Backside Bus There are two types of buses that carry data to and from a computer’s CPU. They are the frontside bus and backside bus. Surprisingly, there is no correlation between these and the backside and frontside airs that snowboarders talk about. While the frontside bus carries data between the CPU and memory, the backside …
Bare Metal A bare metal system is a computer that does not include any software. This means the user must install an operating system in order for the hardware to be functional. The term “bare metal” is commonly used to refer to custom-built PCs and barebones systems. These types of computers are ideal for PC …
Barebones A barebones PC is a computer that has minimal components. A typical barebones system includes a case, motherboard, CPU, hard drive, RAM, and power supply. Most barebones systems are sold as kits, in which the components must be assembled by the user. Since barebones PCs usually do not come preassembled, they are not designed …
Base Station A base station is a fixed wireless device that serves as a hub for other wireless devices and provides a bridge to another network. In a computer networking context, a base station broadcasts a wireless signal that allows other devices to join a local network. However, the term is also commonly used in …
Bezel The term “bezel” comes from the jewelry industry, in which case a bezel is a groove that holds a gemstone or watch crystal in place. The term is also used to describe the rim around gauges, such as the speedometer in a car. In the computer industry, a bezel may refer to either the …
Blu-ray Blu-ray is an optical media format designed to replace DVDs by providing higher storage capacity and the ability to play back high-definition video. Blu-ray discs are used for distributing HD films and television shows, as well as video games for the PlayStation 4 / 5 and Xbox One / Series X consoles. A Blu-ray …
Boot Disk A boot disk, or startup disk, is a storage device from which a computer can “boot” or start up. The default boot disk is typically a computer’s internal hard drive or SSD. This disk contains files required by the boot sequence as well as the operating system, which is loaded at the end …
Bricking Bricking is when an electronic device becomes unusable, often from a failed software or firmware update. If an update error causes system-level damage, the device may not start up or function at all. In other words, the electronic device becomes a paperweight or a “brick.” The more foundational an update is, the greater its …
Bridge A bridge is a device that provides a connection between two or more local area networks. It allows devices on separate networks to communicate as though they were on the same LAN. A bridge may connect two networks of the same type (e.g. bridging two Ethernet networks) or two different types (e.g. bridging a …
Brouter A brouter is a device that functions as both a bridge and a router. It can forward data between networks (serving as a bridge), but can also route data to individual systems within a network (serving as a router). The main purpose of a bridge is to connect two separate networks. It simply forwards …