(AGP)-ACCELERATED GRAPHICS PORT

High speed graphics. Data moves directly from the graphics controller and the computer memory, bypassing the cache in video memory.

ACCESS TIME

The average time period, for RAM, between a query for information and its completed access.

AMRAY

Equipment used to gauge vital information from a region on a semiconductor component at different levels of operations through the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM).

ANSI-(AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE)

The United States organization in charge of setting information technology standards.

ARRAY

This is a large rectangular area in the center of a semiconductor component where memory is stored. Memory is stored in cells at each intersection of columns and rows, each of which holds a bit.

ASCII(American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

A way of encoding text as binary values. The ASCII system requires nearly 256 combinations of 8-bit binary numbers to support every possible keystroke from the keyboard.

ASIC-(APPLICATION-SPECIFIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT)

These chips are created for a particular application as compared with common use. Integrated-circuit chips are usually used in video boards and modems.

ASYNCHRONOUS

A operation involving numerous tasks being performed independently in a system.

ATA-(AT ATTACHMENT)

A specification that integrates the drive control electronics interface. AT refers to the IBM PC/AT personal computer and its bus architecture.

AUTO PRECHARGE

A DRAM feature that enables the circuitry in a memory chip to automatically close a page at the end of a request from the processor for a single block of data.

BACKSIDE BUS(BSB)

BSB is the path in which data flows between the computer processing unit and the level 2 cache.

Bandwidth

The capacity to move data on an electronic line say for example a bus or a channel. In short, the amount of data moved relative to a specific time frame. It is expressed in bits, bytes, or Hertz (cycles) per second.

Bank (logical memory bank)

A collection of memory slots in a computer which work together as a single unit. A bank can not be partially filled and must be filled with like modules (same size, speed and type).

BANK SCHEMA

A procedure in which memory configuration is diagrammed. Independent sockets are represented by rows and banks are illustrated by columns.

BASE RAMBUS

The beginning of Rambus technology, shipped first in 1995.

BEDO-(BURST EDO)

Much like EDO DRAM, Burst EDO cycles are assembled in bursts of four. Bus speeds of Burst EDO range from 40mhz to FPM or EDO DRAM.

Binary

A technique of encoding numbers as a series of bits. The binary number system, also referred to as base 2, uses combinations of only two digits- 1 and 0.

BIOS-(BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM

A set of low level RAMBUS that allow a computer’s application programs and operating systems to read characters from the keyboard, output characters to printers, and communicate with the hardware in other ways.

Bit

A binary digit- the smallest unit of information a computer system can process. It may use a value of only 1 or 0 (off or on). Single bits are much too small to be of much use and are generally classified in groups such as bytes of binary words.

BLOCK

A block is a physical unit of data in a logical record that is expressed in bytes.

BUFFER

Shared information from devices operating at different speeds are held in the buffer. This buffer enables a device to function without delays from other components.

BUFFERED MEMORY

A module that stores buffers, which are used to help control the signals the memory chips receive. In addition, they allow the module to incorporate more memory chips. Buffered and non-buffered memory can’t be combined.

BURN-IN

Using a high voltage and temperature to test an integrated circuit. This process will find those chips that often crash early on during real use. Chips that pass usually have a longer life expectancy than demanded for regular use.

BURST EDO RAM

EDO Memory that processes four memory addresses in one burst. Speeds of the Bus can range from 50mhz to 66mhz.

BURST MODE

A high speed transmission of a number of addresses that occur when the processor asks for a single address.

Bus

The central communication avenue in a PCs system board. If ordinarily includes a set of parallel wires or signal traces that connect the CPU, the memory, all input/output devices, and peripherals.

Bus cycle

A single transaction between system memory and the CPU.

Byte

A unit of information made up of 8 bits. The byte is the key component of computer processing; most computer component specifications are measured in bytes or multiples thereof (such as kilobytes or megabytes).

Cache

A type of memory used to store frequently used instructions and data. Cache memories are employed to increase the functioning of computing systems by holding these regularly used instructions and data closer (in a speed-related context) to their ultimate destination.

CAPACITANCE

The characteristic of a circuit element that allows it to store an electrical charge.

CAS LATENCY

The ratio between column access time and clock cycle time.

CAS-(COLUMN ADDRESS STROBE)

A memory chip signal that connects the column address of a specific location in a row-column configuration.

CHECK BITS

Additional data bits that a module supplies to support ECC.

CHIP-SCALE PACKAGE

Thin chip package in which electrical connections are usually through a ball grid array. Used in RDRAM and flash memory.

CHIPSET

The computer processing unit is supported by the chipset, a set of microchips which contain several controllers, deciding how data travels between components and the processor.

CHMOS

Complementary High-density Metal Oxide Semiconductor.

CISC-(COMPLEX INSTRUCTION SET COMPUTING

A design logic by which chips combine multi-step instructions into one command. CISC is normally related to microprocessors.

CLOCK RATE

The number of pulses discharged by a computer’s clock in a one second interval. In a synchronous computer, clock rate establishes the time period in which logical or arithmetic gating occurs.

COB-(CHIP ON BOARD)

A technique or system in which semiconductor dice are connected to a PC board with bonded wires or solder balls.

COLUMN

A portion of the memory array whereby information is stored at the junction of a column and a row.

COMPACT FLASH

Removable storage cards which are efficient in terms of weight, size, and durability. Also, they use small amounts of voltage and retain information when the power is off. Usually used in digital cameras, printers, and handheld computers.

Composite Memory

A term used by Apple Computer to describe modules which use a lot of low-density memory (4 Megabit) chips.

CONCURRENT RAMBUS

The second generation of Rambus technology.

CONTROLLER

A significant component of a computer that interprets and performs program commands.

CPU

Central Processing Unit. The “brains” of a computer system. A CPU is an integrated circuit which processes the bulk of the data and software instructions in a computer system. It is commonly referred to as “the processor” in a computer system.

CRC-(CYCLICAL REDUNDANCY CHECK)

A mathematical approach to uncover errors involving long runs of information with a greater degree of accuracy.

Credit Card Memory

A type of memory module (much like a PCMCIA card) named for its size. Credit card modules are frequently used in notebooks along with portable computing devices.

CRIMM-(CONTINUITY RIMM)

Direct Rambus memory in which the module does not contain any memory chips. Used to fill unused RIMM sockets to allow for an uninterrupted pathway for a signal.

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