A computer component that enhances the processing speed of a particular device, usually by taking over some of the tasks originally assigned by that device. For example, a video accelerator card will take over some of the graphic functions originally assigned to the microprocessor.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface. An industry standard developed by Intel®, Microsoft®, and Toshiba for computer power management. The key element of the standard is that the OS controls power management. In previous standards, most of the power management tasks were run by the BIOS, with limited intervention by the OS. In ACPI, the BIOS communicates with hardware components in the computer, but the OS controls power management operations.
Accelerated graphics port. A high-speed graphics port that produces fast communication between the graphics controller and computer. It allows the video controller to directly access the computer's main memory and bypass the PCI bus. A video expansion card installed in this port can run almost twice as fast as that in a PCI slot. This also helps to reduce the traffic on the PCI bus.
Advanced programmable interrupt controller. Prioritizes and manages IRQs for the various devices in a PC. Without an APIC, the microprocessor must control IRQs.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. The basis of character sets used in many present-day computers. ASCII can be used to convey some control codes, the space character, numbers, most basic punctuation, and unaccented lower- and upper-case letters.
A system of numbers having 2 as its base and using 0 and 1 for its notation. Binary code is used by computers because it works well with digital electronics and logic.
Basic input/output system. Composed of software and data stored on a ROM chip. The BIOS initializes communication between the microprocessor and devices such as the keyboard and video adapter. The BIOS also controls system functions such as error messages and beep codes. The BIOS can be updated, or "flashed," which can correct errors, support new hardware, and so on. System setup allows you to configure certain options in the BIOS.
A shortened reference to binary digit. A bit is the smallest unit of storage and represents a quantity that can have only one of two possible values, such as true or false, or 0 or 1.
British Thermal Unit. A measurement of thermal energy that equals approximately 1055 joules (or 1055 watt-seconds), or the amount of thermal energy necessary to raise the temperature of one pound of pure liquid water by one degree F at the temperature at which water has its greatest density (39 °F).
An electronic pathway that links computer components such as the microprocessor, RAM, expansion cards, and so on. The "width" of a bus indicates the amount of data that can move along the bus and is determined by the number of parallel conductors in the bus. For example, a 32-bit bus has 32 conductors and can move 32 bits of data at once.
The speed, given in MHz, that indicates how fast a bus can transfer information. For example, PCI bus speeds are 33 or 66 MHz, and the AGP bus speed is 66 MHz. Intel Pentium® microprocessors have bus speeds of 66 or 100 MHz. The microprocessor operating speed is determined by a combination of the bus speed and multiplier; for example, 100 MHz bus speed x 4.5 multiplier = 450 MHz microprocessor speed.
An area of high-speed RAM set aside to store frequently accessed data. When data is accessed, a copy is stored in cache memory. The next time the microprocessor looks for information, it first checks the cache. If the data is there, the microprocessor retrieves it from the much-faster cache memory. Drive caching and RAM caching significantly improve the overall speed of the computer. See also L1 Cache and L2 Cache.
Common Information Model. CIM allows remote management application programs to access system management information on a client computer running any Microsoft® Windows® OS that includes the WBEM core components.
The speed, given in MHz, that indicates how fast computer components operate that are connected to the system bus. The speed is generated by a quartz crystal on the system board that acts as a kind of metronome. Components that are synchronized with the clock speed can run faster or slower, but their speed is determined by multiplying or dividing a factor by the clock speed.
Certificate of Authenticity. The Microsoft Windows COA is a 25-digit alpha-numeric code located on a sticker on your computer. You need the COA to complete the OS setup or reinstallation. Also referred to as the Product Key or Product ID. For more information, see http://support.dell.com.
A shortened reference to communications port. The typical designation for a serial connection to a modem or other serial device. Most computers support one or two serial connectors designated as COM1 and COM2.
An I/O character that causes an action rather than appears as part of the data. You can input most control codes by simultaneously pressing the <Ctrl> key and a letter or character on the keyboard. Some control codes usually have their own assigned keys, such as <Escape>, <Tab>, <Delete>, <Backspace>, and <Enter>. Different OSs and programs have their own conventions for what effect certain control codes will have, such as interrupting the current process or suspending output. Control codes can also be used to affect an output device, such as causing a printer to start a new line of text.
