Computer Hardware Terminology

Computer Hardware Terminology
can be quite confusing!

So this is our answer to help you out. Our computer hardware glossary, 'jargon buster'. With all of the common modern day computer hardware terms and jargon.

We have all the computer hardware terms you are likely to come across, along with a description of exactly what they mean. If you can't find it here then you probably won't need it!

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : Misc
• 4-Way Server
• 8-Way Server
• 32-Bit
• 64-Bit
• 286 Processor
• 386 Processor
• 486 Processor
• 8086, 8088 Processors

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : A
• A/D Converter: Analog/Digital Converter
• Accelerator Board
• Access.Bus
• Acoustic Coupler
• ACR: Advanced Communications Riser
• Active Component
• Active Hub
• Active Matrix Display
• Adapter
• Address Bus
• AGP Pro
• AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port
• Allocated Memory
• Alpha Processor
• ALU: Arithmetic Logic Unit
• AMBA: Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture
• AMD64
• American Wire Gauge
• Amplifier Repeater
• Analog Monitor
• Answer-Only Modem
• Antistatic Mat
• ANVM: Active Nonvolatile Memory
• Archimedes
• Architecture
• Archive Site
• ARM Architecture
• Array Processor
• Arrow Keys
• Artificial brain
• ASIC: Application-Specific Integrated Circuit
• Aspect Ratio
• ASPI: Advanced SCSI Programming Interface
• Associative Memory
• Associative Storage
• AT Bus
• AT Keyboard
• ATA: Advanced Technology Attachment
• ATAPI: AT attachment Packet Interface
• Athlon
• AUI: Attachment Unit Interface
• AUX: Auxiliary Devices

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : B
• Bare bones
• Backbone
• Backlighting
• Backplane
• Backup Server
• Beta test
• Beta version
• BIOS: Basic Input/Output System
• BJT: Bipolar junction transistor
• BNC Connector
• Boot PROM
• Bootflash
• Bridge
• Brouter
• Bubble-Jet Printer
• Buffer
• Burst Mode
• Bus
• Bus Mastering
• Bus Mouse

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : C
• Cable
• Cable Modem
• Cache
• Cache Coherence
• Caddy Drive
• CAM: Content Addressable Memory
• Candela
• Capacitive Keyboard
• CardBus
• Cassette
• CAT1: Category 1 Cable
• CAT2: Category 2 Cable
• CAT3: Category 3 cable
• CAT4: Category 4 cable
• Cat-5: Category 5 Cable
• CAT5e: Category 5e
• CAT6: Category 6 Cable
• CAT7: Category 7 Cabling
• CCD: Charge-Coupled Device
• CD-I Drive: Compact Disc-Interactive Drive
• CD-R Drive: Compact Disk-Recordable Drive
• CD-ROM: Compact Disc-Read-Only Memory
• CD-RW: CD-Rewritable Drive
• Celeron
• Central Processor
• Centrino
• Centronics Interface
• CFM: Cubic Feet Per Minute
• CGA: Color Graphics Adapter
• Chip
• Chipset
• CIS: Contact Image Sensor
• CISC: Complex Instruction Set Computer
• Clock Rate
• Clock Speed
• Clock Tick
• CMOS: Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
• CNR: Communication and Networking Riser
• Coaxial Cable
• Color Monitor
• Color Printer
• CSA: Communication Streaming Architecture
• Compact Flash
• CPLD: Complex programmable logic device
• Composite Video
• Computer Cluster
• Computer Hardware
• Computer Memory
• Concentrator
• Configuration
• Connection Pool
• Connector
• Console
• Continuity Test
• Contrast Ratio
• Control Bus
• Controller
• Conventional Memory
• Coprocessor
• Core Memory
• Counter/Timer
• CPGA: Ceramic Pin Grid Arrays
• CPI: Cycles per instruction
• CPU Time
• CPU: Central Processing Unit
• C-RIMM: Continuity-RIMM
• Crippleware
• Crossover Cable
• Crosstalk
• CRT: Cathode-Ray Tube
• Cryptographic Coprocessor
• CSTN: Color Super-Twist Nematic
• Cursor Control Keys

