R&D: Research and development. R&D is a company's investment in better technology and new products.
radiosity: A rendering technique that computes the diffuse inter-reflection of light between all surfaces in an image. This technique provides soft, subtle ambient shading and reflection between objects and low reflectivity. It excels at interior architectural rendering.
RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks. RAIDs are stacks of hard disk drives usually found in servers. They protect important information by redundantly storing it on multiple drives, so the failure of a single drive won't lose any data. Disk striping, a method that interleaves bytes or groups of bytes across multiple drives allows more than one drive to be read and written to simultaneously, increasing the data rate by almost a multiple of the number of drives used. Fault tolerance uses the same method, although the data is duplicated onto another drive (called mirroring). Parity calculates the data in two or more drives and stores the result onto a separate drive that is connected but not used by the system.
Raid 0: Redundant Array of Independent Disks (level 0). A set of protocols by which multiple hard drives are connected together for increased performance and/or data protection. RAID 0 enables data-striping for faster throughput, but doesn't provide for any type of data protection. Conversely, RAID 1 enables disk mirroring, which duplicates data on a second hard disk for constant backup purposes.
RAMDAC: Random Access Memory Digital to Analog Converter. The chip on a videocard that converts the bits of a digital image into an analog signal. It maintains the color palette and determines refresh rates. The faster the RAMDAC MHz, the higher the refresh rate your system can handle.
random access time: The time it takes to read data. It's calculated by recording the time it takes to read a single sector, as the drive cannot respond to a command until the sector is available.
random erase: Allows you to use your CD-ReWritable (CD-RW) drive like a floppy drive. Copying is done using small fixed-length packets that when erased, are actually removed. This allows the space to be re-used.
rangefinder: Device for framing a photograph that views the scene to be captured directly, as opposed to via an LCD monitor or through the actual lens used to capture the image to film (see SLR).
raster-based: A fixed-resolution image comprised of a static Cartesian grid of pixels. These images cannot be scaled without interpolation that diminishes visual quality.
rasterize: The final phase in the videocard pipeline where image data is displayed on-screen as a single, continuous bitmap graphic.
rasterizer: The final stage of the rendering pipeline where the pixels get slapped on the screen.
ray intersection primitive: A function to throw a ray (a vector) through a set of geometry (such as a BSP tree) to see what intersects it. It is very useful for dynamic lighting (start the ray at the light source and find the surface it hits), collision detection, visibility testing, etc.. Much functionality is built on top of this primitive, so speed is everything. Speed limits how much dynamic lighting you can do, how many shadows you can cast, how much collision detection you can afford, etc.
Raytrace: A method of 3D rendering in which light beams are followed individually from their source to the illuminated object and back to the camera. The resulting shading and illumination give a highly realistic appearance and are necessary for rendering true refraction, reflection, and transparency.
RCA-out: A composite analog video-out port to connect devices such as notebooks or DVD players to a television set.
RDRAM: Rambus Dynamic Random Access Memory. It's a proprietary but widely licensed memory standard controlled by Rambus that transfers data much faster than current standards such as EDO RAM and SDRAM. The latest incarnation, Direct RDRAM, supports transfer rates as high as 800MHz, compared to 66MHz for EDO RAM and 100MHz for SDRAM.
Reality-engine: SGI's proprietary 3D acceleration hardware.
realtime: Immediate or concurrent response. It refers to commands or actions that happen in a computer on the same time scale as in the physical world.
Redbook: A specification written by Philips and Sony for audio compact discs (CD-DA).
reference: A relation, connection, or indication.
Reflections: A mirror-like image. In reference to Aureal's A3D 2.0, sounds will sound more real because they are actually reflected off surfaces like in real analog life.
reflective mapping: A ray-tracing render effect that charts the image of surrounding objects onto the surface texture of the "reflective" object.
refresh rate: The rate at which a monitor redraws the image on its screen; measured in hertz (Hz). Refresh rates below 75Hz (75 redraws per second) typically create a flickering effect, which causes eyestrain.
register: A small storage cell in a microprocessor that temporarily holds numbers used by a running program. Usually the registers are 16, 32, or 64 bits wide. Program instructions put values in the registers, perform operations on the values, and copy the results back to memory.
Registry: Windows' mass database of hardware and environmental configuration information. Think of it as Windows internal federal government--a bloated bureaucracy of software keys. Your hardware and software constantly refer to the Registry to know where to go and what to do. When the Registry corrupts, you're in for all-out anarchy.
