Category : Hardware

Escape Key Definition The Escape key is located in the upper-left corner of a computer keyboard. It typically resides to the left of the Function keys (F1, F2, F3, etc.) and above the tilde (~) key. Most often, is is labeled with the abbreviation “esc.” The Escape key has many purposes, which have evolved over time. ..

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Molex Connector Definition A Molex connector is a common type of connector used to power internal computer components. The name comes from the Molex Connector Company, which pioneered the two-piece electrical connectors that became standard in computers and other electronics. Since Molex makes dozens of different connectors, there is no single connector technically called a “Molex ..

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Cable Management Definition Cable management is the organization of cables connected to electrical devices. This includes power cables, network cables, audio/video cables, and many others. Managing cables is a key aspect of a clean and safe home or work environment. Electrical devices often require multiple cables. For example, a desktop computer may require a power cord, Ethernet cable, and multiple USB cables for peripheral devices. ..

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Coaxial Cable Definition Coaxial (or “coax”) cable is a common type of cable used for transmitting data over long distances. It can carry either an analog or digital signal. While coax cables have many applications, they are most commonly used to transmit cable TV and Internet signals. Coax cables that run underground are typically thicker and more heavily insulated than the ..

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PC Definition Stands for “Personal computer.” PCs are are what most of us use on a daily basis for work or personal use. A typical PC includes a system unit, monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Most PCs today also have a network or Internet connection, as well as ports for connecting peripheral devices, such as digital cameras, printers, scanners, speakers, external hard ..

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VGA Definition Stands for “Video Graphics Array.” It is the standard monitor or display interface used in most PCs. Therefore, if a montior is VGA-compatible, it should work with most new computers. The VGA standard was originally developed by IBM in 1987 and allowed for a display resolution of 640×480 pixels. Since then, many revisions ..

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Blu-ray Definition Blu-ray is an optical disc format such as CD and DVD. It was developed for recording and playing back high-definition (HD) video and for storing large amounts of data. While a CD can hold 700 MB of data and a basic DVD can hold 4.7 GB of data, a single Blu-ray disc can ..

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DAC Definition Stands for “Digital-to-Analog Converter” and is often pronounced “dac.” Since computers only recognize digital information, the output produced by computers is typically in digital format. However, some output devices only accept analog input, which means a digital-to-analog converter, or DAC, must be used. The most common use for a DAC is to convert digital audio to an analog signal. This conversion ..

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GPU Definition Stands for “Graphics Processing Unit.” A GPU is a processor designed to handle graphics operations. This includes both 2D and 3D calculations, though GPUs primarily excel at rendering 3D graphics. History Early PCs did not include GPUs, which meant the CPU had to handle all standard calculations and graphics operations. As software demands increased and graphics became more important (especially in video games), ..

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FPU Definition Stands for “Floating Point Unit.” An FPU is a processor or part of a processor that performs floating point calculations. While early FPUs were standalone processors, most are now integrated inside a computer’s CPU. Even without an floating point unit, a CPU can handle both integer and floating point (non-integer) calculations. However, integer operations use significantly different logic than floating ..

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