Part of a computer, typically a separate circuit board or chip, that allows the computer to use certain kinds of devices. Types of controllers include hard-drive, network, keyboard, interrupt, and graphics controllers.
Cost of ownership. Business asset data that helps an organization collect and track information about its assets. COO data is contained in a file on a computer, defining the fiscal aspects of the computer, such as ownership status, warranty information, lease configuration, acquisition information, and so on. The computer is a technology investment, and COO business asset data provides organizations with information they can use to target the reduction of maintenance and support costs, as well as to assist system integrators track the cost of computers they provide for their customers.
Continuity Rambus in-line memory module (RIMM). Module that provides electrical continuity through the Rambus channel when the channel is not fully populated. All Rambus slots in a system must be filled with either a RIMM or a CRIMM.
Digital audio tape. A type of magnetic tape originally designed for audio format, now also used in computers to back up data. DAT cassettes are about the physical size of audio cassettes and can store numerous GB of data.
The segmentation of logically sequential data, such as a single file, so that segments can be written to multiple devices, usually hard drives, in a round-robin manner. This method is useful if the microprocessor is capable of transferring data faster than a single drive can supply or accept it. While data is being transferred from the first drive, the second drive can locate the next segment.
Data communication equipment. In computer data transmission, DCE is the RS-232 interface that a modem or other serial device uses to exchange data with the computer. See also DTE.
Any piece of equipment that is not part of the essential computer (such as the microprocessor, RAM, and data buses) but is connected to or installed in the computer. Some devices are installed inside the main part of the computer, such as the hard drive, CD drive, and network adapter. Other devices are outside the computer, such as the printer, but are attached by a cable or wireless connection.
Deutsche Industrie Normenausschuss. A German standards organization and member of ISO.
DIN is also a form of connector on your computer that is round, has 5 pins, and is typically used to connect AT keyboard cable connectors. See also Mini-DIN.
Direct memory access. An electronic pathway or direct channel on which a device can bypass the microprocessor and transfer data directly to RAM. A DMA channel is often one of the resources assigned when configuring an expansion card or EIDE drive. DMA is a recent alternative to PIO.
Desktop Management Interface. A standard of WfM that provides a method to determine various management attributes of a computer through the use of a standard software interface.
Distributed Management Task Force. An industry organization leading the development, adoption, and unification of management standards and initiatives for desktop, enterprise, and Internet environments. Working with key technology vendors and affiliated standards groups, the DMTF is enabling a more integrated and efficient approach to management.
Dynamic random-access memory (RAM). Referred to as "dynamic" because it must be regularly refreshed, unlike SRAM, which retains a value as long as power is supplied. See also RDRAM and SDRAM.
Direct Rambus dynamic random-access memory (RDRAM). Provides a 16-bit bus, rather than the 8-bit DRAM bus. At a speed of 800 MHz, the peak data transfer rate is 1.6 billion Bps. DRDRAM uses pipelining to accelerate processing, allowing up to eight operations to be performed simultaneously.
Data terminal equipment. In computer data transmission, DTE is the RS-232 interface that a computer uses to exchange data with a modem or other serial device. See also DCE.
Digital versatile disc. An optical form of storage media, typically used for movies. DVD has improved capacity and bandwidth compared with the CD. Most DVD drives support CD media as well.
Error checking and correction. A type of RAM that checks data that is being read or transmitted for errors and, when necessary, corrects the errors. See also EDO.
Extended Capabilities Port. A parallel port design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission. Like EPP, it uses DMA to transfer data and often improves performance. Devices such as printers that connect to the computer's parallel port are designed to take advantage of the ECP standard.
Extended-data out. A type of RAM that improves the time to read from memory on faster microprocessors such as the Intel Pentium. For faster computers, different types of DRAM are considered. See also ECC.
Enhanced integrated device electronics. An improved version of the IDE interface for hard drives and CD drives. EIDE uses Logical Block Addressing, which allows for hard-drive storage capacities greater than 528 MB. It makes use of DMA channels and can address up to four drives. Also called fast ATA.
Enhanced Parallel Port. A parallel port design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission. Like ECP, it uses DMA to transfer data and often improves performance. Many devices that connect to the computer's parallel port are designed to take advantage of the EPP standard.
Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP)/Extended Capabilities Port (ECP). A parallel port design that provides improved bidirectional data transmission, using DMA. EPP is for nonprinter devices. ECP is for printers and scanners.
An electronic circuit board that installs in an expansion slot on the computer's system board, expanding the capabilities of the computer. Examples of expansion cards include, video, modem, and sound cards.
A numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell™ computer. This code is a mathematical conversion of the computer's Service Tag Number into a purely numeric format allowing for easy entry into Dell's automated call-routing system. Enter the Express Service Code, using a touch-tone telephone, when contacting Dell for assistance. For more information, see http://support.dell.com.
Federal Communications Commission. A U.S. agency responsible for enforcing communications-related regulations on how much radiation computers and other electronic equipment can emit.
File Transfer Protocol. A standard Internet protocol to exchange files between computers on the Internet. Like http, which transfers HTML pages and related files, FTP is a protocol that uses the Internet's TCP/IP protocols.
Graphical user interface. Software that interacts with the user by means of menus, windows, and icons. Most applications that operate on the Microsoft Windows OS are GUIs.
A computer component that provides an interface with an individual hard drive. With the introduction of IDE, the controller was produced as a chip integrated into the hard-drive housing, whereas it was previously a dedicated expansion card. See also Controller.
A piece of heat-conductive metal that can be attached to the top of a chip, such as the microprocessor, to draw heat away and allow the chip to operate at a cooler temperature.
Indicates that a device can be connected to or disconnected from a computer while the computer is running. After the hot-swappable device is connected to the computer, the OS can immediately recognize and use the device.
Hypertext Markup Language. A set of codes inserted into an Internet web page intended for display on an Internet browser. The codes tell the browser how to display the contents of the web page.
Hertz. A measurement of frequency that equals 1 cycle per second. Computers and electronic devices are often measured in kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz), gigahertz (GHz), or terahertz (THz).
Input/output. An operation or device that enters and/or extracts data from the computer. For example, a keyboard is an input device, and a printer is an output device.
Industry Canada. The Canadian regulatory body responsible for regulating emissions from electronic equipment, much as the FCC does in the United States. IC polices the Canadian marketplace to ensure that equipment manufactured in or imported into Canada meet the proper emissions limits.
Integrated circuit. A microelectronic semiconductor component consisting of many interconnected transistors and other devices. Also called a chip. Examples include the microprocessor, hard-drive controller, and RAM chips.
Integrated Device Electronics. An ATA specification for drive interface. This is a common interface used primarily for hard drives and CD drives. This interface is commonly integrated directly into the computer's system board, and it allows up to four drives to communicate simultaneously with the computer. See also EIDE.
Each computer on the Internet has at least one IP address that uniquely identifies it from all other computers on the Internet. When you send or receive data on the Internet, it contains both the sender's and receiver's addresses. See also TCP/IP.
Internetwork packet eXchange. A networking protocol from Novell® that interconnects networks that use Novell NetWare® clients and servers. See also SPX and IPX/SPX.
Interrupt request. An electronic pathway assigned to a specific device so that the device can communicate with the microprocessor. Each device connection must be assigned an IRQ. For example, the first serial port in your computer is typically assigned to IRQ4. Although two devices can share the same IRQ assignment, you cannot operate both devices simultaneously.
Industry-Standard Architecture. A standard for IBM-compatible PCs that extends the bus architecture to 16 bits. It also allows for bus mastering, although only the first 16 MB of RAM are available for direct access. ISA is sometimes referred to as AT bus architecture.
International Organization for Standardization. A voluntary organization founded in 1946, comprised of the national standards organizations of many countries. ISO determines international standards in many areas, including computers and communications. ANSI is the American member of ISO.
Level 2. A larger, slower secondary cache used with the L1 cache. In older microprocessors, the L2 cache was usually external to the processor, contained on chip(s) or an expansion card. On more recent processors the L2 cache is typically integrated into the processor.
Logical block addressing. A defining feature of EIDE that allows a computer to address a hard drive larger than 528 MB, up to 8.4 GB in data storage capacity. A logical block address is a 28-bit value that maps to a specific cylinder-head-sector address on the drive.
Low insertion force. A type of socket or connector that allows a computer chip to be installed or removed with minimal stress applied to either the chip or its socket. See ZIF.