REM: Stands for remark. When a computer programmer or batch-file author wants to include material in his code that should be ignored by the computer during execution, he will "remark-out" the statement by putting REM or a semi-colon (;) in front of it. The computer will ignore any REM'ed statement and move to the next line. REM statements are typically used by programmers to explain code idiosyncrasies to anyone who might open the code at a later date.
rendering engines: An algorithm that speeds rendering times of 3D objects and animation.
rendering pipeline: The steps that data must take from being stored as a file on disk to being drawn in realtime on screen. Some of these steps are performed in software, some in hardware. 3D accelerators speed up this process.
Resolution: Horizontal and vertical image detail as measured in individual picture elements.
retain-mode meshes: A mesh is a collection of triangles that can be treated as a single object. Retain mode is the DirectX Media API that Chromeffects uses to carry out 3D rendering. Retain mode uses viewpoints, lights, and 3D polygon meshes to render a 3D scene.
reverberation: The result of sound reflecting off many surfaces, as in a concert hall or any enclosed space. The result is a vast number of echoes, which often adds a pleasing resonant quality to music.
RISC: Reduced Instruction-Set Computing. RISC is an architectural design style for microprocessors that was invented to supersede CISC. It tries to maximize performance by encoding program instructions in a fixed-length format and by using simpler instructions that execute in fewer clock cycles. Also see CISC.
rollover: Effect in digital media where one image is replaced with another when a hot spot is entered by the mouse cursor. An example is a button that lights up when you move the mouse onto it.
ROM: Read-Only Memory. A memory chip that stores specific data that cannot be written over (this as opposed to Random-Access Memory, or RAM, which can receive and flush data on the fly).
root: The base directory in hierarchal file systems.
rotary actuator: A more common way of moving the heads on a disk drive--the heads rotate in a 45-degree angle. It is used in Iomega's Clik or Jaz products. See linear actuator.
RS-422: A VTR protocol language that lets your computer talk to multiple video devices from a central computer interface.
runtime: During a program's execution. A runtime error occurs
while a program is running.
S/PDIF: Sony/Philips Digital Interface. A standard interface
for sending digital audio data. Soundcards with S/PDIF jacks let you use your
computer as a mini recording studio.
sample-rate: This is the frequency that audio samples are taken and converted into digital form (also called digitizing). CDs use a sampling rate of 44.1KHz, which means that music digitized to this rate is updated 44,100 times per second.
samples: A sample is the recording of a single note or sound effect used within a sound library.
scalability: The ability to upgrade a system with a secondary (or third, or fourth) processor without realizing a diminishing return on performance.
scalar video playback: Allows free resizing of the video window without creating artifacts. Considered more advanced than integer scaling, which restricts window resizing to specific scaling factors (1x, 2x, full-screen).
Scan Line Interleave SLI: a term used when two videocards work in tandem, with one videocard rendering the odd lines of a video output, while the other card renders the even lines. With the 3Dfx Voodoo2, the slave 3D card will send its rendered output via a ribbon cable into the master videocard, where the combined output is then generated on screen by the master card. Having two videocards work as one raises overall rendering performance, and in the Voodoo2?s case, allows a higher rendering resolution to be obtained.
SCSI: Small Computer System Interface. Pronounced "Scuzzy." A standard high-speed parallel interface defined by the X3T9.2 committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). It is an interface like IDE that allows up to seven peripheral devices to be linked to a single controller. It is perfectly suited for true multitasking environments such as Unix and Windows NT with its ability to manage large storage devices such as hard drives and access its devices concurrently. It comes standard on most Macintosh, but requires an expansion board, or host adapter, in most PCs.
SDI modules: Serial Digital Interface. An SDI module is an uncompressed video in/output port for broadcast digital video.
SDK: Software Development Kit. An SDK contains source code and other information that allows programmers and developers to support hardware or software applications.
SDMI: Secure Digital Music Initiative. Created by the Recording Industry Association of America to bring together the worldwide recording, consumer electronics, and information technology industries to develop new open technology specifications for digital music distribution. SDMI supporters include Compaq, Diamond Multimedia, Creative Labs, Yamaha, Sony Electronics, Samsung, and Microsoft.
