Dell OptiPlex 320 DCSM User Manual page 137

Glossary: Dell OptiPlex 320 User's Guide
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.
PIO — programmed input/output — A method of transferring data between two devices through the processor as part of the
data path.
pixel — A single point on a display screen. Pixels are arranged in rows and columns to create an image. A video resolution,
such as 800 x 600, is expressed as the number of pixels across by the number of pixels up and down.
Plug-and-Play — The ability of the computer to automatically configure devices. Plug and Play provides automatic
installation, configuration, and compatibility with existing hardware if the BIOS, operating system, and all devices are Plug
and Play compliant.
POST — power-on self-test — Diagnostics programs, loaded automatically by the BIOS, that perform basic tests on the major
computer components, such as memory, hard drives, and video. If no problems are detected during POST, the computer
continues the start-up.
processor — A computer chip that interprets and executes program instructions. Sometimes the processor is referred to as
the CPU (central processing unit).
PS/2 — personal system/2 — A type of connector for attaching a PS/2-compatible keyboard, mouse, or keypad.
PXE — pre-boot execution environment — A WfM (Wired for Management) standard that allows networked computers that do
not have an operating system to be configured and started remotely.
R
RAID — redundant array of independent disks — A method of providing data redundancy. Some common implementations of
RAID include RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10, and RAID 50.
RAM — random-access memory — The primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data. Any information
stored in RAM is lost when you shut down your computer.
readme file — A text file included with a software package or hardware product. Typically, readme files provide installation
information and describe new product enhancements or corrections that have not yet been documented.
read-only — Data and/or files you can view but cannot edit or delete. A file can have read-only status if:
It resides on a physically write-protected floppy disk, CD, or DVD.
It is located on a network in a directory and the system administrator has assigned rights only to specific
individuals.
refresh rate — The frequency, measured in Hz, at which your screen's horizontal lines are recharged (sometimes also
referred to as its vertical frequency). The higher the refresh rate, the less video flicker can be seen by the human eye.
resolution — The sharpness and clarity of an image produced by a printer or displayed on a monitor. The higher the
resolution, the sharper the image.
file:///N|/For_lekha/For%20Deepa/Nadia/UG/A00/en/nadia-temp-working-jul19/Nadia_UG_A00/Output/glossary.htm[5/22/2015 10:43:55 AM]