Terms from the PC and Computer World
Some terms or jargon related to computer hardware. Even if it still means nothing to you, it may wipe the smirk off some one who thinks they know everything.
DAT - stands for Digital Audio Tape, this is a magnetic tape using 4mm cartridges, often used in DAT drives for backups. Didn't take of as planned used for backup tape drives and was mainly used by musicians and sound studios. There are 4 medias DDs-1 - 4 which range at 2GB, 4GB, 12GB, 20GB.
DATA RATE - This is the amount of data a hard disc or device is capable of saving / transferring per second.
DIMM - dual in line memory module, a memory board referred to as ram. Similar to SIMMS but newer and effectively double sided, can be added singularly and is common format at the moment. comes with a 168 pin connector.
DMA - stands for direct memory access, this is the process that sis the retrieval of data from a hard drive which writes it into the memory with out requiring the cpu this frees up tasks and resources.
DRAM - a common and cheapest form of memory, which uses a capacitor and transistor to store one bit of data, it is similar to ram and is volatile so once power is removed it loses its memory.
DVD - digital versatile disc, but now also referred to as digital video disc following popular use in storing movies. There are several different formats at present ranging from 2.6GB - 17GB once a agreed format has been settled prices of media and recording devices will fall to realistic levels.
EPP/ECP - enhanced parallel port / extended capabilities, uses improved parallel port to give rates of over 2MB/s as well as bi directional duties. Bi-directional is mainly referred to in printing, basically allows the printer to communicate with the port backwards and forwards to inform of errors and such like.
FAT - file allocation table, these are held on floppy's or hard disks and communicate with the operating system where the data is stored. Using 16 bit addresses (FAT 16) it can only support disks up to 2GB, the FAT32 can handle sizes from 2GB - 2TB (terabytes)
FireWire - this is a very quick interface for use with external devices. Sometimes also known as IEEE 1394 or iLink, this format can support up to 63 devices and speeds of around 400Mbps. It is more expensive than USB, and at the moment used primarily for digital cameras and PDA's etc and where a high transfer rate is beneficial.
GIGABYTE - The standard unit of measurement for hard disk sizes, a gigabyte (GB) is roughly 1000 megabytes. (MB)
HARDWARE - A term used to describe every item of a computer that can be physically touched.
IDE - stands for integrated drive electronics, the commonest way of connecting hard drives and over devices to the PC. The units come with built in boards etc so no need for adapters as with SCSI devices you can just connect and power up.
IRQ - interrupt request signal, these are used by devices to basically interrupt the cpu to get its attention so that the cpu can read the instruction and carry out the task.
ISDN - stands for Integrated Services Digital Network, this is a digital phone line used to enhance connection speed the ISDN lines transmit at 64 kps, or 128 kbs if you use two lines. The maximum speed from a standard line is 56 kbs. For ISDN you will need a digital line and a ISDN adapter which does the job of the modem for the digital line.
KILOBYTE - a kilobyte is 1024 bytes but often referred to 1000 bytes of data. This is sometimes mistaken by users who think they have been done out of some hard drive space etc when really its 1024 not 1000.
LBA - this means Logical Block Addressing, used in hard drives capacity's.
LOGICAL DRIVE - a sub- partition of an extended partition on a hard disk.