Line print terminal. The typical designation for a parallel port connection to a printer or other parallel device. Most computers support one or two parallel ports designated as LPT1 and LPT2.
Low voltage differential. A form of SCSI interface that will be formalized in the SCSI-3 specification. LVD uses less power than the present differential drive, is less expensive, and supports the higher speeds of Ultra-2 SCSI drives. LVD requires 3.3 VDC instead of 5 VDC, the previous standard.
Megabyte. A measurement of data storage that equals 1,048,576 bytes. 1 MB equals 1024 KB. When referring to hard drive storage, the term is often rounded to mean 1 million bytes.
Addresses assigned to physical memory locations by the computer at start-up. These addresses allow devices and software applications to identify information that the microprocessor can access. This process is referred to as Memory Mapping.
The process by which the computer assigns memory addresses to physical memory locations at start-up. Devices and software applications can then identify information that the microprocessor can access.
Management Information Format. A syntax for describing information for manageable hardware and software components that can be installed on a computer. See also COO, WBEM, and WfM.
A shortened reference to modulator/demodulator. Modems convert analog data into digital data and vice-versa so that computers can communicate over telephone lines.
Mean time between failures. A measurement of estimated equipment reliability. The higher the MTBF, the longer the equipment should last. For example, if the MTBF is 10,000 hours, the equipment should run, on the average, at least 10,000 hours before failing.
An expansion card that connects a computer to other computers on a network. The network adapter works with the network OS to transfer information over the network. See NIC.
Non-volatile random-access memory (RAM). Memory that does not lose its contents when you turn off your computer. NVRAM is used for maintaining the computer configuration information such as date, time, and other user-settable system setup options.
Usually refers to components that are physically located on a circuit board. For example, the system boards of many present-day computers have integrated video, sound, and/or network controllers.
Operating system. The program that, after being loaded initially into the computer at start-up, manages all the other application programs in a computer. The application programs use the OS by making requests for services through an API. Often the OS also allows direct interaction by the user.
An I/O port on your computer that transfers data eight bits at a time. It uses a 25-pin, female subminiature-D connector, typically to connect a printer. Also referred to as an LPT port.
Private branch exchange. A telephone system owned and operated by a private organization rather than the telephone company. This telephone system switches calls between users in the organization on internal lines while allowing users to share a certain number of external phone lines. The main purpose of a PBX is to save the cost of requiring a separate telephone line for each user.
Peripheral Component Interconnect. A standard for expansion cards developed by Intel Corporation. PCI is a local bus that supports 32- and 64-bit data paths, providing a high-speed data path between the microprocessor and devices such as video, drives, network, and so on. PCI devices are PnP-compliant.
Platform event trap. A platform event is an alarm or specified condition that originates directly from a computer's BIOS or hardware components such as the microprocessor or a chip. The event occurs independently of the OS or system management software and hardware. The platform event trap is a format used for communicating a platform event in an SNMP environment.
Pin grid array. A type of socket for a computer chip. The PGA socket has all its pins lined up in even rows, as opposed to the SPGA socket, which has its rows staggered.
A method of processing in which a task is performed in stages: the output of one stage is input to the next stage.This method speeds up processing by allowing several parts of multiple tasks to be run simultaneously.
Programmed input/output. A method of moving data between devices in a computer in which all data passes through the microprocessor. The most recent ATA/IDE standard specifies higher data transfer rates, mode 3 at 11.1 MBps and mode 4 at 16.6 MBps. A recent alternative to PIO is DMA.
Often referred to as Plug-n-Play or PnP. A technology that can automatically configure devices at start-up to use or share certain IRQs. For this to work properly the computer's BIOS and OS must both support PnP, and all devices being configured must also be PnP-compliant. PCI devices are PnP-compliant.
Power-on self-test. Diagnostic programs, loaded automatically by the BIOS during start-up, that perform basic tests on the major computer components, such as RAM, the hard drives, the keyboard, video, and so on. If there are no problems during the POST, the computer continues the start-up and loads the OS.
Pre-boot eXecution Environment. A standard of WfM that allows networked computers that do not have an OS to be configured and started remotely. PXE benefits include:
The client computer does not necessarily need its own OS or even a hard drive.
The client computer can be remotely shut down and restarted.