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : D
• D/A Converter
• DAA: Data Access Arrangement
• DAC: Digital-to-Analog Converter
• DACS: Digital Access and Cross-connect System
• Daisy Wheel Printer
• DAS: Direct Attached Storage
• Data Cartridge
• Data Processing
• Data Projector
• Database Server
• Daughtercard or Daughterboard
• DB Connector: Database Bus connector
• DDC: Digital Down Converter
• DDC: Display Data Channel
• DDR Memory: Double Data Rate Memory
• DDR:Double Date Rate
• DDR-2: Double Data Rate Two
• DDR2-SDRAM: Double Data Rate 2 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory
• DDRAM: Double Data Rate Random Access Memory
• DDR-SDRAM: Double Data Rate-Synchronous DRAM
• Dead Pixel
• Decoder
• Desktop Computer
• DDB: Device Dependent Bitmap
• Device Programmer
• DIB: Dual Independent Bus
• Digital Filter
• Digital Monitor
• DSP: Digital Signal Processor
• DSPWare
• DVI: Digital Visual Interface
• DIN Connector: Deutsche Industrie Norm Connector
• DIP Switch: Dual-Inline Package Switch
• Direct-Connect Modem
• Direct-X
• Disk
• Disk Access
• Disk Cache
• Disk Drive
• Disk Format
• Display Adaptor
• Display Screen
• Dongle
• Dot Matrix Printers
• Dot Pitch
• DPMI: DOS Protected Mode Interface
• DRAM: Dynamic Random Access Memory
• DSP: Digital Signal Processing
• DIMM: Dual In-line Memory Module
• DIP: Dual In-line Package
• Dual-Core
• Dual-Homed Host
• Dual-Processor
• Dual-Scan Display
• DUC: Digital Up Converter
• Dumb Terminal
• Duplexer
• DVD-Video
• Dvorak Keyboard

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : E
• ECC Memory: Error-Correcting Code Memory
• Edge Device
• EDO DRAM
• EEPROM: Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
• EGA: Enhanced Graphics Adapter
• EIDE: Enhanced IDE
• EISA: Extended Industry Standard Architecture
• ELD: Electroluminescent Display
• ELF Emission
• EM64T: Extended Memory 64-bit Technology
• Embedded System
• Enhanced Keyboard
• EPLD: Electrically Programmable Logic Device
• EPROM: Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory
• Erasable Optical Disk
• Error Correcting Memory
• eSATA: External Serial ATA
• Expanded Memory
• Expansion Board
• Expansion Bus
• Expansion Slot
• Extended Memory
• External Bus
• External Data Bus
• External Hard Drive
• External Modem

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : F
• Faceplate
• FC-PGA: Flip Chip Pin Grid Array
• Feed Drive
• FET: Field-Effect Transistors
• Fiber-Optic Cable
• Fiber Optics
• Fibre Channel
• File Server
• Filter
• Fixed-Frequency Monitor
• Flash Memory
• Flatbed Scanner
• Flat-Panel Display
• Floppy Disk
• FPM RAM: Fast Page Mode RAM
• FPU: Floating Point Unit
• Framebuffer
• FSB: Front-Side Bus
• FTTC: Fiber-To-The-Curb
• FTTH: Fiber-To-The-Home
• Function Keys

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : G
• Gas-Plasma Display
• Gigabit Switch Router
• GPU: Graphic Processing Unit
• Graphic Card
• Graphics Accelerator
• Graphics Adaptor
• Graphics Display System
• Graphics Monitor
• GSC Bus

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : H
• Handshaking
• Hard Disk
• Hard Disk Drive
• Hard Disk Partition
• Hardware
• Hardware Handshake
• Hardware Monitor
• Hardware Platform
• HDD Unit: Hard Disk Drive Unit
• HDTV: High Definiton Television
• Headless Server
• Heat Sink
• High Definition
• HIPPI: High Performance Parallel Interface
• HMD: Head-Mounted Display
• Host Bus
• HBA: Host Bus Adaptor
• Host-Based Modem
• Hotplug
• HPA: High-Performance Addressing
• Hub
• Hyper-Threading
• Hyper Transport

