Question | Answer |
Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) | AGP Ports developed specifically for video cards. |
active partition | The active patrician used for booting. |
audio/modem riser (AMR) | A specification for a small slot on a motherboard to accommodate an audio or Modem Riser card. |
boot loader | Responsible for boot loading the OS |
boot record | This OS boot record contains a small program that points to a larger OS program file that is responsible for starting the OS load |
booting | Refers to the computer booting itself up to a working state without the user having to do anything but press the on button |
BootMgr | The OS boot mgr record program for Windows Vista. |
CMOS battery | A lithium coin-cell battery enables CMOS battery RAM to hold configuration data, even while the main power to the computer is off. |
Communication and networking riser (CNR) | A specification for a small cnr expansion slot on a motherboard that accommodates a small audio, modem, or network riser card. |
CrossFire | ATI's CFire technology for installing two video cards on a motherboard. |
dual inline package (DIP) switch | A switch on a circuit board or other device that can be set on or off to hold dip configuration or setup information. |
front panel header | The corner of the motherboard header for lights and switches. |
hard boot | A hard boot, or cold boot, involves turning on the power with the on/off switch. |
I/O shield | The shield installed in the computer case to provide holes for I/O SHIELD ports. |
jumper | Two jumper wires that stick up side by side on the motherboard and are used to hold configuration information. The jumper is considered closed if a cover is over the wires, and open if the cover is missing. |
land grid array (LGA) | Sockets that uses land grid arrays rather than pins. |
Master Boot Record (MBR) | A master boot record at the beginning of the drive that contains the partition table, which contains a map to partitions on the drive. |
North Bridge | The faster north hub in the Accelerated Hub Architecture. |