4 Dell Precisi on 610 Mini Tower Systems User’s Guide
The part of the c omputer that conta ins in-
dicat ors an d cont rols , such as th e powe r
switch, hard-disk drive access indicator,
and power ind ic ator.
The first 640 KB of RAM. Conventional
memory is found in all computers. Unless
they are specially designed, MS-DOS®
programs are limited to running in conven-
tional memory.
A chip that relieves the computer’s pro-
cessor of specific processing tasks. A
math coprocessor, for example, handles
numeric processing. A graphics coproces-
sor handles video rendering. The Intel®
Pentium® processor, for example, includes
a built-in mat h copro ce ssor.
Abbrevia tio n for characters per inch.
Abbreviation for central processing unit.
See also processor.
A marker , such as a block, unde rscore, or
pointer that represents the position at
which the next keyboard or mouse action
will occur.
Acronym for digital audio tape.
Abbreviation for decibel(s).
Abbreviation for adjusted decibel(s).
Abbreviation for direct current.
A comprehe ns iv e se t of dia gn os tic tests
for your Dell computer. To use the diag-
nostics, you must boot your computer
from the

Dell D iagnost ics Di ske tte

. Refe r
to your

Diagnostics and Troub leshootin g

Guide

for more information about using
the Dell Diagnostics.
A DMI browser that allows you to view
your computer system’s current hard-
ware configuration and operating system
version. If your system includes Dell-
installed software, you can select this
program from the Dell Acc essories pro-
gram folder.
A program that allows the operating sys-
tem 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.
Acronym for dual in-line memory mod-
ule. A small circuit board containing
DRAM chips that connects to the sys-
tem board.
Acronym for

Deutsche Indus trie Norm

.
Acronym for dual in-line package. A circuit
board, such as a system board or expan-
sion card, may contain DIP switches for
configuring the circuit board. DIP switch-
es are always toggle switches, with an
ON position and an OFF position.
Directories help keep related files orga-
nized on a disk in a hierarchical, “inverted
tree” struc ture. Each di sk has a “ root” di-
rectory; for example, a C:\> prom pt
normally indicates that you are at the root
directory of hard- dis k drive C. Additio na l
directories that branch off of the root
directory are called

subdirectories

. Sub-
directories may contain additional
directories branching off of them.
See video adapter.