Dell PRECISION 610 User Manual page 214

12 Dell Precision 610 Mini Tower Systems User's Guide
Acronym for random-access memory.
The computer's primary temporary stor-
age area for program instructions and
data. Each location in RAM is identified by
a number called a memory address . Any
information stored in RAM is lost when
you turn off your computer.
Acronym for random-access memory
digital-to-analog converter.
A read-only file is one that you are prohib-
ited from editing or deleting. A file can
have read-only status if:
Its read-only attribute is enabled.
It resides on a physically write-
protected diskette or on a diskette in
a write-protected drive.
It is located on a network in a
directory to which the system
administrator has assigned read-
only rights to you.
A text file included with a software pack-
age or hardware product that contains
information supplementing or updating
the documentation for the software or
hardware. Typically, readme files provide
installation information, describe new
product enhancements or corrections
that have not yet been documented, and
list known problems or other things you
need to be aware of as you use the soft-
ware or hardware.
An operating mode supported by 80286
or higher processors, real mode imitates
the architecture of an 8086 processor.
The rate at which the monitor redraws the
video image on the monitor screen. More
precisely, the refresh rate is the frequen-
cy, measured in Hz, at which the 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. The
higher refresh rates are also
noninterlaced.
Abbreviation for radio frequency
interference.
Abbreviation for red/green/blue.
Acronym for read-only memory. Your
computer contains some programs es-
sential to its operation in ROM code.
Unlike RAM, a ROM chip retains its
contents even after you turn off your com-
puter. Examples of code in ROM include
the program that initiates your computer's
boot routine and the POST.
Abbreviation for revolutions per minute.
Abbreviation for real-time clock. Battery-
powered clock circuitry inside the
computer that keeps the date and time
after you turn off the computer.
Acronym for small computer system in-
terface. An I/O bus interface with faster
data transmission rates than standard
ports. You can connect up to seven devic-
es (15 for some newer SCSI types) to one
SCSI interface.
Abbreviation for SCSI device manage-
ment system.
Abbreviation for synchronous dynamic
random-access memory. SDRAM is a
memory technology that improves the
performance of your system's memory
subsystem by reducing the need for wait
states. SDRAM devices have a synchro-
nous interface to the devices to which
they are connected and are governed by
the system clock. These features reduce
the need for wait states often required for