Dell 610 technical specifications Dimm, Din, Dip, Dma, Dmi

Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide for more information about using the Dell Diagnostics.

Dell OpenManage™ Client Administrator/Client

A DMI browser that allows you to view your computer system's current hardware configuration and operating system version. If your system includes Dell-installed software, you can select this program from the Dell Accessories program folder.

device driver

A program that allows the operating system or some other program to interface correctly with a peripheral device, such as a printer. Most device drivers are installed when the operating system is installed.

DIMM

Acronym for dual in-line memory module. A small circuit board containing DRAM chips that connects to the system board.

DIN

Acronym for Deutsche Industrie Norm.

DIP

Acronym for dual in-line package. A circuit board, such as a system board or expansion card, may contain DIP switches for configuring the circuit board. DIP switches are always toggle switches, with an ON position and an OFF position.

directory

Directories help keep related files organized on a disk in a hierarchical, "inverted tree" structure. Each disk has a "root" directory; for example, a C:\> prompt normally indicates that you are at the root directory of hard-disk drive C. Additional directories that branch off of the root directory are called subdirectories. Subdirectories may contain additional directories branching off of them.

display adapter

See "video adapter".

DMA

Abbreviation for direct memory access. A DMA channel allows certain types of data transfer between RAM and a device to bypass the processor.

DMI

RTC

Abbreviation for real-time clock. Battery-powered clock circuitry inside the computer that keeps the date and time after you turn off the computer.

SCSI

Acronym for small computer system interface. An I/O bus interface with faster data transmission rates than standard ports. You can connect up to seven devices (15 for some newer SCSI types) to one SCSI interface.

SDMS

Abbreviation for SCSI device management system.

SDRAM

Abbreviation for synchronous dynamic random-access memory. SDRAM is a memory technology that improves the performance of your system's memory subsystem by reducing the need for wait states. SDRAM devices have a synchronous interface to the devices to which they are connected and are governed by the system clock. These features reduce the need for wait states often required for conventional memory devices to ensure that timing signals have been set up correctly.

In equivalent configurations, a computer with SDRAM will have faster memory performance than a computer with EDO memory.

sec

Abbreviation for second(s).

serial port

An I/O port used most often to connect a modem to your computer. You can usually identify a serial port on your computer by its 9-pin connector.

service tag number

A bar code label on the computer that identifies it when you call Dell for customer or technical support.

shadowing

A computer's system and video BIOS code is usually stored on ROM chips. Shadowing refers to the performance-enhancement technique that copies BIOS code to faster RAM chips in the upper memory area (above 640 KB) during the boot routine.

SIMD

Abbreviation for Single Instruction Multiple Data.