the factory) that electronically creates the hard drive track and sectors and tests for bad spots on the disk surface.

Front 10

High level format

Back 10

A process performed by the windows format program, the windows installation program, or the disk management utility. The process creates the boot record, file system, and root directory on a hard drive volume or logical drive, a floppy disk, or USB flash drive

Front 11

PCI

Back 11

Perpheral component interface A bus common to desktop computers that uses a 32-bit wide or a 64-bit data path.

Front 12

PCIe

Back 12

The latest evolution of PCI, which is not backwards compatible with earlier PCI slots and cards. PCIe slots come in several sizes, including PCIe x1,PCIe x4,PCIe x8 and PCIe x16

Front 13

IDE

Back 13

Integrated drive electronics- A hard drive whose disk controller is integrated into the drive, eliminating the need for a controller cable and thus increasing speed.

Front 14

EIDE

Back 14

PATA standard that supports the configuration of four IDE devices in a system.

Front 15

SCSI

Back 15

Small computer system interface- A fast interface between a host adapter and the CPU that can daisy chain as many as 7 or 15 devices on a single drive

Front 16

Front side bus

Back 16

The bus between the CPU and memory on the motherboard.

Front 17

Flea-ATX

Back 17

A motherboard form factor derived from ATX. Flea-ATX specifies that a motherboard be no larger than 9×7.5 in (229×191 mm) and can have no more that four expansion slots.

Front 18

Firewire

Back 18

A data transmission standard used by computers and peripherals. Firewire400- transmits 400Mbps, Firewire800 - transmits 800Mbps.

Front 19

SATA

Back 19

Serial ATA- An ATAPI interface standard that uses a narrower and more reliable cable than the 80 - conductor cable and is easier to configure than PATA systems.

Front 20

KVM switch

Back 20

A switch that allows you to use one keyboard, mouse, and monitor for multiple computers. Some KVM switches also include sound ports so that speakers and a microphone can be shared among multiple computers.

Front 21

Device manager

Back 21

Primary Windows tool for managing hardware

Front 22

DDR RAM

Back 22

Transferred data on both the rising and falling edge of the clock giving it twice bandwidth. (Memory clock 100mhz) (i/O bus clock 100mhz)(Transfer rate 0.2 GT/s) (theoretical bandwidth 1.6 GB/s)

Front 23

DDR2

Back 23

Improved bus signal that enabled it to operate the data bus twice at the rate of DDR RAM. (Memory clock 200mhz) (I/0 bus clock 400mhz) (Transfer rate .8GT/s)(theoretical bandwidth 6.4GB/s)

Front 24

DDR3

Back 24

Had focus on using lower voltage for reduction in power consumption (Memory clock 200mhz)(I/O bus clock 800mhz)(Transfer rate 1.6GT/s)(theoretical bandwidth 12.8GB/s)

Front 25

BIOS

Back 25

(Basic input/output system) Firmware that can control much of a computer's input/output functions.

Front 26

CMOS

Back 26

The technology used to manufacture microchips. CMOS chips require less electricity, hold data longer after the electricity is turned off, and produce less heat than earlier technologies.The configuration or setup in a CMOS chip

Front 27

PATA

Back 27

Parallel ATA an older IDE cabling method that uses a 4-pin flat or round data cable or an 80 - conductor cable and a 4-pin IDE connector

Front 28

Crossfire

Back 28

AMD crossfire is a brand name for the multi-gpu solution by Advanced Micro Devices originally developed by ATI Technologies the technology allows for up to 4 GPUs used to be used in a single computer to improve graphics performance

Front 29

SLI

Back 29

(Scalable link interface) is a brand name for a multi-gpu technology developed by NVIDIA for linking two or more video cards together to produce a single output. SLI is an algorithm of parallel processing for computer graphics meant to increase the processing power available for graphics.

Front 30

QPI

Back 30

The Intel Quickpath interconnect is a point-to-point processor interconnect developed by intel.we replace the front side bus in Xeon , Itanium and certain desktop platforms starting in 2008.

Front 31

DRAM

Back 31

Dynamic random access memory is a type of random access memory that stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit the capacitor can be either charged or discharged these two states are taken to represent the two values of bit it conventionally called 0 and 1.

Front 32

SDRAM

Back 32

Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. classic Dram has an asynchronous interface which means that it respond as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs

Front 33

EDO

Back 33

Extended data output allows a CPU to access memory 10 to 15% faster then the compatible fast page memory by not turning off the data output drivers after the memory has removed the column address.

Front 34

DIMM

Back 34

Dual inline memory module is a double simm single inline memory module it's a module containing one or several random access memory chips on a small circuit board with pins that connect it to the computer motherboard

Front 35

SRAM

Back 35

Static random access memory is a type of semiconductor memory that uses bistable latching circuitry or flip flops to store each bit. SRAM exhibits data remanence but it is still volatile in the conventional sense that data is eventually lost when the memory is not powered

Front 36

HTPC

Back 36

Home theater PC is a convergence device that combines some or all the capabilities of a personal computer with a software application that supports video photo audio playback and sometimes video recording functionality.

Front 37

Domain

Back 37

A Windows domain is a form of a computer network in which all user accounts computers printers and other security principles are registered with a central database called Active Directory service located on one time or clusters of a central computers known as the main controller.

Front 38

SPD

Back 38

Serial presence detect is a standardized way to automatically access information about a computer memory module. SPD is a memory hardware feature that makes it possible for the computer to know what memory is present

Front 39

Resistor

Back 39

A resistor is a passive to terminal electrical component to implement electrical resistance as a current on it resistors act to reduce current flow and at the same time act to lower voltage levels within circuits

Front 40

Volt

Back 40

The volt is a measure of electrical potential. Electrical potential is a type of potential energy and refers to the energy that could be released if electric current is allowed to flow.

Front 41

Current

Back 41

An electric current is a flow of electric charge. In electric circuits this charge is often carried by moving electrons in a wire

Front 42

Flash memory

Back 42

Flash memory is a type of nonvolatile memory that erases data in units called blocked a block store on a flash memory chip must be erased before data can be written, or programmed, to the microchip.