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Keeping up with the latest PC technology is difficult, but it’s overwhelming if you don’t understand all the jargon you encounter when reading articles and spec sheets.
From CPUs to GPUs and their inner workings, to motherboards and their varying parts, different display technologies and types and vendor-created phrases, you can wind up in tech terminology turmoil.
That's why we have developed this handy glossary. With the information below, you can learn the meaning of--or refresh your memory on--commonly used, but often confusing, tech terms.
We’ll be adding to the glossary over time. If you find a term that leaves you scratching your head, let us know in the comments below, and we’ll be sure to define it for you.
Index
2K (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/2k-definition,37641.html)
4K (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/4k-definition,37642.html)
5K (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/5k-definition,37643.html)
720p (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-hd,5745.html)
1080p (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-fhd-full-hd,5741.html)
APU (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/apu-accelerated-processing-unit-definition,37645.html)
BIOS (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/bios-firmware-definition,37646.html)
Bus (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/pc-bus-definition,37648.html)
Cache (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/pc-cache-definition,37649.html)
Capacitor (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/capacitor-definition,37650.html)
Chassis (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/pc-chassis-definition,37651.html)
Chipset (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/chipset-definition,37655.html)
Clock speed (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/clock-speed-definition,37657.html)
Core (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/cpu-core-definition,37658.html)
CPU frequency (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/clock-speed-definition,37657.html)
DIMM slots (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/dimm-slots-definition,37659.html)
Delidding (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/-delidding-definition,5738.html)
Discrete GPU (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-graphics-card-definition,5742.html)
DRAM (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-random-access-memory-definition,5757.html)
FOV (field of view) (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fov-field-of-view-definition,5740.html)
FHD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-fhd-full-hd,5741.html)
Full HD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-fhd-full-hd,5741.html)
GPU (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-graphics-card-definition,5742.html)
GPU Boost (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-boost-definition,5743.html)
Graphics card (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-graphics-card-definition,5742.html)
Heatsink (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/heat-sink-definition,5744.html)
HD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-hd,5745.html)
Hyper-threading (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/hyper-threading-intel-definition,5746.html)
IHS (integrated heat spreader) (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/integrated-heat-spreader-ihs-definition,5747.html)
Integrated GPU (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-graphics-card-definition,5742.html)
IPC (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ipc-cpu-definition,5777.html)
IPS (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ips-in-plane-switching-definition,5748.html)
Motherboard (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/motherboard-definition,5749.html)
Motherboard firmware (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/motherboard-firmware-definition,5750.html)
N-key rollover (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/-n-key-rollover-nkro-definition,5751.html)
NVMe (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-solid-state-drive-definition,5763.html)
OLED (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/oled-definition,5752.html)
PCIe (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pcie-definition,5754.html)
QHD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-qhd-wqhd,5755.html)
RAID Controller (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/raid-controller-card-definition,5756.html)
RAM (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-random-access-memory-definition,5757.html)
Ray tracing (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/ray-tracing-definition,37600.html)
SRAM (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ram-random-access-memory-definition,5757.html)
Socket (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-socket-definition,5758.html)
SLI (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia0sli-scalable-link-interface-definition,5761.html)
Simultaneous multithreading (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/simultaneous-multithreading-definition,5762.html)
SSD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-solid-state-drive-definition,5763.html)
TDP (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/tdp-thermal-design-power-definition,5764.html)
Thread (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/cpu-computing-thread-definition,5765.html)
TPM header (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/tpm-trusted-platform-module-header,5766.html)
TN (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/tn-panel-twisted-nematic-definition,5767.html)
UEFI (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/-uefi-bios-definition,5768.html)
UHD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-uhd,5769.html)
Ultra HD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-uhd,5769.html)
VA (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/va-display-panel-definition,5770.html)
Video card (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gpu-graphics-card-definition,5742.html)
VRM (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vrm-voltage-regulator-module-definition,5771.html)
WUXGA (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/wuxga-resolution-definition,5774.html)
WQHD (http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/what-is-qhd-wqhd,5755.html)
source (http://www.tomshardware.com/news/pc-components-terms-definitions-glossary,37639.html)