Since PXE is an industry standard, new computers can easily be added to the network.
Redundant Array of Independent Disks. A system of two or more drives working together for performance and fault tolerance. RAID drives are typically used on servers and high-end PCs.
There are a number of different RAID levels. The three most common are 0, 3, and 5:
Level 0: Provides data striping but no redundancy. This improves performance but does not provide fault tolerance.
Level 3: Same as Level 0, but also reserves one dedicated drive for error correction data, providing good performance and some level of fault tolerance.
Level 5: Provides data striping at the byte level and also stripe error correction information. This results in excellent performance and good fault tolerance.
Random-access memory. The primary temporary storage area for program instructions and data. RAM is stored in chips on small circuit boards called SIMMs, DIMMs, or RIMMs, that attach to the system board. RAM, unlike ROM, is volatile, which means that, when you turn off your computer, any information stored in RAM is lost.
Rambus is a memory technology that is designed to work with existing system board standards as an alternative to DRAM. See also RIMM, RDRAM, and DRDRAM.
Rambus dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). A memory subsystem that can optimally transfer up to 1.6 billion bytes of data per second. The subsystem consists of RAM, the RAM controller, and the bus connecting RAM to the microprocessor and other devices in the computer. See also DRDRAM.
A standard of WfM that provides the ability either to remotely wake a computer from a low-power sleep state or to remotely start a computer that is turned off but connected to a power source. Remote Wake Up, typically used to conserve power in large network organizations and to remotely perform maintenance/configuration operations, must be supported by an ACPI-compatible computer. Additionally, to start by a network connection, the network adapter must support WOL. To start by a telephone connection, the modem must support WOR.
Rambus in-line memory module. A slim circuit board containing RDRAMchips. RIMMs are plugged into sockets on the computer's system board to add memory to the computer. They typically must be installed in matched pairs, meaning two sockets forming a pair must contain RIMMs of identical capacity, number of RDRAM chips, and speed. See also SIMM and DIMM.
A form of connector resembling a standard telephone jack that is typically used to connect Ethernet and Token Ringnetwork adapters and cables. Unlike a telephone jack, an RJ45 connector has eight wires instead of two, four, or six.
Read-only memory. Memory that stores data and programs that cannot be deleted or written to by the computer. ROM, unlike RAM, retains its contents even after you turn off your computer. Some programs essential to the operation of your computer reside in ROM.
Small computer system interface. A high-speed interface that can be used to connect devices to a computer, such as hard drives, CD drives, printers, and scanners. The SCSI can connect up to seven devices using a single controller. Each device is accessed by an individual ID number on the SCSI controller's bus. See also LVD.
Synchronous dynamic random-access memory (DRAM). A type of DRAM used on DIMMs. SDRAM is synchronized with the computer clock speed, operating at the same speed as the system bus.
An I/O port on your computer that transfers data sequentially, one bit at a time. It uses either a 9-pin or a 25-pin, male subminiature-D connector, typically to connect a device such as a modem or mouse. Also referred to as a COM port. See also DCE and DTE.
A five to seven-digit alpha-numeric code located on a sticker on your Dell computer. This code is programmed into your computer's system setup by Dell during the manufacturing process. Dell customer support applications use the Service Tag to display all of the configuration and support history information for your specific computer. See also Express Service Code. For more information, see http://support.dell.com.
Single in-line memory module. A slim circuit board containing RAM chips. SIMMs can be plugged into sockets on the computer's system board to add memory to the computer. Depending on the computer, SIMMs may need to be installed in multiples of two or four. See also DIMM and RIMM.
Self-Monitoring And Reporting Tool. A standard for developing hard drives and software systems that automatically monitors a hard drive's health and reports potential problems. Ideally, this should allow you to take proactive actions to prevent impending hard-drive failures.
Staggered pin grid array. A type of socket for a computer chip. The SPGA socket has all its pins in staggered rows, as opposed to the PGA socket, which has its pins lined up in even rows.
Static random-access memory (RAM). Referred to as "static" because it retains a value as long as power is supplied, unlike DRAM, which must be refreshed regularly.
A term used to indicate a manufacturing "version number" or "revision level" of an Intel microprocessor. The initial version of a new processor is the A0 step. As revisions are made for functional fixes or manufacturing improvements, the stepping is increased. Intel recommends using identical steppings of processors in dual-processor systems.
