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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What are the two types of SCSI termination?
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Internal and External
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FRU
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Field Replaceable Unit
A computer element a tech can replace/upgrade w/o send to manufacturer |
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BINARY
NUMBERING |
All system elements are defined as strings of 1's and 0's read from right to left and each position is based on powers of 2.
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DECIMAL
NUMBERING |
Base 10: Each position is based on powers of 10, read from left to right.
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BIT
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Acronym for single binary digit (b). Represents a binary value of 1 or 0 (computer sees presence/absence of data)
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NIBBLE
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4 bits or 1/2 of a byte.
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BYTE
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8 bits (Capital B)
The stand unit for measuring memory, file size, etc. |
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WORD
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The amount of data that a microprocessor can handle at one time. Usually 16 bits (two bytes).
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OTHER DATA AMOUNTS
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Kilo-1024 bits or bytes
Mega-1024 Kb/KB or million B Giga-1024 Mb/MB or billion B |
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HEXADECIMAL
NUMBERING |
Base 16 (contains sixteen elements)
0-9 and A-F |
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ASCII
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American Standard Code for Information Interchange: A standard code for storing text values. Orig 7 bit/128 values, now ext character set adds another 128.
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UNICODE
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An international 16-bit encoding standard that can represent the 65,536 characters in major world languages.
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COM
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Communication
PC serial ports with max transmission of 115kbps, one bit at a time. |
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LPT
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Line Printer Port
PC parallel ports |
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PARALLEL
COMMUNICATION |
More than i bit at a time. Usually 8 bits (a byte) or 16 bits (a word). Each bit requires separate line plus one controller (9 or 17 tot)
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SERIAL
COMMUNICATION |
One bit at a time over a single line. Only 1 bit b/c a single line can only have 1 value (on or off).
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RELATIVE
COMMUNICATION SPEEDS |
Serial--115 Kbps
Parallel--500Kbps USB 1.0/1.1: 12 Mbps (1.5 MBps USB 2.0: 480 Mbps (60 MBps) |
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SYNCHRONOUS
COMMUNICATION |
Uses a timing signal to keep conversation synched. More efficient but harder to implement due to additional control overhead.
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ASYNCHRONOUS
COMMUNICATION |
Communication occurs at anytime, requiring use of start/stop bits to identify start/end of data stream.
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BUS
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A circuit or path that carries data between computer components. Can have varied spees and data capabilites, wires can't cross!
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GUI
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Graphical User Interface (gooey)
An environment that uses sophisticated graphics to represent system elements such as files, directories, and hard drives (Windows). |
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CLI
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Command Line Interface--An environment that uses command lines to interface between machine/operator (DOS)
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Name two machine to user interfaces and give an example of each
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GUI--Windows
CLI--DOS |
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ISA
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Industry Standard Architecture--A 16-bit bus standard that has been largely replaced by faster ones. Based on original IBM PC AT bus structure.
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EISA
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Extended ISA
Uses a 32-bit bus. Also considered a legacy standard and often referred to as ISA. |
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PCI
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Peripheral Component Interconnect
The current standard for desktop computers. Originally a 32-bit bus and also supports 64-bit bus. This is the most currently used expansion slot type. |
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System
Bus Width |
The amount of data the bus can accomodate at one time, measured in bits. Common widths are 16, 32, and 64.
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System
Bus Speed |
The measurement of how quickly the bus can transport data, measured in MHz or GHz. Common ones are 750MHz, 2 and 3 GHz.
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Desktop
Form Factors |
Tower
Mini-tower Desktop Low-profile (more for servers) |
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Chassis
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Metal frame that holds and acts as a ground for all components.
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Front Cover
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Plastic piece that covers openings otherwise occupied by peripherals.
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Slots
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Designed for holding expansion cards, including ISA and PCI cards.
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Slot
Cover |
Thin metal plate that covers the slots normally occupied by PCI or ISA cards.
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Bays
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Areas in the chassis designated for holding drives and other internal components. Also called "storage bays."
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Eurocard Industry
Standard System |
System used for measuring server cases. Basic unit is "u" which is 1.75 inches high. Impt for rack server assemblies. 1u often called a pizza box.
