PC Hardware, Interfaces, and System Maintenance Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary review deck covering PC interfaces, internal components, RAM types, storage protocols, safety practices, and software definitions.

Registered Jack - 45 (RJ-45)

An external port, also known as Ethernet, used to connect a computer to a Local Area Network (LAN) via an eight-pin connector interface.

Thunderbolt 4

A connectivity technology featuring a USB-C connector that supports 40 Gbps data transfer, video output for two 4K monitors or one 8K monitor, up to 100W power/charging, and daisy-chaining up to 6 devices with a 2m cable length.

Thunderbolt 3

A connectivity technology featuring a USB-C connector that supports 40 Gbps data transfer, video output for two 4K monitors or one 5K monitor, up to 100W power/charging, and daisy-chaining up to 6 devices with a 0.5m cable length.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

A standard cable connection interface that allows data exchange and power delivery between computers, smartphones, and other consumer electronics.

eSATA

A SATA connector accessible from outside the computer that provides high-speed data transfer signals, but not power, for external storage devices.

ATX 8-pin Connector

A power supply connector designed to support more powerful CPUs while providing increased stability and performance.

ATX 4-pin Connector

A standard motherboard power connector used to supply +12 VDC current to the CPU.

Advanced Technology Extended (ATX)

A power supply connector type used in computer systems to provide power to components such as the motherboard, CPU, and peripherals.

FireWire (IEEE 1394)

A high-speed computer data-transfer interface used to connect personal computers, digital video cameras, printers, scanners, and external hard drives.

Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)

A high-speed interface standard used for connecting internal expansion cards, such as graphics cards, network cards, and storage controllers, to the motherboard.

Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)

A storage and transfer protocol designed for high-performance, non-volatile flash memory storage media like SSDs to communicate directly with the computer via a PCIe bus.

M.2

An SSD form factor specification that describes an expansion card's physical and electrical features for high-performance storage or wireless connections.

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)

An interface used for transferring data between a computer motherboard and storage devices such as hard disk drives (HDDs), optical drives, and solid-state drives (SSDs).

DisplayPort

A digital audio/video connection standard used to transmit video and audio signals from a computer to an external display, supporting Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to connect up to four screens at once.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)

A digital video and audio format standard used for simultaneously transmitting digital video and audio signals from a source to a single computer monitor, TV, or projector.

Digital Video Interface (DVI)

A video interface port commonly used to connect LCD monitors to high-end video graphic cards, capable of supporting both analog and digital signals.

Video Graphics Array (VGA)

A 15-hole video port that connects a monitor to a computer's video card, supporting only analog signals.

Parallel Interface

A short-distance communication interface, also known as a Printer Port, that transmits multiple bits of data simultaneously (8 bits along 8 separate wires) through a 25-pin model.

Serial Interface

A long-distance communication system that transmits data sequentially and continuously one bit at a time over a single line, available in 9-pin and 25-pin models.

Peripheral Device

An internal or external hardware device connected directly to a computer that provides input, output, or storage functionality without contributing to core computing operations.

Power Supply Unit (PSU)

A computer component that converts line-voltage alternating current (AC) power from an electrical outlet into low-voltage direct current (DC) power required by internal hardware.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A magnetic storage device consisting of several metal or hard plastic platters with magnetic surface coating, where data is stored magnetically and accessed directly.

Solid State Storage

A fast, reliable storage mechanism with no moving parts that stores data electronically using flash memory, as seen in SSDs, USB drives, and memory cards.

Optical Storage

A storage method that uses an optical drive to read/write data stored on removable plastic discs with reflective coatings, such as CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs.

Port

A physical connection interface that allows external and internal input/output devices and peripherals to communicate with the computer motherboard using cables.

Controller

A hardware device or software program that manages and directs the flow of data between the computer motherboard and another hardware device.

Expansion Slot

A socket on a computer motherboard equipped with data signaling pairs (data lanes) that allows users to install add-on cards to extend system capabilities.

Motherboard

A large circuit board, also called a system board, that acts as the backbone for the entire PC by connecting components, distributing power, and facilitating communication.

Single In-line Memory Module (SIMM)

A type of memory module with connected pins on only one side, available in 30-pin and 72-pin variants, which must be installed in pairs.

Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM)

A memory module where pins are located on both sides of the board and function independently of each other.

Static RAM (SRAM)

A type of volatile memory using multiple transistors without capacitors per cell, requiring constant power flow but no periodic refresh cycles; primarily used for CPU cache.

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

A type of volatile memory with cells consisting of a transistor and capacitor, requiring periodic power refreshes to retain stored data; used in system memory and video graphics memory.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

The main volatile memory in a computer that holds temporary instructions and data while programs are executing, clearing all contents when powered off.

Pin Grid Array (PGA)

A CPU socket type common for AMD processors, featuring uniform rows of holes designed to receive pins located on the bottom of the processor.

Land Grid Array (LGA)

A CPU socket type common for Intel processors, featuring uniform rows of blunt protruding pins on the socket that connect to lands or pads on the bottom of the processor.

Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)

The component of the CPU that executes instructions by performing arithmetic and logical operations on data and storing the result in memory or a register.

Control Unit (CU)

The CPU component that manages computer operations, fetches instructions from memory, decodes them, and directs data movement using control signals.

Register

A high-speed temporary storage location inside the processor used to hold instructions and data currently being worked on.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The primary processor or 'brain' of the computer that interprets, processes, and executes basic instructions to transform inputs into usable outputs.

Antistatic Wrist Strap

An ESD tool that protects computer hardware from electrostatic damage when grounded to a computer chassis.

Antistatic Mat

An ESD tool that prevents static electricity buildup on hardware or technicians during computer maintenance.

Anti-static Bag

A specialized bag that sheds static electricity upon contact to prevent electrical damage to enclosed components during storage.

Digital Multimeter

A diagnostic tool used to test circuit integrity and measure the quality of electricity in computer hardware.

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)

The sudden jump of accumulated static electricity buildup from a surface to a component, which can destroy sensitive computer electronics.

Operating System (OS)

A collection of system software that manages computer hardware resources, acts as an interface between software and hardware, and provides common services for application programs.

System Software

A set of programs that runs on computers, enabling them to perform basic tasks and acting as an interface between hardware and application software.

Application Software

Software designed to run on a personal computer to carry out specific end-user tasks, such as word processing.