Hardware Terms

AGP - Advanced Graphics Port - a 32-bit bus designed for the high demands of 3-D graphics. It's a slot inside your computer that you can install an AGP video card into.

BIOS - Basic Input Output System - includes instructions on how to load basic computer hardware. Also goes through a POST (Power On Self Test) to make sure the computer meets requirements to boot up properly.

CD-ROM - Compact Disk Read Only Memory - Used by your computer to install software, play music, etc.

CDR/CDR-W Drive - Similar to a CD-ROM except you can acutally put information on CD's and store the information such as data, music, video clips, etc.

CMOS - Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor - CMOS stores information such as the system time and system settings for your computer.

CPU - Central Processing Unit - the brain of the computer and the single most important chip in the computer.

CRT - Cathode ray tube - Technology that allowed the production of CRT monitors. The cumbersome monitors that are currently being phased out of production.

DVR/DVR-W - Similar to a CD-ROM except you can backup DVD's or store more information. Usually DVR's can hold 4.7 GIG of information.

Floppy Drive - Older drive found in a PC 's that stored 1.44 Megabytes of information or used to hold applications to be installed on the computer.

Hard Drive - Used to store information and applications on your computer. Hard drives have a large range of storage capacity which seems to increase daily.

IDE - Allows a computer to send and retrieve information for storage devices such as computer hard disk drives and CD-ROM drives. It's the strange cable that is attached to each of these devices and to the motherboard.

Infrared Port - Allows two computers or a computer and a device to communicate without the use of wires. Works similar to your TV remote.

IRQ's - Interrupt request - A signal that has a direct line to the computer processor, it allows it to stop the processor momentarily and decide what to do next.

Joystick - Connects to your computer like a mouse or keyboard. It is used to play some games or flight similators.

Jumpers - Allow the computer to close an electrical circuit on the computer to stop the flow of electricity throughout certain sections of the circuit board. Must be used when setting up hard drives, CD-ROM drives, etc.

Keyboard - Main input peripheral used by all computers. Most computers will not boot without the presence of a keyboard.

LCD - Licquid Crystal Display - Technology used to produce newer slim monitors.

Microphone - Input device used to record audio for playback on your PC, or send voice over the interent.

Modem - MODulator / DEModulator - Deviced used to connect to the internet through a phone line.

Mother Board - Allows various hardware components to communicate with each other.

Mouse - Input device that controls a cursor to manipulate data without complicated commands.

Network Card - A circuit board or chip, which allows the computer to communicate to other computers on a Network. Also needed to connect to the internet.

Parallel Port - Commonly used to connect printers to computers. The parallel port has almost been completely replaced by USB.

PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect - Most common bus in computers today. Used commonly for network cards, video cards and sound cards.

PCMCIA / PC Card - Credit card sized devices that offer everything from expanded storage space, modems, network cards, and CD-ROM drives.

Printer - Output device used to print information from your computer.

Processor - (See CPU)

PS/2 - Commonly used for a keyboard, but in modern computers has been replaced by USB.

RAID - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks - A number of hard disks which act as an extremely reliable single disk drive. Basically backing each other up so you will never lose data.

RAM - Random Access Memory - Programs you run on your computer are temporarly loaded into RAM to allow the computer access to those programs. When the program is closed that information is lost.

ROM - Read Only Memory - type of memory that is capable of holding data and being read from; however, it is not capable of being written to or having its data modified. Unlike RAM, ROM is capable of keeping its contents regardless if it has power or not.

Scanner - Input device used to input text and/or images into your computer.

SCSI - Small Computer System Interface - Allows for the chain of up to eight devices.

Serial Port - Most common use is for a mouse or modem. Serial ports are being phased out by USB.

Sound Card - Allows computers to output audio signals through speakers and/or headphones.

Speakers - Output device that allows you to hear sound from your PC.

UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply - Used to keep computers running for a short period of time after power has been lost.

USB - Universal Serial Bus - External bus capable of transferring 12 Mbps supporting up to 127 devices and only utilizing one IRQ. USB is used to control devices such as your mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, etc.

Video Card - Allows you to see what your computer is doing. Can't really do anything without a video card.

Zip Drive - Older storage device similar to a external hard drive.