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : I
• I/O Device
• I/O Space
• IBM PC
• IC: Integrated Circuit
• ICE: In-Circuit Emulator
• ICR: Intelligent Character Recognition
• IEEE 1284
• IEEE 1394
• IEEE 488
• ImageWriter
• Impact Printer
• Ink-Jet Printer
• Input Device
• I/O: Input/Output
• IOCC: I/O Channel Controller
• Instruction Cycle
• Instruction Pipeline
• Instruction Set
• Integrated Peripheral
• Intelligent Terminal
• Interface
• Interface Encapsulation
• Interface Standard
• Interleaved Memory
• Internal Bus
• Internal Data Bus
• Internal Modem
• IP Router
• IP Switch
• IPC: Instructions Per Clock
• IRMA Board
• IRQ: Interrupt Request Line
• ISA: Industry-Standard Architecture
• ISA Bus: Industry Standard Architecture Bus
• iSCSI: Internet Small Computer System Interface

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : J
• Jabber
• JavaStation
• Jitter
• Joystick
• Jukebox
• Jumper
• Junction Transistor

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : K
• Keyboard
• Killer Micro
• KVM Keyboard, Video, Mouse Switch

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : L
• L1 Cache
• L2 Cache
• L3 Cache
• LAN Free Backup
• LAN Switch
• Laptop Computer
• Laser
• Laser Printer
• LCD Monitor
• LCD Printer
• LCD: Liquid Crystal Display
• LCS: Liquid Cooling System
• LED: Light-Emitting Diode
• Light Pen
• Line Printer
• Linux PC
• Local Bus
• Logic Analyzer
• Logic Gate
• Logical Drive
• Loopback Plug

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : M
• Main Memory
• Mainframe
• Mask Pitch
• Mass Storage
• MCA: Micro Channel Architecture
• MDF: Main Distribution Frame
• MDI: Medium Dependent Interface
• MDIX: Medium Dependent Interface Crossover
• MDRAM: Multibank DRAM
• Memory
• Memory Address
• Memory Bus
• Memory Stick
• Memory-Mapped I/O
• MFP: Multifunction Peripheral
• Microcomputer
• Microcontroller
• Microprocessor
• Mini Connector
• Minicomputer
• Mips: Millions of Instructions Per Second
• Mirroring
• MMC: Multi Media Card
• MMU: Memory Management Unit
• Modem
• Monitor
• Monochrome
• MOSFET: Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor
• Motherboard
• Mouse
• MPP: Massively Parallel Processing
• MRAM: Magnetic RAM
• MSS: Maximum Segment Size
• MTU: Maximum Transmission Unit
• Multifrequency Monitor
• Multilayer Switching
• Multiplier Lock
• Multi-Processing
• Multiscanning Monitor

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : N
• NAS: Network Attached Storage
• NDIS: Network Driver Interface Specification
• NEBS: Network Equipment-Building System
• Network Access Server
• Network Processor
• NEXT: Near-end crosstalk
• NIC: Network Interface Card
• NMOS: Negative-Channel Metal-oxide Semiconductor
• Non-Impact Printer
• Non-Volatile Memory
• Northbridge
• Notebook Computer
• No-Write Allocation
• NPU: Network Processor Unit
• NuBus
• Null-Modem
• NUMA: Non-Uniform Memory Access
• NVRAM: Non-Volatile Random Access Memory

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : O
• OBM: On-Board Modem
• ODI: Open Data-link Interface
• OLED: Organic Light-Emitting Diode
• OMR: Optical Mark Recognition
• OOTB: Out-Of-The-Box
• Operating System
• Optical Disk
• Optical Resolution
• Optical Scanner
• Oscillator Clock
• Oscilloscope
• Output Device
• Overclocking

