IT Definitions Case Essay

HARDWARE* RAM Random Access Memory. It is the atomic number 18a where all software and course of studys run.* read-only computer memory Read Only Memory This is the memory that is stored in ROM device and it cannot be modified (at to the lowest degree not very quickly or easily), it is mainly used to distribute programmes and firmware (software that is linked to a specific hardware).* IDE Integrated Drive Electronics, this connects the hard drives and ROM Drives to the motherboard using the IDE cables.PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect. Specifies a computing device bus for attaching peripheral devices to a computing machine motherboard. These include network cards, modems, sound cards, etc.* AGP Accelerated artistry Port It is a high-speed point-to-point channel for attaching a graphics card to a computers motherboard, primarily to assist in the acceleration of 3D computer graphics.* Motherboard It is a board on which divers(a) computer components are plugged in through di fferent slots and ports.* Processor It is the main modify of the computer which turn backs all instructions to and from the input and output devices.* Display Card It is a card through which the p heatedo signals reach the monitor or other similar output device attached to this card. It is identified as a female slot having 3 rows for 15-pin connector.* Network Card It is a card through which information transfer is carried out between two different computers. It is identified by the RJ-45 type connector slot.* BIOS It stands for base Input and Output scheme. This identifies all the input and output devices including memory attached onto the motherboard. This information is stored and kept in a memory bank known as CMOS.* CMOS This stands for Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor. It is a memory chip that stores the BIOS settings of the PC and it is kept upto date by a small battery located next to the BIOS chip.* Power total Most motherboards use a voltage of +/- 5V to ope rate. The power supply unit on a PC ensures that each device attached to the motherboard including the motherboard itself receives the exact voltage and current in holy order for it to function properly. A slight change in volts etc. may render the device to burn up.* Heat elapse Since the entropy travels as electrons in the PC circuit this generates a lot of heat. The processing unit which is having to control all the functions on the motherboard or the device itself heats up. This can be controlled by using specific components called heat sink. These are made of metal that conduct heat rapidly thence absorbing heat from the hot surface and the fan on it cools it thus allowing it to keep absorbing more heat.SOFTWARE* Operating System It is also known as the platform or the environment in which different programmes or applications forget run. All applications and programmes are developed for different platforms depending upon what the user is most likely to use. The most common direct systems areo WINDOWS This is developed by Microsoft. It controls most of the PC market in the world.o UNIX / LINUX UNIX has generally been used as client-server direct system meaning it is used for networking. Another system developed late called Linux has mainly been used as a server operating system. Linux is commonly used as an operating system for supercomputers. As of June 2007, out of the top 500 systems, 389 (77.8%) run Linux.* Utilities These are programmes that we use in order to any diagnose or identify and fix problems in the computer. The problems could be a result of either file corruption or it being located at an reference field in the memory that has become faulty. The utilities can move the data to a new location and mark the faulty address location as a bad sector thus avoiding any future writing of data at that sector.* Virus A computer virus is a programme that is designed to act maliciously and curb the computer programme to work differently from what it is supposed to do.* Anti-Virus An anti-virus is a programme that scans the hard-drive and memory area for virus programmes that should not be residing at locations that are crucial and from where they can launch themselves and cause problem. The anti-virus either removes the virus programme but in cases where it cannot remove it without damaging the main programme, then it puts it in quarantine thus making it harmless and containing it in one place.* Multimedia These are programmes that are associated with audio and video files and as different companies have their own formats, we need different types to run each one separately. Some are able to play a larger variety than others depending upon the codec (the format used in coding the file) database that programme has and can use.* Spreadsheet/Accounts These are programmes that help us in calculations and create formulas that enable us to calculate the spreadsheet.* Database A database is a collection of data that has been c reated for a specific purpose. IT can be accessed by using non-homogeneous search criteria.* Wordprocessing This is used for all types of correspondence and creating reports, making brochures, etc.