*MICROPROCESSOR*
A microprocessor is a programmable digital electronic component that incorporates the functions of a central processing unit (CPU) on a single semiconducting integrated circuit (IC).

# CSIC Chips
A complex instruction set computer (CISC) is a microprocessor instruction set architecture (ISA) in which each instruction can execute several low-level operations, such as a load from memory, an arithmetic operation, and a memory store, all in a single instruction. The term was retroactively coined in contrast to reduced instruction set computer (RISC).

# RISC Chips
Reduced Instruction Set Computer, a type of microprocessor that recognizes a relatively limited number of instructions. Until the mid-1980s, the tendency among computer manufacturers was to build increasingly complex CPUs that had ever-larger sets of instructions.

*MEMORY CHIPS*
A RAM microchip that can be plugged into a computer to provide additional memory micro chip, microchip, microprocessor chip, silicon chip, chip - electronic equipment consisting of a small crystal of a silicon semiconductor fabricated to carry out a number of electronic functions in an integrated circuit

#Kinds of Memory Chips

>RAM is Random Access Memory
Actually, should be Read Write Memory, but RWM doesn't sound as good. RAM can be written to or read from. It is volatile, that is, when the power goes off data stored in RAM goes away. ROM is programmed at the factory and is non-volatile.

> DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module)
A memory module comprised of a printed circuit board (PCB), memory chips, and gold leads. Sends a 64-bit path of data, so DIMMs can be installed individually. This is in contrast to earlier SIMMs, which only sent a 32-bit path of data to a 64-bit CPU, requiring SIMMs to be installed in pairs.

>DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
Computer memory that stores information to be used by the CPU. Dynamic memory can only store data for a short period of time, at which point it needs to be refreshed with a new pulse of electric charge, or the data is erased from the memory. Information is not stored in DRAM when the system is powered down.

*EXPANSION SLOTS*
A long narrow socket in a computer into which an expansion card can be inserted. A receptacle inside a computer or other electronic system that accepts a printed circuit board. The number of slots determines future expansion.

# Kinds or Typpes of Expansion Slots

>ISA
Is a printed circuit board that can be inserted into an expansion slot of a computer motherboard to add additional functionality to a computer system. One edge of the expansion card holds the contacts (the edge connector) that fit exactly into the slot. They establish the electrical contact between the electronics (mostly integrated circuits) on the card and on the motherboard.
>EISA
PC bus standard that extends the 16-bit ISA bus (AT bus) to 32 bits and provides bus mastering.
>IDE
A hardware interface widely used to connect hard disks, optical disks and tape drives to a PC. Introduced in 1986 with 20MB of storage, capacities increased a thousandfold in less than two decades. Compared to the SCSI interface, IDE has been the more economical choice.

*BUS ARCHITECTURES*
Is a subsystem that transfers data or power between computer components inside a computer or between computers, and a bus typically is controlled by device driver software. Unlike a point-to-point connection, a bus can logically connect several peripherals over the same set of wires. Each bus defines its set of connectors to physically plug devices, cards or cables together.

#Three main Bus Architectures
>ISA (Industry Standard Architecture):
ISA is pronounced i- suh. This is the original PC bus architecture. It includes the 8-bit (PC, XT) and 16-bit (AT) buses in IBM personal computer series and compatibles. Now, it refers specially to the 16-bit AT bus.
>MCA (Micro Channel Architecture):
A 32-bit bus used in IBM P/S 2 series and other IBM models. This architecture allows multiprocessing that allows several processors to work simultaneously. Micro channel architecture is not compatible with PC bus architecture.
>EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture):
EISA is pronounced eesa. This is a bus standard for PCs that extends the AT bus (the ISA bus) architecture to a 32-bit bus. This architecture also allows more than one CPU to share the bus. The purpose of EISA is to extend and amend the old ISA standard, so that all existing AT expansion boards can work with an EISA slot.