Compatibility Guide

Glossary 177
SVGA
Abbreviation for super video graphics array. VGA and SVGA are video standards
for video adapters with greater resolution and color display capabilities than
previous standards.
To display a program at a specific resolution, you must install the appropriate
video drivers and your monitor must support the resolution. Similarly, the number
of colors that a program can display depends on the capabilities of the monitor,
the video driver, and the amount of video memory installed in the system.
switch
On a system board, switches control various circuits or functions in your computer
system. These switches are known as DIP switches; they are normally packaged
in groups of two or more switches in a plastic case. Two common DIP switches
are used on system boards: slide switches and rocker switches. The names of the
switches are based on how the settings (on and off) of the switches are changed.
syntax
The rules that dictate how you must type a command or instruction so that the
system understands it. A variable's syntax indicates its data type.
system board
As the main circuit board, the system board usually contains most of your system's
integral components, such as the following:
• Microprocessor
•RAM
• Controllers for standard peripheral devices, such as the keyboard
• Various ROM chips
Frequently used synonyms for system board are motherboard and logic board.
system configuration information
Data stored in memory that tells a system what hardware is installed and how the
system should be configured for operation.
system diskette
System diskette is a synonym for bootable diskette.
system memory
System memory is a synonym for RAM.