Dell Precision 410 User Manual page 148

extended memory
RAM above 1 MB. Most software that can use it, such as
the Windows operating system, requires that extended
memory be under the control of an XMM.
external cache memory
A RAM cache using SRAM chips. Because SRAM chips
operate at several times the speed of DRAM chips, the
microprocessor can retrieve data and instructions faster
from external cache memory than from RAM.
F
Abbreviation for Fahrenheit.
FAT
Acronym for file allocation table. The file system structure
used by MS-DOS to organize and keep track of file storage.
The Windows NT and OS/2
tionally use a FAT file system structure.
FCC
Abbreviation for Federal Communications Commission.
flash memory
A type of EEPROM chip that can be reprogrammed from
a utility on diskette while still installed in a computer; most
EEPROM chips can only be rewritten with special pro-
gramming equipment.
format
To prepare a hard-disk drive or diskette for storing files.
An unconditional format deletes all data stored on the disk.
ft
Abbreviation for feet.
FTP
Abbreviation for file transfer protocol.
g
Abbreviation for gram(s).
G
Abbreviation for gravities.
GB
Abbreviation for gigabyte(s). A gigabyte equals 1,024 mega-
bytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes.
6 Dell Workstation Mini Tower Systems User's Guide
®
operating systems can op-
graphics coprocessor
See coprocessor.
graphics mode
A video mode that can be defined as x horizontal by y
vertical pixels by z colors.
group
As it relates to DMI, a group is a data structure that defines
common information, or attributes, about a manageable
component.
GUI
Acronym for graphical user interface.
h
Abbreviation for hexadecimal. A base-16 numbering sys-
tem, often used in programming to identify addresses in
the computer's RAM and I/O memory addresses for de-
vices. The sequence of decimal numbers from 0 through
16, for example, is expressed in hexadecimal notation as:
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F, 10. In text,
hexadecimal numbers are often followed by h.
heat sink
A metal plate with metal pegs or ribs that help dissipate
heat. Most microprocessors include a heat sink.
HMA
Abbreviation for high memory area. The first 64 KB of
extended memory above 1 MB. A memory manager that
conforms to the XMS can make the HMA a direct exten-
sion of conventional memory. See also upper memory
area and XMM.
host adapter
A host adapter implements communication between the
computer's bus and the controller for a peripheral device.
(Hard-disk drive controller subsystems include integrated
host adapter circuitry.) To add a SCSI expansion bus to
your system, you must install or connect the appropriate
host adapter.
HPFS
Abbreviation for the High Performance File System option
in the OS/2 and Windows NT operating systems.
Hz
Abbreviation for hertz.