Dell PowerEdge 6400 User Manual
Page 15
coprocessor
A coprocessor relieves the computer's microprocessor of specific processing tasks. A math coprocessor, for example, handles numeric
processing. A graphics coprocessor handles video rendering. The Intel
® Pentium® microprocessor includes an integrated math coprocessor.
cpi
characters per inch
CPU
Central processing unit. See also
.
cursor
In character-based MS-DOS programs, the cursor is usually a block or an underscore (possibly blinking) that represents the position at which the
next character typed will appear. Windows programs can design their own cursors
—common cursor symbols include the pointer arrow and the
text-insertion I-beam.
D
DAC
digital-to-analog converter
DAT
digital audio tape
dB
decibel(s)
dBA
adjusted decibel(s)
DC
direct current
device driver
A device driver allows the operating system or a program to interface correctly with a peripheral, such as a printer or network card. Some device
drivers
—such as network drivers—must be loaded from the config.sys file (with a device= statement) or as memory-resident programs (usually,
from the autoexec.bat file). Others
—such as video drivers—must load when you start the program for which they were designed.
diagnostics
See
DIMM
dual in-line memory module
DIN
Deutsche Industrie Norm
DIP
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.