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Hardware Vocabulary
Hardware Vacobulart
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Central processing unit (CPU) | The chip located inside the system unit of a computer that performs the processing for a computer. |
| GHz – (gigahertz) | Speed of a processor counted by billions of ticks per second. |
| MHz – (megahertz) | Speed of a processor counted by millions of ticks per second. |
| System Unit | The container that holds the motherboard and keeps components safe. |
| Motherboard | The main circuit board of a computer to which all computer system components connect. |
| BIOS: Basic Input/Output System | Lowest level software in the computer that acts as an interface between the hardware of the operating system. |
| ROM: Read Only Memory | Contain permanently written data called firmware that loads the operating system when first powered on. |
| Cache (CASH) | Small, high speed memory between the processor and system memory, faster than RAM. |
| Hard disk drive | A storage system consisting of one or more metal magnetic disks permanently sealed with an access mechanism inside its drive. |
| MB, Megabyte | Storage measurement in millions of bytes. |
| GB, Gigabyte | Storage measurement in billions of bytes. |
| TB, Terabyte | Storage measurement in trillions of bytes. |
| Random access memory (RAM) | Provides a high speed, temporary location for the computer to hold data and program instructions. |
| Bit | The smallest unit of computing, consists of either a 0 or 1 (on or off). |
| Byte | 8 bits makes 1 byte. |
| Video Graphic Adapter | Enables the connection of a monitor and may provide additional graphics capabilities. |
| Network Interface Card | Enables a PC to connect to a network. |
| Optical Drive | Adds read and write capabilities to your computer for portability. |
| Monitor | A display device that projects images onto a display screen. |
| Power Supply | A hardware component that supplies power to an electrical device. |
| Graphics Card | The graphics card decides how to use the pixels on the screen to create the image. It then sends that information to the monitor through a cable. |
| Hardware | The physical parts of a computer and related devices. |
| Computer | A programmable machine. |
| Processor | A small chip that resides in computers and other electronic devices. |