Computer Science 1 – Day 02 : Hardware & Networks

Vocabulary flashcards covering key computer-hardware and networking terms discussed in the Day 02 Hardware lecture.

Hardware

The physical components of a computer system, such as the processor, memory, storage, and peripherals.

Desktop Computer

A personal computer designed to fit on or under a desk, typically with separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Laptop

A portable personal computer with an integrated display, keyboard, touch-pad, and battery.

Server

A computer that provides resources or services to other computers over a network.

All-in-One PC

A computer whose components and display are built into a single enclosure, like an Apple iMac.

Hybrid Computer

A device that can function both as a laptop and a tablet, e.g., Microsoft Surface Book.

Smartphone

A handheld computer that integrates calling, texting, internet access, and apps.

Tablet

A slate-style mobile computer controlled mainly by a touchscreen, larger than a phone.

Smart Watch

A wearable device that offers timekeeping plus computing features such as notifications and fitness tracking.

Game Console

A specialized computer designed primarily for playing video games, e.g., Sony PlayStation 5.

Smart TV

A television with built-in computing capabilities and internet connectivity.

Motherboard

The main circuit board that holds the CPU, memory, expansion slots, and connectors for other components.

ATX

Advanced Technology eXtended; Intel’s 1995 motherboard form-factor standard still widely used today.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The component that executes instructions, performs arithmetic/logic, and controls input/output operations.

Clock Speed (GHz)

The rate at which a CPU executes cycles per second; measured in gigahertz.

Core

An independent processing unit within a CPU; more cores allow more tasks to run simultaneously.

Thread

A sequence of instructions processed by a core; multiple threads can share one core via multitasking.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Volatile memory that stores data currently in use by the CPU; erased when power is lost.

Volatile Memory

Memory that loses its data when the power is turned off (e.g., RAM).

Non-Volatile Memory (NVM)

Memory that retains data without power, such as HDDs and SSDs.

Storage

Long-term data holding devices like hard disk drives and solid-state drives.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Magnetic storage device whose speed is rated in revolutions per minute (RPM).

Solid-State Drive (SSD)

A storage device using flash memory; faster and more shock-resistant than HDDs.

Revolutions per Minute (RPM)

The rotational speed of an HDD’s platters; higher RPM usually means faster access.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

A processor specialized for rendering images and running graphics-intensive tasks.

Discrete GPU

A standalone graphics card with its own video RAM, not integrated into the CPU.

Video RAM (VRAM)

Memory located on a discrete GPU used to store textures and frame buffers.

Ray Tracing

A rendering technique that simulates realistic lighting by tracing rays of light; supported by high-end GPUs.

TFLOPS

Tera floating-point operations per second; a measure of GPU or CPU computing performance.

System-on-a-Chip (SoC)

An integrated circuit that combines processor, memory, storage, I/O, and other components on one chip.

5 Nanometer Process

A semiconductor manufacturing technology with extremely small transistor features, enabling dense, efficient chips.

Neural Engine

Dedicated hardware within some SoCs (e.g., Apple M1) that accelerates machine-learning tasks.

Unified Memory Architecture

Design where CPU and GPU share the same memory pool, reducing data-copy overhead.

System Unit (Chassis)

The enclosure that houses the main components of a desktop computer.

Pixel Density (ppi)

Pixels per inch; the higher the value, the sharper the display image.

Refresh Rate (Hz)

How many times per second a display redraws its image; impacts smoothness of motion.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)

Bulky vacuum-tube display technology common from the 1970s to mid-2000s.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)

Thin-panel technology that replaced CRTs from the mid-2000s onward.

Organic LED (OLED)

Display tech where each pixel emits its own light, enabling deep blacks and thin panels.

Foldable Display

Emerging screen technology that allows a device to bend without breaking.

Rollable Display

Concept display that can roll up like a scroll for compact storage.

Network

A group of interconnected devices that share data and resources.

Dial-Up

Legacy internet access using telephone lines at up to 56 kbps, famous for its modem tones.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)

Internet delivered over copper telephone lines; can reach ~10 Mbps in local offerings.

Fiber Optic Cable

Internet medium using light signals through glass fibers, delivering up to gigabit speeds.

Mobile Networks (2G – 5G)

Cellular technologies providing wireless internet to phones and modems; 5 G can exceed 80 Mbps in tests.

Wi-Fi

Wireless local-area networking standard operating at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Satellite Internet

Connectivity provided by satellites, e.g., Starlink, capable of ~150 Mbps.

Ethernet Cable (RJ-45)

Wired networking medium for LANs; speed depends on the connected switch or router.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

A common port standard for data and power; includes Type A, B, C, micro, and mini variants.

Thunderbolt / USB 4

High-speed interface combining data, video, and power delivery; often shares the USB-C connector.

VGA

Analog video connector once standard on PCs and monitors.

HDMI

Digital interface for transmitting audio and video between devices like PCs and TVs.

DisplayPort

Digital display interface designed for high-resolution monitors; Mini DisplayPort is a smaller variant.

Dr. William T. Torres

Known as the Father of Philippine Internet; helped connect the country online in 1994.