Chapter 1: Motherboards, Processors, and Memory - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Chapter 1 topics.

DDR3 RAM

A generation of memory using DDR3 technology; faster than DDR2 but older than DDR4, commonly found in older systems.

DDR4 RAM

A generation of memory offering higher speeds and improved efficiency over DDR3; widely used in modern desktops and laptops.

DDR5 RAM

The latest DDR memory standard with higher bandwidth and performance compared to DDR4.

ECC RAM

Error-Correcting Code RAM that detects and corrects memory errors, increasing reliability in servers.

SODIMM

Small Outline DIMM; a compact memory module used in laptops and small form-factor PCs.

Virtual RAM

A system-allocated area of storage used to extend available memory when physical RAM is insufficient.

Single-channel memory

A memory configuration using one channel between the memory controller and RAM modules.

Dual-channel memory

A memory configuration using two channels to increase memory throughput.

Triple-channel memory

A memory configuration using three channels to increase bandwidth.

Quad-channel memory

A memory configuration using four channels to maximize bandwidth.

ATX form factor

A standard motherboard size (roughly 12 x 9.6 inches) suitable for desktops.

ITX form factor

A small motherboard form factor family; includes variants like Mini-ITX and ITX classes.

Mini-ITX

A compact motherboard form factor (~6.7 x 6.7 inches) used in small builds.

Nano-ITX

Very small motherboard form factor used for compact embedded systems.

Pico-ITX

Ultra-compact motherboard form factor for space-constrained systems.

Mobile-ITX

A small form-factor motherboard designed for mobile devices.

M.2

A small internal connector for high-speed SSDs and other devices; supports NVMe and SATA.

PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect; an older expansion bus standard.

PCIe

PCI Express; a high-speed point-to-point expansion bus for graphics, storage, and more.

SATA

Serial ATA; interface for hard drives and SSDs.

eSATA

External Serial ATA interface for external drives.

SAN

Storage Area Network; networked storage typically used in data centers.

x64/x86

CPU architecture; 64-bit (x64) and 32-bit (x86) instruction sets.

ARM

A family of RISC-based CPU architectures used in mobile and other devices.

Single-core

A CPU with one processing core.

Multicore

A CPU with multiple cores to execute multiple tasks in parallel.

Multithreading

Technology allowing multiple threads to run on each core (e.g., Hyper-Threading).

Virtualization support

Hardware features (like VT-x/AMD-V) enabling running virtual machines.

AMD

Advanced Micro Devices; maker of CPUs and GPUs.

Intel

Intel Corporation; maker of CPUs and related technologies.

AM4 socket

AMD CPU socket (PGA) used by many Ryzen CPUs.

LGA 1200

Intel CPU socket used by 10th/11th Gen Core processors.

BIOS

Basic Input/Output System; firmware that initializes hardware during boot.

UEFI

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface; modern firmware replacing BIOS, supports Secure Boot.

POST

Power-On Self-Test; test sequence run during boot to check hardware.

Secure Boot

UEFI feature that ensures only signed software is allowed to boot.

TPM

Trusted Platform Module; hardware-based security features and cryptographic operations.

HSM

Hardware Security Module; a dedicated secure device for crypto operations.

Boot options

Settings that determine which device(s) the system attempts to boot from first.

USB permissions

BIOS/UEFI option controlling whether USB devices can be used at boot.

Boot order

The sequence of devices the system checks to boot an OS.

CMOS

Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor; technology used for storing BIOS settings.

CMOS battery

Battery that powers the CMOS memory to retain BIOS settings when powered off.

Front-panel headers

Connectors for case power, reset, LEDs, and audio on the motherboard.

Northbridge

Chipset responsible for high-speed communication between CPU, RAM, and graphics.

Southbridge

Chipset handling I/O, storage, and other peripherals; paired with Northbridge.

Chipsets

Family of integrated circuits that manage data flows between CPU, memory, and peripherals.

Bus architecture

Design of bus systems (like PCI/PCIe) that connect components on a motherboard.

Memory slots

Physical connectors on the motherboard where RAM modules are installed.

DIMM

Dual In-Line Memory Module; a full-size RAM module used in desktops.

Cache (L1/L2/L3)

Small, fast memory near the CPU used to speed data access.

Onboard LAN

Integrated Ethernet controller on the motherboard.

Onboard Audio

Built-in audio hardware on the motherboard.

Frontside Bus

Historical CPU interconnect between CPU and memory/system components.

Power connectors

Connectors providing power to the motherboard and components (e.g., ATX power connector).

IDE/PATA

Older parallel interface for hard drives and optical drives; largely replaced by SATA.

Serial ATA

Modern data interface for HDDs/SSDs with higher speeds than PATA.

PCIe X16

Slot size for high-bandwidth devices like GPUs on PCIe.

CPU socket

Physical/mechanical interface between CPU and motherboard; varies by manufacturer.

Fan considerations

Balance of cooling performance, noise, and airflow in a system.

Thermal paste/pads

Bridging material used to improve thermal conduction between CPU/heat sink and components.

Liquid cooling

Cooling method using liquid coolant to transfer heat away from the CPU.