Parts Inside the ComputerParts Inside the Computer

Techie Terms you will see during your research project

Circuit BoardsCircuit Boards

• Motherboard

• Daughter Cards

• Peripheral Cards

Hard DrivesHard Drives

• Obsolete: SCSI

• Old: IDE (also called ATA or PATA)

• New: Serial-ATA (SATA)

Expansion Slots (Desktop)Expansion Slots (Desktop)

• Obsolete: ISA, EISA, VESA

• Old: PCI

• New: PCI Express (x2, x4, x8, x16)

Expansion Slots (Laptop)Expansion Slots (Laptop)

• Old: PCMCIA

• New: ExpressCard

RAMRAM

• Too many to mention them all

• Obsolete: SIMMs, RAMBUS

• Old: DIMMs

• New: DDR2

• http://www.crucial.com

• http://www.karbosguide.com/hardware/module2e1.htm

Optical DrivesOptical Drives

• Obsolete: CD-ROM, DVD-ROM

• Old: CD-RW, DVD+-RW

• New: Dual Layer DVD recorders, BluRay*, HD-DVD*

• *These are so cutting edge, they may not be worth the price yet.

PowerPower

• Power Supplies: higher wattage=more expansion and more power consumption

• Batteries: many different sizes and kinds

CoolingCooling

• Fans

• Heat Sinks

• Liquid Cooling

Wireless NetworkingWireless Networking

• Obsolete: 802.11b

• Old: 802.11g

• New: 802.11n

Wired NetworkingWired Networking

• Obsolete: 10 mbit/sec

• Old: 100 mbit/sec

• New: gigabit (1000 mbit/sec)

Connecting PeripheralsConnecting Peripherals

• Obsolete: PS/2 style, serial, parallel

• Old: USB, Firewire

• New: Bluetooth