CIARA Astro PB60S
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GLOSSARY
32-Bit
-- In computer architecture, 32-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 32 bits (4 octets)
wide. Also, 32-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. 32-bit
is also a term given to a generation of computers in which 32-bit processors were the norm.
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295 or -2,147,483,648 through 2,147,483,647 using
two's complement encoding. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable
memory. The external address and data buses are often wider than 32 bits but both of these are stored and manipulated internally
in the processor as 32-bit quantities.
64-Bit
-- In computer architecture, 64-bit integers, memory addresses, or other data units are those that are at most 64 bits (8 octets)
wide. Also, 64-bit CPU and ALU architectures are those that are based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. 64-bit
is also a term given to a generation of computers in which 64-bit processors were the norm.
Without further qualification, a 64-bit computer architecture generally has integer and addressing registers that are 64 bits wide,
allowing direct support for 64-bit data types and addresses. However, a CPU might have external data buses or address buses with
different sizes than the registers, even larger (the 32-bit Pentium had a 64-bit data bus, for instance). The term may also refer to the
size of low-level data types, such as 64-bit floating-point numbers.
Adapter card
-- A printed circuit board that gives your computer some added capability, such as more memory, or control of a new
device. A card plugs into an expansion slot on the system board.
Analog monitor
-- A type of video display that uses a continuously variable analog voltage to display a large number of colours at
resolutions up to 1024 x 768 and beyond. The voltage levels on the red, green and blue lines on the VGA connector determine
colours.
Auto switching
-- The ability of a video display to detect the video display mode for a given application program and automatically
switch to that mode.
BIOS
-- Basic Input Output System. Programs permanently stored in the system board's ROM chips that provide the fundamental
processes or functions of the system, such as the Power On Self Test (POST). The VGA circuitry has its own video BIOS. See also ROM.
Bit
-- A bit is the basic unit of information in computing and telecommunications ; it is the amount of information that can be stored
by a digital device or other physical system that can normally exist in only two distinct states.
In computing, a bit can also be
defined as a variable or computed quantity that can have only two possible values. These two values are often interpreted as binary
digits and are usually denoted by the Arabic numerical digits 0 and 1. Indeed, the term "bit" is a contraction of binary digit. The two
values can also be interpreted as logical value
s (true/false, yes/no). algebraic signs (+/−), activation states (on/off), or any other two
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valued attribute. In several popular programming languages, numeric 0 is equivalent (or convertible) to logical false, and 1 to true.
The correspondence between these values and the physical states of the underlying storage or device is a matter of convention, and
different assignments may be used even within the same device or program.
Bus
-- A set of address or data lines used to transfer information between different components within a computer (such as memory,
the microprocessor, and slots).
Cache
-- A device that contains high-speed memory and permits higher speed accesses than general-purpose memory.
Cache hit rate
-- The percentage of time data is delivered from the cache rather than from main memory.
Central processing unit (CPU)
-- An integrated circuit chip that performs the actual computing functions of the computer. Other
chips perform support functions like storing data and controlling peripherals. See also microprocessor.
Chip
-- An electronic device that combines thousands of transistors on a small sliver of silicon. See also
Summary of Contents for Astro PB60S
Page 1: ...Astro PB60S User Guide...
Page 67: ...CIARA Astro PB60S 67 NOTES...
Page 68: ...CIARA Astro PB60S 68...
