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Welcome to the interactive glossay at Inside Computers. This glossary allows members of Inside Computers to post new definitions, allowing for collective information sharing.
If there is some acronym that most people might not know, or a special computer term which others would most likely want to know, go ahead and add it.
Because this is a "real time" interaction, Inside Computers can't monitor the boards 24 hours a day, but we will do our best to keep this information both
correct and edit it for content that could be offensive to others. If you are so inclined, every member is allowed to edit every user added post, so if
you think you can improve on a definition, if you want to correct a mistake others may have made, go ahead!
| S | Shadow Mask :
A technology used televisions and in most monitors to prevent stray electrons from hitting the wrong phosphors. It consists of a thin sheet of metal with perfectly positioned holes to allow only the correct electrons to travel between the electron gun to the phosphor screen. Another, arguably better technology called Aperture Grille is used.
Server :
A computer that provides resources or information to other client computers. Servers are usually dedicated to run specific tasks, such as database, applications, networking, games or HTTP.
Silicon :
A semi-conductive element used to make transistors. It is usually doped with phosphorus or boron so that it becomes naturally charged and selectively conductive.
Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) :
Special instructions that were added to the x86 architecture to speed up certain types of routines, such as floating point matrix multiplication. The two most popular SIMD sets are Intel's SSE and AMD's 3DNow!
Scan Line Interleave (SLI) :
A feature build into 3Dfx's line of video cards which allow multiple chips or up to 2 video cards to work together for added performance. Each card or processor is responsible for a horizontal line of resolution. In 3Dfx's Voodoo2 series, 2 video cards could be connected together to so that each card would render every other resolution line, almost doubling performance.
Sector :
The smallest storage division of a storage medium. Hard drives use a standard sector size of 512 kbyte, and the number of sectors per cluster is dependent on the file structure used.
Self Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) :
Routines programmed into newer hard drives that monitors the hard drive operations and performance, looking for gradual trends which would indicate a wearing out or worsening of the condition of a hard drive.
Sequenced Packet Exchange (SPX) :
A networking protocol used with IPX to control error detection and packet arrival confirmations.
Serial :
When signals are sent one at a time. This usually allows for faster transfers because the frequency at which the signals are sent can be raised. Contrast to parallel.
Serial Presence Detect (SPD) :
A feature in newer DRAM where the chipset automatically reads the suggested operating speed and timings.
Single Edge Contact Card :
The PCB packaging used to make Slot processors. It is used to connect highspeed SRAM chips to a processor for L2 cache, and is mounted to a motherboard in a perpendicular orientation.
Single Inline Memory Module :
A stick of memory that has a 32-bit interface, and have to be installed in pairs to fill a 64-bit bus.
Slot1, Slot2, SlotA :
Computer interfaces used to connect a processor to a motherboard. Slot interfaces use some form of SECC card for mounting of a processor and SRAM chips. Often used when L2 cache needs to closely located to the processor but can not be on-die.
Slocket :
A converter card that allows Socket processors to operate in Slot interface motherboards. It consists of a SECC card which plugs into the Slot on a motherboard, and a Socket which allows a processor to be connected. It is responsible for the correct translation of signals from the motherboard to the processor.
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) :
A highspeed parallel or serial interface used to connect different high bandwidth components, like hard drives or tape drives. Unlike IDE, SCSI is capable of hot-swappable devices, multitasking, and connecting up to 7 devices per controller. It is currently available in speeds up to 320Mbps.
Small Office / Home Office (SOHO) :
The term used for products which are designed for use in a small office or work at home situation. They aren't as industrial and high capacity as for a large office, but have more functionality than what an average consumer would need.
Sneaker Net :
The term used to describe the process of physically having to move data between computers via removable storage.
Socket7 (Super), Socket8, Socket370, SocketA :
Computer interfaces used to connect a processor to a motherboard.
Software :
A collection of binary information that can be used by an computer to perform tasks.
Software Port :
The re-writing of programming code to allow the software to operate on a different platform than it was originally written for.
Software Renderer :
The process of having the image control the video pipeline rather than the video card. This is a lot more CPU intensive than hardware acceleration, and will cause a significant performance hit. Software rendering usually has to discard some features in order to keep performance in an acceptable range.
Sony/Philips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) :
A standard interface used to send digital audio information. Most new sound cards are equipment with S/PDIF connects to allow digital audio to be both input and output. Digital audio formats, such as Dolby Digital and DTS cannot be processed and separated into their discrete channels, so audio must be output to a decoder using the S/PDIF port on a sound card.
Source Code :
The uncompiled code of a program.
Southbridge :
The chip in system chipsets which controls all of the older technologies, such as keyboard, mouse, floppy, IDE, and ISA input.
Spam :
Any unwanted and unsoliceted advertisements sent via email.
Specular Highlights :
The areas on a 3D model where light is direct, creating a bright area. The amount of specular highlights are dependent on the intensity of the light and the reflectivity of the surface.
Sprite :
The use of a 2D image in a game.
Static Random Access Memory :
A fast electronic memory that does not require constant refreshing. Most SRAM cells are made with 4 transistors and 2 resistors, making it a lot bigger than DRAM, which is made with only one transistor and one capacitor. This limits the capacity of most SRAM chips to less than 4 MB.
Stencil Buffer :
A 8-bit buffer of high speed memory which is used for simulating realtime changes to an area of a scene such as a mirror or shadow. It can be used depending on how the program wants to impliment it. There is no set definition for how this data is used, so it is like a vertual scratch pad for game developers to use, being able to mark pictures for use later, such as in a mirror reflection.
Streaming :
Information such as video which can be transferred and played during playback, without the need to finish transferring the whole thing. Streaming is done in real time.
Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE) :
Intel's on propriety SIMD instructions where are on par with AMD's 3D-Now. The special SSE instructions are found on P3, and Celeron FCGA processors. The consist of 70 instructions which speed up certain floating point and integer operations by being able to perform the same operation on two or more pieces of data.
Striping :
When data is interleaved between two or more devices to improve performance.
Subnet Mask :
The IP format number which is used to calculate which IPs are local, and which are external to a LAN.
Super 7 :
Short for the Super Socket 7 interface which is used with older AMD K6, K6-2, K6-3, and K6-2+ processors.
Superscalar :
A term used with processors which are capable of operating more than one instruction pipeline or functional unit. Superscalar processors are capable of more than one instruction per clock. Most current CPU's are capable of up to 3 instructions per clock.
Switch :
A device used in networking to switch connections in a network to prevent redundant information to be sent. Because a network can be used by only one packet at a time, a switch can be used to break the network into smaller pieces so that each segment can operate independently of one another, but still able to communicate with each other. A switch acts as a packet filter, and can also allow 10BaseT and 100BaseT networks operate side by side.
Symmetrical Multi Processing (SMP) :
When two or more processors are used in a single computer.
Syntax :
The grammar or word pattern in which a programming language follows. Almost all syntax errors should be removed before the program will successfully be compiled by the compiler.
System Bus :
The main bus which connects the northbridge to the southbridge chips. Most often a PCI bus in x86 computers.
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