RAID 1 - AnswersThe strategy of mirroring all the data written on one hard drive to a second hard drive,
providing an instant backup of all data.
latency (rotational delay) - AnswersThe process that occurs after the read/write head of the hard drive
locates the correct track and then waits for the correct sector to spin to the read/write head.
Clock cycle - AnswersSteady beats or "ticks" of the system clock.
Head crash - AnswersImpact of the read/write head against the magnetic platter of the hard drive; often
results in data loss.
Parallel processing - AnswersA large network of computers, with each computer working on a portion of
the same problem simultaneously.
Solid-state drive (SSD) - AnswersA storage device that uses the same kind of memory that flash drives
use but that can reach data in only a tenth of the time a flash drive requires.
Track - AnswersA concentric circle that serves as a storage area on a hard drive platter.
RAID 0 - AnswersThe strategy of running two hard drives in one system, cutting in half the time it takes
to write a file.
CPU usage - AnswersThe percentage of time the central processing unit (CPU) is working
Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) - AnswersThe part of the CPU that performs arithmetical and logic
calculations.
Machine cycle - AnswersThe series of steps a central processing unit goes through when it performs a
program instruction.
Platter - AnswersA thin, round, metallic storage plate stacked onto the hard drive spindle.
video card (video adapter) - AnswersAn expansion card that's installed inside a system unit to translate
binary data (the 1s and 0s the computer uses) into the images viewed on the monitor.
Pipelining - AnswersTechnique that allows the CPU to work on more than one instruction (or stage of
processing) at a time, thereby boosting performance.
Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD) - AnswersA drive that is a combination of both a mechanical hard drive
and an SSD into a single device.
Volatile storage - AnswersTemporary storage, such as in random access memory. When the power is
turned off, the data in volatile storage is cleared out.
seek time - AnswersThe time it takes for a read/write head to move over the surface of the disk to the
correct track.
, Hyperthreading - AnswersA technology that permits quicker processing of information by enabling a
new set of instructions to start executing before the previous set has finished.
read/write head - AnswersThe mechanism that retrieves (reads) and records (writes) the magnetic data
to and from a data disk.
instruction set - AnswersThe collection of commands that a specific CPU can execute. Each CPU has its
own unique instruction set.
Overclocking - AnswersRunning the central processing unit at a speed faster than the manufacturer
recommends.
Nonvolatile storage - AnswersPermanent storage, as in read-only memory (ROM).
audio MIDI interface - AnswersInterface technology that allows a user to connect musical instruments
and microphones to his or her computer.
clock speed - AnswersThe steady and constant pace at which a computer goes through machine cycles,
measured in hertz (Hz).
cache memory - AnswersSmall blocks of memory, located directly on and next to the central processing
unit (CPU) chip, that act as holding places for recently or frequently used instructions or data that the
CPU accesses the most.
redundant array of independent disks (RAID) - AnswersA set of strategies for using more than one hard
drive in a computer system.
sound card - AnswersAn expansion card that attaches to (or is integrated into) the motherboard inside
the system unit and that enables the computer to produce sounds; also provides a connection for the
speakers and microphone.
SuperFetch - AnswersA memory-management technique used by Windows. Monitors the applications
you use the most and preloads them into your system memory so that they'll be ready to go.
video memory - AnswersRandom access memory that's included as part of a video card.
sector - AnswersA section of a hard drive platter, wedge-shaped from the center of the platter to the
edge.
graphics double data rate 5 (GDDR5) - AnswersA standard of video memory.
CPU benchmarks - AnswersMeasurements used to compare performance between processors.
physical memory - AnswersThe amount of random access memory (RAM) that's installed in a computer.
graphics processing unit (GPU) - AnswersA specialized logic chip that's dedicated to quickly displaying
and calculating visual data such as shadows, textures, and luminosity.