System Requirements Definition Whenever you purchase software or hardware for your computer, you should first make sure your computer supports the system requirements. These are the necessary specifications your computer must have in order to use the software or hardware. For example, a computer game may require you computer to have Windows XP or later, ..
Category : Hardware
Peripheral Definition A computer peripheral is any external device that provides input and output for the computer. For example, a keyboard and mouse are input peripherals, while a monitor and printer are output peripherals. Computer peripherals, or peripheral devices, are sometimes called “I/O devices” because they provide input and output for the computer. Some peripherals, ..
PCI Definition Stands for “Peripheral Component Interconnect.” PCI is a hardware bus used for adding internal components to a desktop computer. For example, a PCI card can be inserted into a PCI slot on a motherboard, providing additional I/O ports on the back of a computer. The PCI architecture, also known as “conventional PCI,” was designed by Intel and introduced in 1992. Many ..
Integrated Circuit Definition An integrated circuit, or IC, is small chip that can function as an amplifier, oscillator, timer, microprocessor, or even computer memory. An IC is a small wafer, usually made of silicon, that can hold anywhere from hundreds to millions of transistors, resistors, and capacitors. These extremely small electronics can perform calculations and store ..
System Unit Definition The system unit, also known as a “tower” or “chassis,” is the main part of a desktop computer. It includes the motherboard, CPU, RAM, and other components. The system unit also includes the case that houses the internal components of the computer. The term “system unit” is often used to differentiate between the computer and peripheral devices, such ..
NIC Definition Stands for “Network Interface Card” and is pronounced “nick.” A NIC is a component that provides networking capabilities for a computer. It may enable a wired connection (such as Ethernet) or a wireless connection (such as Wi-Fi) to a local area network. NICs were commonly included in desktop computers in the 1990s and early 2000s. In the 1980s and early 1990s, many computers did ..
Controller Card Definition The controller card, or simply “controller,” is a piece of hardware that acts as the interface between the motherboard and the other components of the computer. For example, hard drives, optical drives, printers, keyboards, and mice all require controllers to work. Most computers have all the necessary controllers built in the motherboard ..
AGP Definition Stands for “Accelerated Graphics Port.” AGP is a type of expansion slot designed specifically for graphics cards. It was developed in 1996 as an alternative to the PCI standard. Since the AGP interface provides a dedicated bus for graphics data, AGP cards are able to render graphics faster than comparable PCI graphics cards. Like PCI slots, AGP slots ..
DVD+R Definition Stands for “Digital Versatile Disc Recordable.” DVD+R discs look the same as regular DVDs, but can be used to record data. Single-sided, single-layer DVD+R discs can store 4.7GB of data, while double-layer discs can store 8.5GB and double-sided DVD-Rs can store 9.4GB. The DVD+R format is not quite as common as the DVD-R ..
Mouse Definition While most people don’t want to see a mouse running around in their home, they typically don’t have a problem seeing one sitting by their computer. This is because, along with the keyboard, the mouse is one of the primary input devices used with today’s computers. The name comes from the small shape of the mouse, ..
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