Computer Hardware Definitions...

Let's start to learn some of the computer hardware definitions we see in the descriptions of computer products.

As you start to do your research when doing your computer shopping, these acronyms really leave you up in the air.

Here are a few of them you'll come across:

PC - Personal Computer
CPU - Central Processing Unit or Microprocessor
MHz - Megahertz, clock speed of the CPU
GHz - Gigahertz, 1,000 MHz
PGA - Pin Grid Array, a CPU package
SEC - Single Edge Cartridge, a CPU package
RAM - Random Access Memory, stores programs and data currently being used by the CPU, measured in bytes
DRAM - Dynamic Random Access Memory, a special type of semiconductor that stores individual 1's and 0's using microscopic capacitors and transistors
SDRAM - Synchronous Dynamic Access Memory, it is synchronous-tied to the system clock
DDR SDRAM - Double Data Rate SDRAM, doubles the throughtput of SDRAM, makes two processes for every clock cycle
Byte - Characters A to Z, 0 to 9
KB - Kilobytes, 1,000 bytes
MB - Megabytes, 1,000 KB
GB - Gigabytes, 1,000 MB
DIMM - Dual Inline Memory Module, a 168-pin RAM package, (SO) small outline 72-pin or 144-pin
SIMM - Single Inline Memory Module, an obsolete 30-pin or 72-pin RAM package
Motherboard - a thin, flat piece circuit board connecting everything in a PC case

Sockets - on motherboard to connect the CPU, RAM, power, etc.
Components - CPU, RAM, Power, mice, printer, joysticks, keyboard, hard drive, etc.
Devices - Components
Traces - tiny wires linking together the various components of the PC on the motherboard
Expansion slots - to add optional components, scanners, modems, network cards, sound cards, etc.
Power Supply - provides electrical power to make the PC operate from 110-volt or 220-volt AC TO 12-volt, 5-volt or 3.3-volt
Hard Drive - store programs and data not currently being used by the CPU, measured in MB or GB, EIDE or SCSI
ATA - AT Attachment hard drive interface; IDE and EIDE are used interchangebly
EIDE - Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics, controller built into the hard drive
CD-ROM Drive - Compact Disk Read Only Memory, drive to access CD-ROM
CD-RW - Compact Disk-Rewritable, can write and rewrite CD-RW disk
DVD - Digital Versatile Disk,
DVD-ROM Drive - reads/writes video and data, supports DVD-Video and CD-ROM formats
DVD-RAM Drive - equivalent to CD-RW, can store up to 16 GB or 2hrs of video
Mbps - Megabits per second, data transfer rate for the modem

These are just some of the computer hardware definitions to get you started.

Now when you read the PC specifications in ads you can link back to computer hardware definitions and find out what they mean.

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