Access time: the amount of time, measured in nanoseconds, it takes for a CPU to retrieve a unit of data from memory.

Also the amount of time measured in milliseconds, it takes for a CPU to retrieve a unit of data from disk drive Architecture: design that determines how individual components of the CPU are put together on the chip. More generally used to describe the way individual components are put together to create a complete comp system Arithmetic logic unit (ALU): the part of the CPU that performs data calculations and comparisons ASCII: American standard code for information interchange; a code that represents characters as 8bit codes. Allows the binary comp to work with letters, digits, and special characters Backward compatible: able to run software written for older CPUs. Also, when referring to a software program, able to read and write files compatible with older versions of the program Bay: an open area in the system box for disk drives and other peripheral devices Binary: a choice of two values Binary number system: a system that denotes all numbers with combinations of two digits Bit: a binary digit, the smallest unit of info; can have two values: 0 or 1 Bus: group of wires on a circuit board. Info travels between components through a bus Byte: grouping of 8 bits Central processing unit: part of the comp that processes info, performs arithmetic calculations, and make basic decisions based on info values Clock: timing device producing electrical pulses for synchronizing the comps operations Cluster: a grouping of multiple processors or servers to (ex:) improve graphic rendering speeds or increase reliability CMOS: complementary metal oxide semiconductor; a special low energy kind of RAM that can store small amounts of data for long periods of time on batter power. CMOS RAM is used to store the date, time, calendar in a PC. Aka parameter RAM in Macs. Compatible: the ability of a software program to run on a specific comp system. Also, the ability of a hardware device to function with a particular type of comp Data: info in a form that can be read, used, and manipulated by a comp Decode Unit: takes the instruction read by the prefetcher and translates it into a form suitable for CPUs internal processing Digit: a discrete, countable unit Digital: info made up of discrete units that can be counted DIMMs: dual in-line memory Expansion cards: special purpose circuit boards that can be inserted in a comps expansion slots Expansion slot: an area inside the comps housing that holds special purpose circuit boards Express cards: a small removable card that might add additional memory, a peripheral, or additional ports to a laptop External bus: a cable designed to transmit data back and forth between a comp and its external peripherals File: an organized collection of related info stored in a comp-readable form Flash memory: a type of erasable memory chip used in cell phones, pagers, portable comps, and handheld comps, among other things Gigahertz: billions of clock cycles per second; measurement of a comp clocks speed Hot swappable: a term used to describe cards and peripherals that can be inserted or removed from a comps slots and ports while the system is running Information: anything that can be communicated Input device: device for accepting input (ex: keyboard) Instructions: comp codes telling the CPU to perform a specific action Level 1 cache: memory storage that can be quickly accessed by the CPU Level 2 cache: memory storage that is larger than level 1 cache but not as quickly accessed by CPU Manycore machines: machines that may have tens or hundreds of processors per chip Memory: stores programs and the data they need o be instantly accessible to CPU Microprocessor: aka personal computer Millisecond: thousandth of a second Motherboard: the circuit board that contains the CPU; aka system board Multicore processor: a microprocessor containing multiple CPUs Multiprocessing: employing two or more microprocessors in a comp in order to improve overall performance. Aka symmetric multiprocessing Nanosecond (ns): a billionth of a second; common unit of measurement for read and write access time to RAM Non-volatile memory: memory that is not lost when comp is turned off. Ex: read only memory that contains start up instructions and other critical info Optical computer: a potential future alternative to silicon based computing, in which info is transmitted in light waves rather than in electrical pulses Output device: device for sending info from the comp (ex: monitor or printer) PC card: a credit card sized card that can be inserted into a slot to expand memory or add a peripheral to a comp, commonly used in portable computers; original name is PCMCIA Peripheral: an external device 9ex keyboard or monitor) connected via cables to the system CPU Port: socket that allows info to pass in and out Prefetch unit: part of the CPU that fetches the next several instructions from memory Processor: part of the comp that processes info, performs arithmetic calculations, and make basic decisions based on info values RAM: random access memory; memory that stores program instructions and data temporarily Register: a storage area within a CPUs ALU ROM: read only memory; memory that includes permanent info only. The comp can read info from it, but can never write any new info Sleep: a suspended animation state in which a system uses just enough power to preserve RAM Slot: an area inside comps housing that holds special purpose circuit boards Storage device: long term repository for data; ex: disks and tapes System bus: a group of wires that transmit info between components on the motherboard Unicode: a 65,000 character set for making letters, digits, and special characters fit into the comps binary circuitry USB port: a comp port that can be used to attach keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, disk drives, portable storage devices, etc Word size: the number of bits a CPU can process at one time, typically 8, 16, 32, or 64 Writeback: the final phase of execution, in which the bus unit writes the results of the instruction back into memory or some other device