RDRAM (Rambus DRAM)

Developed by Rambus, Inc., this type of memory can deliver up to 1.6GB of data per second. RDRAM is the first interface standard that can be directly implemented on high performance VLSI components such as, CMOS DRAMs, memory controllers, and graphics/video ICs.

RAM (Random Access Memory). The computer’s primary storage area used to write, store, and retrieve information and program instructions which are passed to the CPU for processing. The information in RAM can be repeatedly re-written with new data.

Compared to other storage media like magnetic tape, floppy disk, and hard disk, RAM has an extraordinarily fast access rate. RAM, however, is volatile, which means that the data stored in it are lost when the system power is turned off, or if power glitches occur. See also DRAM and SDRAM.

ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM is nonvolatile memory used to store permanent programs (called firmware) used in certain computer components. Flash ROM (or EEPROM) can be reprogrammed with new programs (or BIOS).

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)

High speed multi-threaded I/O interface defined by the X3T9.2 committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for connecting many peripheral devices. The standard started from 10MBytes/sec to 160MBytes/sec available today.

SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)

A type of DRAM with access signals that are synchronized with the CPU clock, eliminating the delay associated with data transfers between the CPU and memory. SDRAM takes memory access away from the CPU control; internal registers in the memory accept the request, and lets the CPU do something else while the data requested is assembled for the next time the CPU talks to the memory.

SPD for SDRAM module

Serial Presence Detect (SPD) is most like an ID detect for SDRAM module, it using a EEPROM component on DIMM module for storing module configuration information inside. The Serial Presence Detect function is implemented using a 2048 bit EEPROM component. This nonvolatile storage device contains data programmed by the DIMM manufacturer that identifies the module type and various SDRAM organization and timing parameters.

System Disk

A system disk contains the core file of an operating system that boots up the operating system.

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). The communications protocol used by the UNIX system and the Internet. TCP checks for lost packets, puts the data from multiple packets into the correct order, and requests that missing or damaged packets be resent.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

A 4-pin serial cable bus that allows up to 127 plug and play computer peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, joystick, scanner, printer, modem, and monitor to share a bandwidth through a host scheduled token based protocol. This allows attaching or detaching while the host and other peripherals are in operation. Supports synchronous and asynchronous transfer types over the same set of wires up to 12Mbit/sec. USB 2.0 provides twice the transfer rate compared to USB 1.0 and competes with the 1394 standard.

Wake-On-LAN

Computer will automatically wake-up upon receiving a wake-up packet through a Network interface when it is under power soft-off, suspend or sleep mode.

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Appendix: Glossary