PC and PC Component Terms Defined: Tom’s Hardware Glossary

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By Scharon Harding, Brandon Hill
last updated

The PC enthusiast's glossary

(Image credit: monticello/Shutterstock)

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 as we find more PC terms and phrases that leave us scratching our heads...so you don't have to.

Index

Scharon Harding
Scharon Harding

Scharon Harding has a special affinity for gaming peripherals (especially monitors), laptops and virtual reality. Previously, she covered business technology, including hardware, software, cyber security, cloud and other IT happenings, at Channelnomics, with bylines at CRN UK.

12 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jpe1701
    I'm sure people will be wondering about rasterization and raytracing.
    Reply
  • rantoc
    Omg you forgot 1440p ;)
    Reply
  • Non-Euclidean
    How about one on auto-playing videos?
    Reply
  • Jake Hall
    21260454 said:
    Omg you forgot 1440p ;)

    Well, that's 2k
    Reply
  • littleleo
    How about:
    P2P - Pay to Play (how Tom's make revenue, "Just Buy It")
    Reply
  • shrapnel_indie
    I know you don't see it often anymore, but where's the definition for HSF (I know you cover the HS portion - Heatsink and the F portion, once you realize it, is "Fan"...
    Reply
  • littleleo
    RTX - Ridiculously Too eXpensive!
    Reply
  • DotNetMaster777
    Nice
    Reply
  • littleleo
    jpe1701 said:
    I'm sure people will be wondering about rasterization and raytracing.
    Hope this helps:
    Ray Tracing = Crap
    Reply
  • garett444
    What is POST?
    Reply