Shielded twisted pair. A common type of copper wiring used for Ethernet networks. STP wiring is constructed just like UTP, having two insulated copper wires wound around each other to form a "twisted pair." However, for some business locations, twisted pairs are also enclosed in a shield that functions as a ground.
A utility that allows you to configure user-selectable options in the BIOS such as date and time, or system password, as well as to set the current configuration information, including the amount of memory or type of hard drive installed.
Telephony Applications Programming Interface (API). Enables Microsoft Windows program applications to operate with a wide variety of telephony devices, including voice, data, fax, video, and so on.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP). The basic communication protocol of the Internet. It can also be used in a private network. TCP/IP is a two-layer system. The higher layer, TCP, manages the assembling of a file into smaller packets that are transmitted by one computer over the Internet and received by the TCP layer on another computer. The receiving computer's TCP layer reassembles the packets into the original message. The lower layer, IP, addresses each packet so that it gets to the right destination. See IP and IP Address.
Terminate-and-stay-resident. A program application that is loaded, stays in RAM after it is terminated, and can be reactivated by pressing a designated "hotkey" or a combination of keys. Examples of TSRs are calculators and calendars. OSs like Windows have the ability to constantly switch back and forth between applications and thereby do not require TSRs.
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. U.S. Federal law mandates that all equipment used in a place of business be certified as safe by a nationally recognized test laboratory. In addition, many local electrical and building codes and ordinances require that products be certified by a nationally recognized test laboratory. Because UL is one of the most widely recognized test laboratories in the United States, many customers of large manufacturers make UL approval a mandatory requirement.
Uninterruptible power supply. A device that allows your computer to keep running for a limited amount of time after the primary power source is lost. Typically, a UPS can also provide protection against power surges.
Uniform Resource Locator. A standard way of specifying the location of an object, such as an HTML document, on the Internet. Examples of URLs include the following:
http://www.dell.com
http://support.dell.com
ftp.dell.com
mailto:info@dell.com
The part before the first colon specifies the access scheme or protocol. Commonly implemented schemes include FTP and http. The part after the colon is interpreted according to the access scheme and can introduce an IP address, indicate a path or file on a server, or locate a particular position within a specified document.
Universal Serial Bus. An interface for devices such as keyboards, joysticks, scanners, speakers, or printers, that provides a maximum transfer speed of 12 Mb/second. Devices plug directly into a four-pin connector on your computer or into a multiport hub that connects to your computer. USB is hot-swappable, and up to 127 devices can be connected in daisy-chain manner.
Unshielded twisted pair. A common type of copper wiring used for telephone systems and Ethernet networks. To reduce electromagnetic induction between pairs of wires, sometimes called "crosstalk," two insulated copper wires are wound around each other to form a "twisted pair." See also STP.
Volt. A measurement of electric potential and electromotive force. If one volt is applied to a resistance of one ohm, a current of one ampere will flow across the resistance.
Voltage regulator module. A component installed on the system board that senses the voltage requirements for a microprocessor and ensures that the correct voltage is maintained.
Web-Based Enterprise Management. A set of systems management and Internet standard technologies developed to unify the management of computing environments. The core set of WBEM standards, developed by DMTF, include a data model, the CIM standard, a coding specification, and an http transport mechanism.
Wired for management. A specification developed by Intel to improve the manageability of desktop, mobile, and server computers. WfM defines software, hardware, and other capabilities that enhance computer network operations and reduce support costs by allowing remote management application programs to access client computers over a network. WfM technology is used in a client computer, in such components as circuitry, power supply, network adapter, and so on. Remote management application programs can use WfM technology to access a client computer and gather information about it, monitor its status, or change its operational state. WfM standards include DMI, PXE, and Remote Wake Up. WfM is also compatible with current and emerging industry specifications, such as ACPI, CIM, SMBIOS, SNMP, and WBEM.
Wake-on LAN. Technology that allows a computer on a network to be remotely turned on or awakened from sleep mode. WOL is a facet of WfM technology. See also WOR, PME, and Remote Wake Up.
Zero insertion force. A type of socket or connector that allows a computer chip to be installed or removed with no stress applied to either the chip or its socket. See LIF.
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