Expansion Card
An expansion card is an electronic circuit board that adds more functionality to a desktop computer. Expansion cards are installed into the expansion slot in the motherboard of the computer. They enhance the computer’s ability to perform additional functions which is not offered by the motherboard. Video cards and sound cards are examples of PC expansion ards. A new video card will enhance the three dimensional graphics processing power of a computer while a new sound card may improve a computer’s audio input.
Sockets
A port, or interface, that can be used for serial communication, in which only 1 bit is transmitted at a time. Most serial ports on personal computers conform to the RS-232C or RS-422 standards. A serial port is a general-purpose interface that can be used for almost any type of device, including modems, mice and printers.
A parallel interface for connecting an external device such as a printer. Most personal computers have both a parallel port and at least one serial port. On PCs, the parallel port uses a 25-pin connector and is used to connect printers, computers and other devices that need relatively high bandwidth. It is often called a Centronics Interface after the company that designed the original standard for parallel communication between a computer and printer
An expansion card is an electronic circuit board that adds more functionality to a desktop computer. Expansion cards are installed into the expansion slot in the motherboard of the computer. They enhance the computer’s ability to perform additional functions which is not offered by the motherboard. Video cards and sound cards are examples of PC expansion ards. A new video card will enhance the three dimensional graphics processing power of a computer while a new sound card may improve a computer’s audio input.
Network Interface Card (NIC)
A network Interface Card or also known as NIC is a device that allows computers to join in a LAN or a local area network. Networked computers communicate with each other using a protocol or agreeing upon language for transmitting data packets between the different machines or also known as nodes. The network interface card acts as the liaison for the machine to both send and receive data on the LAN.
Plug & Play
Plug and Play or is known as PnP, is a capability developed by Microsoft for Windows 95 and after that operating systems that gives users the ability to plug a device into a computer and have the computer recognize that the device is pluged in. The user doesn't have to tell the computer. In earlier computer systems, the user was required to tell the operating system when a new device had been added. Microsoft made Plug and Play a selling point for its Windows operating systems. A similar capability had long been built into macintosh computers. Plug and play has been replaced by an open industry standard Universal Plug and Play or UPnP which uses Internet protocols for seamless device plug-in.
A CPU socket or CPU slot is an electrical component that attaches to a printed circuit board (PCB) and is designed to house a CPU (also called a microprocessor). It is a special type of intergrated circuit socket designed for very high pin counts. A CPU socket provides many functions, including providing a physical structure to support the CPU, providing support for a heatsink, facilitating replacement (as well as reducing cost) and most importantly forming an electrical interface both with the CPU and the PCB. CPU sockets can most often be found in most desktop and server computers (laptops typically use surface mount CPUs), particularly those based on the Intel x86 architecture on the motherboard.
Chips
A small piece of semiconducting material (usually silicon) on which an integrated circuit is embedded. A typical chip is less than ¼-square inches and can contain millions of electronic components (transistors). Computers consist of many chips placed on electronic boards call printed circuit boards. There are different types of chips. For example, CPU chips (also called microprocessors) contain an entire processing unit, whereas memory chips contain blank memory.
Slots
An opening in a computer where you can insert a printed circuit board. Slots are often called expansion slots because they allow you to expand the capabilities of a computer. The boards that is inserted in a expansion slots are called expansion boards or add on boards.
Bus-lines
Device on a computer's motherboard that provides a data path between the CPU and attached devices. Like a vehicular bus that stops at designated stations to pick up or drop off riders, a computer bus receives a data signal from the CPU and drops it off at the appropriate device. Conversely, data signals from devices are sent back to the CPU. On a network, a bus provides the data path between the various computers and devices.
Serial Port
A port, or interface, that can be used for serial communication, in which only 1 bit is transmitted at a time. Most serial ports on personal computers conform to the RS-232C or RS-422 standards. A serial port is a general-purpose interface that can be used for almost any type of device, including modems, mice and printers.
Parallel Port
Universal Serial Bus
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a set of connectivity specifications developed by Intel in collaboration with industry leaders. USB allows high-speed, easy connection of peripherals to a PC. When plugged in, everything configures automatically. USB is the most successful interconnect in the history of personal computing and has migrated into consumer electronics (CE) and mobile products.
