Dell Dimension 3100C Owner's Manual page 122

— The speed, given in MHz, that indicates
B U S S P E E D
how fast a bus can transfer information.
— The basic data unit used by your computer. A
B Y T E
byte is usually equal to 8 bits.
C
C — Celsius — A temperature measurement system
where 0° is the freezing point and 100° is the boiling point
of water.
— A special high-speed storage mechanism
C A C H E
which can be either a reserved section of main memory or
an independent high-speed storage device. The cache
enhances the efficiency of many processor operations.
L1 cache — Primary cache stored inside the processor.
L2 cache — Secondary cache which can either be
external to the processor or incorporated into the
processor architecture.
— An international customs document that
C A R N E T
facilitates temporary imports into foreign countries. Also
known as a merchandise passport.
C D — compact disc — An optical form of storage
media, typically used for audio and software programs.
C D — A drive that uses optical technology to
D R I V E
read data from CDs.
C D — The software used to play music CDs.
P L A Y E R
The CD player displays a window with buttons that you
use to play a CD.
CD -R — CD recordable — A recordable version of a
CD. Data can be recorded only once onto a CD-R. Once
recorded, the data cannot be erased or written over.
C D - R W — CD rewritable — A rewritable version of a
CD. Data can be written to a CD-RW disc, and then
erased and written over (rewritten).
C D - R W — A drive that can read CDs and write
D R I V E
to CD-RW (rewritable CDs) and CD-R (recordable CDs)
discs. You can write to CD-RW discs multiple times, but
you can write to CD-R discs only once.
122 Glossary
C D - R W / D V D — A drive, sometimes referred
D R I V E
to as a combo drive, that can read CDs and DVDs and
write to CD-RW (rewritable CDs) and CD-R (recordable
CDs) discs. You can write to CD-RW discs multiple
times, but you can write to CD-R discs only once.
— The speed, given in MHz, that
C L O C K S P E E D
indicates how fast computer components that are
connected to the system bus operate.
C O A — Certificate of Authenticity — The Windows
alpha-numeric code located on a sticker on your
computer. You may need the COA to complete the
operating system setup or reinstallation. Also referred to
as the Product Key or Product ID.
C P — A Windows utility that allows
O N T R O L A N E L
you to modify operating system and hardware settings,
such as display settings.
— A chip that controls the transfer of
C O N T R O L L E R
data between the processor and memory or between the
processor and devices.
C R I M M — continuity rambus in-line memory module
— A special module that has no memory chips and is used
to fill unused RIMM slots.
— The marker on a display or screen that
C U R S O R
shows where the next keyboard, touch pad, or mouse
action will occur. It often is a blinking solid line, an
underline character, or a small arrow.
D
D D R S D R A M — double-data-rate SDRAM — A type
of SDRAM that doubles the data burst cycle, improving
system performance.
— Hardware such as a disk drive, printer, or
D E V I C E
keyboard that is installed in or connected to your
computer.
— See driver.
D E V I C E D R I V E R
D I N — A round, six-pin connector that
C O N N E C T O R
conforms to DIN (Deutsche Industrie-Norm) standards;
it is typically used to connect PS/2 keyboard or mouse
cable connectors.