Specifications

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Appendix A Glossary
RDRAM (Rambus DRAM) A proprietary high-
speed dynamic RAM technology developed by
Rambus, Inc., which was supported by some 8xx
series Intel chipsets for Pentium III and early
Pentium 4 systems from 1999 through 2001.
Memory modules with RDRAM chips are called
RIMMs (Rambus inline memory modules). Rambus
licenses its technology to other semiconductor
companies, who manufacture the chips and
RIMMs.
read-only file A file whose attribute setting in
the file’s directory entry tells DOS not to allow soft-
ware to write into or over the file.
read-only memory See ROM.
read/write head A tiny magnet that reads and
writes data on a disk track.
RealAudio A system and player for streaming
audio data over the Internet. Developed by
RealNetworks.
real mode A mode available in all Intel
8086–compatible processors that enables compati-
bility with the original 8086. In this mode, mem-
ory addressing is limited to 1MB.
real-time The actual time in which a program or
an event takes place. In computing, real-time refers
to an operating mode under which data is received
and processed and the results returned so quickly
that the process appears instantaneous to the user.
The term also is used to describe the process of
simultaneous digitization and compression of audio
and video information.
reboot The process of restarting a computer and
reloading the operating system.
Red Book More commonly known as Compact
Disc-Digital Audio (CD-DA), this is one of four com-
pact disc standards. Red Book got its name from
the color of the manual used to describe the CD-
Audio specifications. The Red Book audio standard
requires that digital audio be sampled at a 44.1KHz
sample rate using 16 bits for each sample. This is
the standard used by audio CDs and many
CD-ROMs.
redundant power supply (RPS) A power sup-
ply with two or more modules, one of which is in
service at a time. If the primary module fails,
another automatically takes its place. An RPS might
be designed into a server or could be retrofitted
later.
refresh cycle A cycle in which the computer
accesses all memory locations stored by DRAM
chips so that the information remains intact.
DRAM chips must be accessed several times per
second; otherwise, the information fades.
refresh rate Another term for the vertical scan
frequency of monitors.
register Storage area in memory having a speci-
fied storage capacity—such as a bit, byte, or com-
puter word—and intended for a special purpose.
Registry The system configuration files used by
Windows 95 and later to store settings about
installed hardware and drivers, user preferences,
installed software, and other settings required to
keep Windows running properly. Augments and
replaces the
WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI files used in
Windows 3.x and earlier. The Registry structure
varies between Windows versions.
release candidate (RC) A final test release of a
program during the beta test process, to help find
and fix any bugs before the product is released to
manufacturing for duplication.
remote digital loopback A test that checks
the phone link and a remote modem’s transmitter
and receiver. Data entered from the keyboard is
transmitted from the initiating modem, received by
the remote modem’s receiver, looped through its
transmitter, and returned to the local screen for
verification.
remote echo A copy of the data received by the
remote system, returned to the sending system,
and displayed onscreen. A function of the remote
system.
rendering Generating a 3D image that incorpo-
rates the simulation of lighting effects, such as
shadows and reflection.
resolution 1) A reference to the size of the
pixels used in graphics. In medium-resolution
graphics, pixels are large. In high-resolution graph-
ics, pixels are small. 2) A measure of the number of
horizontal and vertical pixels that can be displayed
by a video adapter and monitor.
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