SDRAM: Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. A faster type of memory that synchronizes with the CPU. Its architecture allows it to run fast enough to handle the 100MHz system bus
secondary bus: The IDE interface can control up to four devices spread across two buses--the primary bus and the secondary bus. Computers typically boot off of hard drives connected to the primary bus.
sector: The smallest recordable unit on a CD. A disc contains [(75 sectors per second) x (60 seconds per minute) x (number of minutes on disc)] sectors. The amount of data contained in the sector depends on the physical format it is recorded in. You can fit 2K of data into a sector on a CD-ROM.
sepia tone: Process that renders an image in tones of brown; popular in antique photo booths found at state fairs.
serial cable: Cable that transfers image data from the digital camera to the PC via the syrupy-slow serial bus.
server: A computer that provides resources to client computers over a network. Usually a server stores applications and data files for access by clients. Some servers run large programs (such as database managers) and send results of queries to the clients. Web servers store web sites for access over the Internet.
server-class product: A computer whose specs and technologies--such as Alpha or Xeon processors--are ideally suited for use as a server. Servers can provide many functions from managing file allocations and file sharing over a network or Intranet, or singular tasks such as managing network printers or databases.
set-top box: A device that provides additional functions to a TV. The simplest set-top boxes receive cable TV channels. More sophisticated boxes may decode digital TV signals, connect to satellite dishes, and even provide some computerlike functions, such as e-mail and web browsing.
SGML: Standard Generalized Markup Language. A metalanguage for designing document markup languages. Markup languages describe the format of a document. XML and HTML are both derived from SGML, which is an international standard first adopted in 1986. SGML, in turn, descends from Generalized Markup Language (GML), which was invented at IBM in 1969.
SGRAM: Synchronous Graphics Random Access Memory. A type of single-ported memory often used for videocards that synchronizes with the CPU and uses techniques to optimize graphics processing. Considered faster than its SDRAM cousin due to its ability to perform mask writes and block writes.
shadow mask: The most popular CRT monitor technology. The shadow mask itself is a metal grid. The monitor's electron beam is shot through the grid, which positions the beam so that it correctly excites the red, green, and blue phosphor dots that ultimately comprise the picture you see on the screen.
shell: A program designed to present an easier user interface than what the computer normally provides. A shell's interface is usually graphical, but not always. Typically, a shell makes it easier to run programs and access the computer's storage devices.
Shotgun: Diamond's modem bonding technology that combines two 56K modems for speed comparable to ISDN upstream but is still limited by the downstream speeds of two 33.6 modems. Bonding is different from multilink in that both lines are kept throughout the connection.
shutter speed: Duration of time that a camera's shutter--the door that blocks the light-sensitive recording surface--is pulled back to expose the image. Relatively fast shutter speeds are required to capture motion; slow shutter speeds allow more light to pass for low-light shooting but also risk blurring the image from motion, either by the subject or camera.
SIMD: Single Instruction Multiple Data. A processing strategy that tells a single programming instruction to perform the same operation on two or more pieces of data. Intel's MMX and SSE extentions, and AMD's 3DNow! extensions, all use SIMD to boost performance in multimedia games and applications.
SIMM: Single Inline Memory Module. A RAM module that provides a single 32-bit path. See DIMM.
single cycle: Usually associated with 3D rendering. Think of pixel processing as being like a conveyer belt, where the pixel data goes down the line and is given attributes along the way (such as color, level of transparency (alpha), positioning in the z-axis, lighting, and so forth). A single rendering cycle is just such an operation, with the final output being sent to a rasterizer, where it is displayed on screen. Certain attributes, such as bump mapping, environmental reflections, or lighting, may require a second run through this pipeline before heading off into the rasterizer for display. This second run down the conveyer belt is time-consuming and processor-consuming. If a 3D accelerator has a second processor that applies that second attribute alongside all the other attributes during that first cycle, the pixel can be processed in a single-cycle, thus speeding up the process.
single-ended (SE) signaling: The most popular SCSI signaling technology in which each signal is sent over a single wire with a second wire for ground.
single-pass: see single cycle
single-precision floating point: A floating-point number represented in a computer by 32 binary digits (bits). Commonly used in 3D graphics.
single-rendering cycle: Usually associated with 3D rendering. Think of pixel processing as being like a conveyer belt, where the pixel data goes down the pipeline and is given attributes along the way (such as color, level of transparency (alpha), positioning in the z-axis, lighting, and so forth). A single-rendering cycle is just such an operation, with the final output being sent to a rasterizer, where it is displayed on screen. Certain attributes, such as bump mapping, environmental reflections, or lighting, may require a second run through this pipeline before heading off into the rasterizer for display. This second run down the conveyer belt is time-consuming and processor-consuming. If a 3D accelerator has a second processor that applies that second attribute alongside all the other attributes during that first cycle, the pixel can be processed in a single-cycle, thus speeding up the process.
