On this page you’ll find the most common abbreviations used in computer hardware along with their meanings. We’ll add more as they come up. Here’s what we have so far:
- CPU – Central Processing Unit
- GPU – Graphics Processing Unit
- RAM – Random Access Memory
- ROM – Read-Only Memory
- HDD – Hard Disk Drive
- SSD – Solid State Drive
- MB – Motherboard
- PSU – Power Supply Unit
- USB – Universal Serial Bus
- VGA – Video Graphics Array
- DVI – Digital Visual Interface
- HDMI – High-Definition Multimedia Interface
- SATA – Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
- RAID – Redundant Array of Independent Disks
- BIOS – Basic Input/Output System
- UEFI – Unified Extensible Firmware Interface
- PCI – Peripheral Component Interconnect
- PCIe – PCI express
- DDR – Double Data Rate (commonly followed by a number, as in DDR4, which is a type of RAM)
- DIMM – Dual In-line Memory Module
- SIMM – Single In-line Memory Module
- LED – Light Emitting Diode
- LCD – Liquid Crystal Display
- OLED – Organic LED
- TFT – Thin-Film Transistor (as in TFT LCDs)
- FHD – Full High Definition
- UHD – Ultra High Definition
- NIC – Network Interface Card
- LAN – Local Area Network
- WAN – Wide Area Network
- WLAN – Wireless LAN
- USB-C – Universal Serial Bus Type-C
- NAS – Network-Attached Storage
- PATA – Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment
- I/O – Input/Output
- GHz – Gigahertz
- MHz – Megahertz
- kbps – kilobits per second
- Mbps – Megabits per second
- Gbps – Gigabits per second
- IDE – Integrated Drive Electronics (or Integrated Development Environment in software context)
- RGB – Red Green Blue (color scheme, especially in gaming and PC lighting)
- CMOS – Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor
- VRAM – Video Random Access Memory
- SODIMM – Small Outline Dual In-line Memory Module
- ATX – Advanced Technology Extended (a size and form factor for PC motherboards)
- mATX or µATX – Micro ATX
- ITX – Information Technology eXtended (miniature motherboard form factor)
- M.2 – A type of SSD that connects directly to the motherboard
- RPM – Revolutions Per Minute (commonly used to describe hard drive speed)
- USB-A – Universal Serial Bus Type-A
- USB-B – Universal Serial Bus Type-B
- API – Application Programming Interface (though more software, it’s relevant in terms of GPU and drivers)
- V-Sync – Vertical Synchronization (used in graphics and display settings)
- SLI – Scalable Link Interface (NVIDIA’s multi-GPU solution)
- CrossFire – AMD’s multi-GPU solution
- VR – Virtual Reality
- AR – Augmented Reality
- IoT – Internet of Things
- SoC – System on a Chip
- NVM – Non-Volatile Memory
- TB – Terabyte
- GB – Gigabyte
- MB – Megabyte
- KB – Kilobyte
- NVMe – Non-Volatile Memory express (type of SSD protocol)
- PoE – Power over Ethernet
- RGB – Red-Green-Blue (relating to display colors or customizable lighting in gaming gear)
- VRM – Voltage Regulator Module
- PnP – Plug and Play
This list just scratches the surface, as technology is constantly evolving, and new terms and abbreviations emerge frequently.
