Download Term 1 ICT Glossary: Definitions of Key Technology Terms and more Quizzes Computer Science in PDF only on Docsity!
3D sound card
An expansion card that enables a computer to produce sounds that are omnidirectional or three dimensional TERM 2
access time
DEFINITION 2 The time it takes a storage device to locate its stored data TERM 3
bit depth
DEFINITION 3 The number of bits a video card uses to store data about each pixel on the monitor TERM 4
cache memory
DEFINITION 4 Small blocks of memory, located directly on and next to the central processing unit (CPU) chip, that act as holding places for recently or frequently used instructions or data that the CPU accesses the most. When these instructions or data are stored in cache memory, the CPU can more quickly retrieve them than if it had to access the instructions or data from random access memory (RAM). TERM 5
clock speed
DEFINITION 5 The steady and constant pace at which a computer goes through machine cycles, measured in hertz (Hz).
core
A complete processing section from a CPU, embedded into one physical chip. TERM 7
CPU benchmarks
DEFINITION 7 Measurements used to compare performance between processors. TERM 8
CPU usage graph
DEFINITION 8 Records your CPU usage for the past several seconds. TERM 9
CPU usage
DEFINITION 9 The percentage of time that your CPU is working. TERM 10
ExpressCard
DEFINITION 10 Notebooks are often equipped with an ExpressCard slot. The ExpressCard can add a solid state drive (SSD), eSATA and FireWire ports, and other capabilities to your system.
head crash
Impact of read/write head against magnetic platter of the hard drive; often results in data loss. TERM 17
hyperthreading
DEFINITION 17 A technology that permits quicker processing of information by enabling a new set of instructions to start executing before the previous set has finished. TERM 18
kernel memory
DEFINITION 18 The memory that the computer's operating system uses. TERM 19
latency (rotational delay)
DEFINITION 19 The process that occurs after the read/write head of the hard drive locates the correct track, and then waits for the correct sector to spin to the read/write head. TERM 20
memory module (memory card)
DEFINITION 20 A small circuit board that holds a series of random access memory (RAM) chips.
Moore's Law
A prediction, named after Gordon Moore, the cofounder of Intel; states that the number of transistors on a CPU chip will double every two years. TERM 22
nonvolatile storage
DEFINITION 22 Permanent storage, as in read-only memory (ROM). TERM 23
optical media
DEFINITION 23 Portable storage devices, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs, that use a laser to read and write data. TERM 24
physical memory
DEFINITION 24 The amount of random access memory (RAM) that is installed in a computer. TERM 25
platter
DEFINITION 25 A thin, round, metallic storage plate stacked onto the hard drive spindle.
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
(SATA)
A type of hard drive that uses much thinner cables, and can transfer data more quickly than IDE drives. TERM 32
solid-state drive
(SSD)
DEFINITION 32 A storage device that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives use, but can reach data in only a tenth of the time a flash drive requires. TERM 33
sound card
DEFINITION 33 An expansion card that attaches to the motherboard inside the system unit and that enables the computer to produce sounds by providing a connection for the speakers and microphone. TERM 34
Super Fetch
DEFINITION 34 A memory-management technique used by Windows 7. Monitors the applications you use the most and preloads them into your system memory so that they'll be ready to go. TERM 35
surround sound
DEFINITION 35 A type of audio processing that makes the listener experience sound as if it were coming from all directions.
system evaluation
The process of looking at a computer's subsystems, what they do, and how they perform to determine whether the computer system has the right hardware components to do what the user ultimately wants it to do. TERM 37
track
DEFINITION 37 A concentric circle that serves as a storage area on a hard drive platter. TERM 38
video card (video adapter)
DEFINITION 38 An expansion card that is installed inside a system unit to translate binary data (the 1s and 0s the computer uses) into the images viewed on the monitor. TERM 39
video memory
DEFINITION 39 RAM that is included as part of a video card. TERM 40
volatile storage
DEFINITION 40 Temporary storage, such as in random access memory (RAM). When the power is off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.