64-bit or 128-bit bus: Refers to the number of bits that can be processed or transmitted in parallel, or the number of bits used for a single element in a data format.
skeletal animation: Representing characters (and objects) as a heirarchy of bones.
Skin: A graphics file that is used in conjunction with game characters to give them a special texture or "look."
slave: A single IDE bus can support two devices--a "master" device and a "slave" device. The slave device is directly connected to the master device, receiving I/O via a pass-through cable. Only master devices can boot-up the computer.
SLI: Scan Line Interleave. A term used when two videocards work in tandem, with one videocard rendering the odd lines of a video output, while the other card renders the even lines. It dramatically increases speed but at the cost of more hardware. With the 3dfx Voodoo2, the slave 3D card will send its rendered output via a ribbon cable into the master videocard, where the combined output is then generated on screen by the master card. Having two videocards work as one raises overall rendering performance, and in the Voodoo2's case, allows a higher rendering resolution to be obtained.
slice: In Fireworks, an area of a graphic that has been defined as a table cell to be reassembled by a web browser is called a slice. Slicing is the process of "cutting up" a larger graphic into smaller pieces, which can then be saved with various compression methods and reduces the overall file size and browser load time.
slipped revs: When the drive rotates a desired sector across the head a second time to allow the host machine reading the data to drain the buffer.
Slot 1: An interface that attaches Intel microprocessors to motherboards. Introduced with the Pentium II, it's a slot that accepts a daughtercard, which in turn contains the processor and Level 2 (L2) cache. It's electrically compatible with Socket 8. Intel does not license Slot 1 to other processor makers. It currently runs at 66MHz or 100MHz.
Slot 2: An interface that attaches Intel microprocessors to motherboards. Introduced with the Xeon, it's a slot that accepts a daughtercard, which in turn contains the processor and the Level 2 (L2) cache. It's intended for servers because it's larger than Slot 1 and can hold more cache chips. Like Slot 1, it's electrically compatible with Socket 8. Intel does not license Slot 2 to other processor makers. It currently runs at 100MHz.
Slot A: An interface that attaches AMD K7 microprocessors to motherboards. Almost identical physically to Intel's Slot 1, it accepts a daughtercard that in turn contains the processor and Level 2 (L2) cache. It's not electrically compatible with Slot 1, however. AMD licensed the basic design from Digital Equipment Corp. The initial version will run at 200MHz.
SLR: Single Lens Reflex. Most common variety of traditional film camera, where the image to be photographed is viewed through the actual lens that captures the image to film.
S.M.A.R.T.: Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology monitors the hard drive for possible problems that may occur due to predictable failures using the parameters set by the drive manufacturer. Both the motherboard BIOS and drive itself must support S.M.A.R.T.
SMP: Symmetric Multiprocessing. SMP systems have two or more microprocessors and an operating system that tries to distribute workloads evenly among the processors.
SMPTE: Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. Usually a stripe or track on a video or audio tape that allows other devices that read SMPTE code to stay synchronized at a frame accurate level. Similar to MTC.
sneakernet: Transferring data via removable storage discs; the act of physically walking from one computer to another and popping in a disc.
socket: An interface for a computer chip on a circuit board. Chips plug into sockets and communicate with other components by transmitting signals through their pins and the circuits etched onto the board. Some chips are soldered permanently in place without sockets.
Socket 7: An interface that attaches x86-compatible microprocessors to system motherboards. Originally designed by Intel for the Pentium, Socket 7 also works with processors made by AMD, Cyrix, Centaur, and others. It is being superseded by Super 7 and Intel's P6 slots because it runs at only 66MHz.
Socket 370: A new 370-pin CPU interface introduced by Intel in 1998. Sometimes it's called Socket 9, because Socket 8 was the Pentium Pro's interface and Socket 7 was for Pentium-class CPUs. Socket 370 is replacing Slot 1 on many newer motherboards.
soft jumpers: Toggles in a motherboard BIOS that allow you to adjust bus speeds and the CPU multiplier--all without having to tweak any physical "hard jumpers" located on the motherboard itself.
software-rendered world: Generally an ugly primordial ooze gamers were forced to live in before the advent of true 3D accelerators.
