Dell Dimension 3100C Owner's Manual - Page 123

D I S K S T R I P I N G - A technique for spreading data over multiple disk drives. Disk striping can speed up operations that retrieve data from disk storage. Computers that use disk striping generally allow the user to select the data unit size or stripe width. D M A - direct memory access - A channel that allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor. D O C K I N G D E V I C E - See APR. D M TF - Distributed Management Task Force - A consortium of hardware and software companies who develop management standards for distributed desktop, network, enterprise, and Internet environments. D O M A I N - A group of computers, programs, and devices on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures for use by a specific group of users. A user logs on to the domain to gain access to the resources. D R A M - dynamic random-access memory - Memory that stores information in integrated circuits containing capacitors. D R I V E R - Software that allows the operating system to control a device such as a printer. Many devices do not work properly if the correct driver is not installed in the computer. D SL - Digital Subscriber Line - A technology that provides a constant, high-speed Internet connection through an analog telephone line. D U A L D I S P L A Y M O D E - A display setting that allows you to use a second monitor as an extension of your display. Also referred to as extended display mode. D V D - digital versatile disc - A disc usually used to store movies. DVDs are double-sided, whereas CDs are single-sided. DVD drives read most CD media as well. D V D D R I V E - A drive that uses optical technology to read data from DVDs and CDs. D V D P L A Y E R - The software used to watch DVD movies. The DVD player displays a window with buttons that you use to watch a movie. D V D + R W - DVD rewritable - A rewritable version of a DVD. Data can be written to a DVD+RW disc, and then erased and written over (rewritten). (DVD+RW technology is different from DVD-RW technology.) D V D + R W D R I V E - A drive that can read DVDs and most CD media and write to DVD+RW (rewritable DVDs) discs. D V I - digital video interface - A standard for digital transmission between a computer and a digital video display; the DVI adapter works through the computer's integrated graphics. E E C C - error checking and correction - A type of memory that includes special circuitry for testing the accuracy of data as it passes in and out of memory. E C P - extended capabilities port - A parallel connector design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission. Similar to EPP, ECP uses direct memory access to transfer data and often improves performance. E I D E - enhanced integrated device electronics - An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives. EMI - electromagnetic interference - Electrical interference caused by electromagnetic radiation. E N E R GY S TA R® - Environmental Protection Agency requirements that decrease the overall consumption of electricity. E P P - enhanced parallel port - A parallel connector design that provides bidirectional data transmission. ESD - electrostatic discharge - A rapid discharge of static electricity. ESD can damage integrated circuits found in computer and communications equipment. EX P A N S I O N C A R D - A circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the system board in some computers, expanding the capabilities of the computer. Examples include video, modem, and sound cards. EX P A N S I O N S L O T - A connector on the system board (in some computers) where you insert an expansion card, connecting it to the system bus. Glossary 123