Dell Inspiron E1705 Owner's Manual - Page 178

memory - A temporary data storage area inside your computer. Because the data in memory is not permanent, it is recommended that you frequently save your files while you are working on them, and always save your files before you shut down the computer. Your computer can contain several different forms of memory, such as RAM, ROM, and video memory. Frequently, the word memory is used as a synonym for RAM. memory address - A specific location where data is temporarily stored in RAM. memory mapping - The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical locations at start-up. Devices and software can then identify information that the processor can access. memory module - A small circuit board containing memory chips, which connects to the system board. MHz - megahertz - A measure of frequency that equals 1 million cycles per second. The speeds for computer processors, buses, and interfaces are often measured in MHz. modem - A device that allows your computer to communicate with other computers over analog telephone lines. Three types of modems include: external, PC Card, and internal. You typically use your modem to connect to the Internet and exchange e-mail. module bay - See media bay. ms - millisecond - A measure of time that equals one thousandth of a second. Access times of storage devices are often measured in ms. N network adapter - A chip that provides network capabilities. A computer may include a network adapter on its system board, or it may contain a PC Card with an adapter on it. A network adapter is also referred to as a NIC (network interface controller). NIC - See network adapter. notification area - The section of the Windows taskbar that contains icons for providing quick access to programs and computer functions, such as the clock, volume control, and print status. Also referred to as system tray. ns - nanosecond - A measure of time that equals one billionth of a second. NVRAM - nonvolatile random access memory - A type of memory that stores data when the computer is turned off or loses its external power source. NVRAM is used for maintaining computer configuration information such as date, time, and other system setup options that you can set. O optical drive - A drive that uses optical technology to read or write data from CDs, DVDs, or DVD+RWs. Example of optical drives include CD drives, DVD drives, CD-RW drives, and CD-RW/DVD combo drives. P parallel connector - An I/O port often used to connect a parallel printer to your computer. Also referred to as an LPT port. partition - A physical storage area on a hard drive that is assigned to one or more logical storage areas known as logical drives. Each partition can contain multiple logical drives. PC Card - A removable I/O card adhering to the PCMCIA standard. Modems and network adapters are common types of PC Cards. PCI - peripheral component interconnect - PCI is a local bus that supports 32-and 64-bit data paths, providing a high-speed data path between the processor and devices such as video, drives, and networks. PCI Express - A modification to the PCI interface that boosts the data transfer rate between the processor and the devices attached to it. PCI Express can transfer data at speeds from 250 MB/sec to 4 GB/sec. If the PCI Express chip set and the device are capable of different speeds, they will operate at the slower speed. PCMCIA - Personal Computer Memory Card International Association - The organization that establishes standards for PC Cards. 178 Glossary