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : P
• Packet
• Packet Buffer
• Packet Switching
• PAD: Packet Assembler/Disassembler
• Page Down Key
• Page Printer
• Page Up Key
• Page-White Display
• PAL: Phase Alternating Line
• Parallel Interface
• Parallel Port
• Partitions
• Passive-Matrix Display
• Patch Cord
• Patch Panel
• PCB: Printed Circuit Board
• PCI: Peripheral Component Interface
• PCI-X: PCI Extended
• PCMCIA: Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
• PDA: Personal Digital Assistant
• Peripheral
• Peripheral Equipment
• Personal Computer
• PGA: Pin Grid Array
• Photo Printer
• Photo Scanner
• PIA: Peripheral Interface Adapter
• PID: Proportional Integral Derivative
• Pincushion Distortion
• Pinout
• Pipeline Burst Cache
• Plasma Display
• PLD: Programmable Logic Device
• PLED: Polymer (polymeric) Light-Emitting Diode
• Plug
• PMOS
• PnP: Plug and Play
• Pointing Device
• Port
• Port Mapped I/O
• Port Switcing Hub
• PowerPC
• PPGA: Plastic Pin Grid Array
• PPI: Pixels Per Inch
• PRAM: Parameter RAM
• Primary Cache
• Primary Storage
• Print Server
• Printer
• Printer Driver
• Printer Engine
• Printer Spooling
• Processor
• PROM: Programmable Read-Only Memory
• Protocol Stack
• Proxy Cache
• Proxy Gateway
• Proxy Server
• PS/2 Port
• Punchdown Block
• PWM: Pulse Width Modulation

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : Q
• Quadrature Encoder
• QWERTY Keyboard
• QXGA: Quantum Extended Graphics Array

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : R
• RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks
• RAM Cache
• RAM Disk
• RAM: Random Access Memory
• RAMDAC: Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter
• RAS: Row Address Strobe
• Raster Graphics
• Raster Image Processor
• RDI: Remote Debug Interface
• RDMA: Remote Direct Memory Access
• RDRAM: Rambus DRAM
• Real-Time Computing
• Rectifier
• Register
• Registered Memory
• Removable Hard Disk
• Repeater
• Resolution
• RGB Monitor: Red, Green, Blue Monitor
• Ribbon Cable
• RISC: Reduced Instruction Set Computer
• Riser Card
• RJ Connector
• ROM Emulator
• ROM: Read Only Memory
• ROMB: RAID on Motherboard
• Router
• Routing Switch
• RS-232
• RS-422
• RS-423
• RS-449
• RS-530
• RTOS: Real Time Operating System
• RTU: Remote Terminal Unit
• Run-time Memory

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• Computer Hardware Terminology : S
• SAS: Serial Attached SCSI
• SATA: Serial ATA
• SCA: Single Connector Attachment
• SCADA: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
• Scalar Processor
• SCAM: SCSI Configuration Automatically
• Scanner
• Scratchpad RAM
• Screen Flicker
• Screen Phone
• SCSI: Small Computer System Interface
• SD Card: Secure Digital Card
• SDRAM: Synchronous DRAM
• SDTV: Standard-definition television
• SECAM
• Secondary Cache
• Secondary Memory
• Semiconductor
• Sempron
• Serial Device
• Serial Interface
• Serial Mouse
• Serial Port
• Server
• Server Blade
• Server Farm
• SGRAM: Synchronous Graphic Random Access Memory
• Sheet Feeder
• Sheetfed Scanner
• SIMD: Single Instruction Multiple Data
• SIMM: Single In-line Memory Module
• Single Electron Transistor
• Signal Processor
• Single-Hub Cartridge
• SIPP: Single In-line Pin Package
• SISD: Single Instruction Single Data
• SLDRAM: Synchronous Link DRAM
• Slot
• Slot 1
• Slot 2
• Slotket
• Smart Terminal
• SMP: Symmetric Multiprocessing
• Snapshot Printer
• Snooping Protocol
• SoC: System-on-a-Chip
• Socket
• Socket 370
• Socket 423
• Socket 478
• Socket 603
• Socket 604
• Socket 7
• Socket 754
• Socket 8
• Socket 940
• Socket A (Socket 462)
• Socket T
• SODIMM: Small Outline DIMM
• Software Modem
• SOI: Silicon-On-Insulator
• SOJ: Small-Outline J-lead
• Sound Card
• Sound Forge
• Southbridge
• SPARC: Scalable Processor Architecture
• SPI: Serial Peripheral Interface
• SRAM: Static Random Access Memory
• Storage
• Storage Area Network (SAN)
• Storage Device
• Storage Server
• Store-and-Forward Switch
• STP: Shielded Twisted Pair
• Strain Relief
• Sun Microsystems
• Supercomputer
• Superscalar
• Superpipelined
• Supertwist display
• Supertwist
• Switch
• Switch Router
• Switching Hub
• System Bus
• System Unit

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