SOHO: Small Office/Home Office. Marketing term for a category of products that serve people who work at home or have small businesses.
solid-state memory: Data-storing devices that are based purely on semiconductor-type technology. With no moving parts, solid state memory can be compact (DRAM), fast (SRAM) or non-volatile (Flash memory). A variant of the GMR read sensor is currently being considered for use in a radically new type F solid- state memory that could combine all three desirable quantities in a single device, permitting energy-efficient, instant-on computers with superior performance.
sound library: The collection of instrumental note or sound-effects recordings, along with the instructions on how to alter the pitch, filtering, and envelopes of the sounds for each note on the keyboard, which is used in wavetable synthesis.
SoundFont: Essentially mathematical models of a sound. It isn't wavetable synthesis or FM synthesis, but rather a model of what the sound should look like in its various stages. This allows for more complex variations in the timbre in a much smaller file size. Its strengths are sounds such as horns and guitar solos where the timbre changes slightly but noticeably over time.
source code: The program instructions written by programmers. Programmers use a development tool to write, compile, test, and debug their source code. The compiler turns source code into object code, which the computer executes.
southbridge: The chip in a core-logic chipset that controls the IDE bus, USB, plug-n-play support, the PCI-ISA bridge, keyboard/mouse controller, power management features, and other sundry features.
spatializer: An electronic algorithm that attempts to add spaciousness and a wider soundstage to sound. It usually involves boosting the treble and adding some type of echo or reverb.
SPD: Serial Presence Detect. A tiny programmable module on newer memory that stores module attributes. The information can be used by the motherboard to configure RAM timings.
Spec: Short for specification. A detailed statement of technical particulars.
specmanship: A pissing match between two or more competitors who spew stats and numbers faster than that green-blooded, pointy-eared Vulcan.
specular lighting: Lighting that has the qualities of a speculum, or mirror; a specular object has a smooth, reflecting surface.
specular shading: In 3D rendering, it's a polygon's ability to correctly present lighting as it reflects off its surface. Specular shading, or highlighting, refers to the fact the material's lighting attributes take into account both the location of the light source and the observer. Specular highlights account for how shiny a material seems--the greater the specular highlights, the shinier the material.
spin-up: When the hard drive spindle starts to spin in order for you to read data. For example, a 7,200RPM-rated hard drive's spindle would have to start rotating at that speed before you could actually access data.
spindle: On a hard drive, the mechanical part around which data platters rotate. The faster the spindle rotates its platters, the faster data can be read from, and written to, the drive.
Spline: Vector defining a shape or path controlled by "control vertices." These vertices define the shape and curvature of the spline.
sprite: A small computer graphic that can be moved about with a mouse or keyboard. While most sprites are found in computer games, the most familiar sprite is that of your mouse's cursor. Also a lemon-lime soft drink distributed by the Coca-Cola company.
sprite-based explosion: A series of two-dimensional animated images superimposed on a transparent polygon used to simulate explosion effects.
SPX: Sequenced Packet Exchange. A networking communications protocol used by Novell NetWare networks to control the transport of messages by ensuring that IPX messages arrive at their destination intact. SPX resides at layer 4 (transport layer) of the OSI model.
SRAM: Static Random Access Memory. A very fast type of memory chip that's often used for Level 2 (L2) cache and video memory because of its speed. However, it's too expensive to use for main memory, which usually consists of slower DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory). SRAM is faster than DRAM because it doesn't have to be constantly refreshed to retain its data.
SSE: Streaming SIMD Extensions. A set of 70 instructions from Intel that speed up the Pentium III's floating-point, integer, and memory streaming power. SIMD stands for Single Instruction Multiple Data. This processing strategy tells a single programming instruction to perform the same operation on two or more pieces of data. SSE is similar to AMD's 3DNow! but brings more to the table via memory streaming enhancements. As is the case with 3DNow!, games and applications must be optimized for SSE to take advantage of the performance boosts.
status message: In web authoring, the text that will be displayed in the status bar at the bottom of a web browser to help a person navigate the site or gain more information about an item before selecting it. A common status message is one that tells you the location of the next page when you roll over a hyperlink.
stencil buffer: A small chunk of closely coupled RAM used for storing data that will be quickly compared to incoming data and changed as needed. A stencil buffer could be used to hold data for simulating realtime changes in a chunk of a scene, such as a mirror or shadows. Any changes can be quickly be changed and the output can accurately reflect these changes.
S3 texture compression: Built into DirectX6 and available as an OpenGL extension, S3 texture compression is a hardware scheme that achieves 6:1 compression ratios.
STP: Shielded Twisted Pair. A type of cabling similar to UTP but with additional layer of shielding, usually in the form of aluminum-foil or woven-copper shielding that's specifically designed to reduce electrical noise absorption. See UTP.
Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE): A set of 70 instructions from Intel that speed up the Pentium III's floating-point, integer, and memory streaming power. SIMD stands for Single Instruction Multiple Data. This processing strategy tells a single programming instruction to perform the same operation on two or more pieces of data. SSE is similar to 3DNow! but brings more to the table via new integer and memory streaming enhancements. As is the case with 3DNow!, games and applications must be optimized for SSE to take advantage of the performance boosts.
streaming 3D: 3D data sent progressively over a network, such as the web. Allows the user to experience 3D without having to wait for the whole file to download. It's analogous to RealAudio for audio. Also good for rendering huge 3D worlds off of a CD.
strewn: Terms scattered here and there across a page in reckless abandon after staring at techinical definitions in small print for too long.
striping: see RAID
subroutine: A block of instructions in a program that carries out a frequently needed task. By organizing the instructions into a subroutine, programmers can call it by name whenever necessary, eliminating redundant code. Subroutines are also known as functions, procedures, subprograms, and methods.
Super 7: A refinement of the Socket 7 microprocessor interface, which attaches x86-compatible processors to system motherboards. Super 7 can run at 100MHz, or 50 percent faster than Socket 7's 66MHz. That makes it easier for system devices to keep up with the processor.
SuperDisk: A successor to the floppy disk drive, the SuperDisk offers 120MB of storage capacity, faster speeds, and backward compatibility with legacy 1.44MB and 720K media. The SuperDisk can also be used as a bootable device.
superpipeline: a very long instruction pipeline in a microprocessor. The Pentium Pro, Pentium II, Celeron, and Xeon processors are superpipelined. It's a way of achieving higher clock speeds, but one drawback is greater penalties for mispredicting conditional branches.
superscalar: A superscalar microprocessor can execute more than one program instruction at a time. Multiple function units make this possible.
superscalar parallelism: A superscalar microprocessor can execute more than one program instruction at a time. Multiple function units make it possible.
surface tools: Tool used to modify a surface in a 3D modeling application.
S-Video: Super-Video A video standard that divides the signal to carry brightness and color information separately. Also referred to as Y/C, it is a connector that carries the video signal in its separate luminance and chrominance components. If you have this and composite jacks on your camera or deck, use the S-Video for better picture quality. S-Video uses a five-pin connector, not RCA jacks.
swap files: When an application runs out of system memory, it begins using the hard dive as virtual memory to save application and document data. The hidden temporary files written to the hard drive are called swap files. Unfortunately, writing to even a SCSI hard drive is an extremely slow process compared to writing to system memory, so you always want enough system memory to meet your application and document needs.
swap images: In web authoring, a JavaScript function that tells the browser which graphic or area of a graphic will be "swapped" with a new graphic when a rollover is selected.
switching: Also called Ethernet Switching. This is a technique that improves performance and throughput of individual nodes by removing contention by essentially making each adapter perform as if it were the only one on the network. Since each connection is seen as an individual wiring hub, much more traffic can be accomplished and multiple types of topologies can be connected to the same switching hub. This means both 10BaseT and 100BaseT connections can be attached without throughputs faltering. So machines containing 100Mbps connections will only slow down when talking to 10Mbps connections but not with each other.
sync-roll: A type of editing that uses hardware synchronization and time-based correction to control your video sources.
syntax error: A spelling or grammatical error in the source code of a program. Syntax errors are usually flagged by a compiler. The compiler won't convert the source code into object code until a programmer fixes the errors.
synthesizers: Synthesizers are electronic musical instruments that create a wide variety of expressive instrumental timbres, including the ability to imitate most acoustic instruments as well as completely novel sounds.
SysEx: System Exclusive. A way of transmitting machine specific byte-codes to control features or parameters of a synthesizer/effects processor that don't normally fall under the MIDI specification in a general fashion. For example, via SysEx, one can dump an entire patch bank to their synthesizer before each song, effectively blessing the synth with unlimited storage capabilities.
system bus: The pipe that sends data back and forth between main memory and the CPU.
system chipset: See core-logic system chipset.
system I/O bus: The main input/output bus on a microprocessor. It's the interface that connects the CPU to most other system devices, such as main memory (RAM), PCI devices, the AGP card, the system chipset, and often the Level 2 (L2) cache. Also known as a frontside bus.
system on a chip: A microprocessor chip that has extra functions normally provided by auxiliary chips and components. Those functions might include memory control, peripheral interfaces, graphics, sound, and more. Such highly-integrated chips are usually designed for low-cost PCs or non-PC information appliances.