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Proprietary
Component |
A device that is only compatible with equipment made by a particular manufacturer.
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Infrared
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The use of red-spectrum light to send data. Based on line of sight.
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Three basic functional
blocks of a computer |
I/O, storage, and processing.
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Touch
Screen |
Video display used as an input device.
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I/O
Card |
A special computer card that coordinates all I/O devices. Usually integrated on the Mobo.
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LCD
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Liquid Crystal Diodes
Laptop screens and flat panels. |
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NIC
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Network Interface Card
AKA "network adapters." Combination I/O device between and computer and a LAN (local area network). |
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Volatile
Storage |
Short-term storage of programs and data. Lost when power goes off or system resets. Most obvious example is RAM (random access memory).
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Nonvolatile
Storage |
Long-term storage of data and programs. Once written, it will remain until erased, over-written, or lost due to failure. Floppies, CD, DVD...
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DVD
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Digital Video Disc
Storage technology often seen as replacement for CD-ROM devices. Usually for video storage and sometimes called "Digital Versatile Disc". |
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<Control> + <Shift> + <Escape>
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Straight to Task Manager.
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Virtual
Memory |
When RAM is insufficient, the OS tricks the computer and "borrows" space from the hard drive. Data is temporarily stored in C:\pagefile.sys (swap file). Much slower than real RAM.
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Multi-tasking
Operating System |
An OS that allows you to run multiple concurrent applications (Windows).
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Superscalar
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Ability of a micro-processor to perform multiple operations in parallel (simultaneously) to save processing time.
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Software
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A series of program steps that can be executed by the micro-processor.
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Two types of
software |
OS-Required to make the computer start/run. Controls hardware, provides user interface, provides environment for running apps.
Applications--Everything else |
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Hardware
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Everything you can physically see and touch in the computer, including external peripherals.
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Motherboard
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MoBo
The main circuit board in a computer. The micro-processor, physical memory, and support circuitry are located on the MoBo. |
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Firmware
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A hybrid between hardware and software. It is a chip that has executable programs "burned" into it. it is nonvolatile and can be upgraded. BIOS is a good example.
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BIOS
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Basic Input/Output System
Firmware that contains the software programs required to help the system begin loading the OS into memory. Runs system diagnostics during startup. |
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ACPI
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Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
Power control and management system designed to help minimize system power requirements. Allows for hibernation, etc. |
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Chipset
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Set of integrated circuits that provides the MoBo support and device interface circuitry.
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DMA
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Direct Memory Access
Memory management method in which devices can read and write directly to system memory w/o going thru the CPU. |
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EIDE
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Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics
Most common HDD, CD-ROM, CD-RW, and DVD/DVD-RW disk drive interface. Integrated into the MoBo circuitry as part of the chipset |
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Expansion
Slots |
MoBo slots into which adapter boards are installed.
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I/O
Address |
Small area of memory used for communication between the micro-processor and peripheral devices, including adapter boards and standard serial/parallel ports.
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IRQ
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Interrupt Request
Signal used for controlled communications between the microprocessor and other devices installed on the MoBo (like raising your hand) |
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Jumper
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Conductive device used to complete the circuit betweeen exposed pins and used for device configuration
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POST
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Power On Self Test
Series of diagnostic tests that are run during system start-up. |
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SCSI
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Small Computer System Interface
Device interface used for connecting both int/ext devices. |
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Socket
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Means of attaching ICs to a printed circuit board that allows removal/replacement by technicians.
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SEC
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Single-Edge Connector
Another way to connect an IC to the MoBo. Most modern Pentiums use this form. SECs are also called "slot connectors". |
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System
Bus |
Data and control signal pathway on the MoBo that connects the micro-processor, memory, and expansion bus slots together.
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USB
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Universal Serial Bus
Two standards for attaching peripherals: 1.0/1.1--Nominal 12Mbps, slow 1.5 Mbps 2.0--Up to 480 Mbps |
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PnP
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Plug and Play
A component that is seen and installed by the computer automatically (auto-detect). PCI cards are PnP, ISA cards are not. |