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Old 09-06-2002, 09:54 PM   #1
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Computer Acronyms

Hi all,

How about we compile a list of common computer acronyms for reference. I'll start:

CPU- Central Processing Unit

GPU- Graphics Processing Unit

RAMDAC- Random Access Memory Digital-to-Analog Converter

FPU- Floating Point Unit

MPU- Math Processing Unit (Math Coprocessor)

PCI- Peripheral Component Interconnect

AGP- Accelerated Graphics Board

CNR- Communications Network Riser

ISA- Industry Standard Architecture

EISA- Extended Industry Standard Architecture

VESA- Video Electronic Standards Association

XGA- eXtended Graphics Array

VGA- Video Graphics Array

SVGA- Super Video Graphics Array

IDE- Integrated Drive Electronics

EIDE- Enhanced Inegrated Drive Electronics

SCSI- Small Computer System Interface

DMA- Direct Memory Access

PIO- Programmed Input/Output

ATA- AT Attachment

LAN- Local Area Network

WAN- Wide Area Network

ISP- Internet Service Provider

NIC- Network Interface Card

IP- Internet Protocol

TCP/IP- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protcol

NAS- Network Attached Storage

BIOS- Basic Input/Output System

CMOS- Complementary Metal Oxide Semicondutor

USB- Universal Serial Bus

IEEE- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, INc.

ROM- Read Only Memory

RAM- Random Access Memory

SRAM- Static Random Access Memory

DRAM- Dynamic Random Access Memory

VRAM- Video Random Access Memory

FPM- Fast Page Mode

EDO- Extended Data Out

SDRAM- Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory

RDRAM- Rambus Dynamic Random Access
Memory

DDR- Double Data Rate

RIMM- Rambus Inline Memory Module

DIMM- Dual Inline Memory Module

SIMM- Single Inline Memory Module

FDD- Floppy Disk Drive

HDD- Hard Disk Drive

LBA- Logical Block Addressing

DVD- Digital Video Disc/Digital Versatile Disc

CDROM- Compact Disc Read Only Memory

CD-R- Compact Disc Recordable

CD-RW- Compact Disc Rewriteable

RAID- Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks

PSU- Power Supply Unit

UPS- Uninterruptible Power Supply

TFT- Thin-Film Transistor

LCD- Liquid Crystal Display

CRT- Cathode-Ray Tube

AG (monitor)- Aperture Grille

SMP- Symmetric Multi Processing

MODEM- Modulator/Demodulator

CODEC- Compressor/Decompressor

DSL- Digital Subscriber Line

ASDL/ADSL- Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line

ISDN- Integrated Services Digital Network

DVI- Digital Video Interface

IRQ- Interrupt ReQuest

IR- InfraRed

ECP- Extended Capabilities Port (parallel)

EPP- Enhanced Printer Port

Mbps- megabits per second

Kbps- kilobits per second

MB/s- megabytes per second

KB/s- kilobytes per second

PCMCIA- Personal Computer Memory Card International Association

OS- Operating System

NOS- Network Operating System

DOS- Disk Operating System

MSDOS- MicroSoft Disk Operating System

DIP (switch)- Dual In-line Package

IC- Integrated Circuit

LED- Light Emitting Diode

PNP- Plug and Play

ASPI- Advanced SCSI Progamming Interface

ASCII- American Standard Code for Information Exchange

That's all I can think of for now. If anyone can think of more, please add them on.

Last edited by Floppyman; 09-07-2002 at 06:43 AM.
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Old 09-06-2002, 10:30 PM   #2
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Looks like a good list!

Of course there are all the ones that apply to email. And the one most used in Computer repair and diagnosis...POS!
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Old 09-06-2002, 10:34 PM   #3
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Old 09-06-2002, 10:55 PM   #4
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Another good site that deals with Electronic Acronyms:

http://www.dr-belair.com/dic/Computi...s-glossary.htm
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Old 09-07-2002, 01:01 AM   #5
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ACPI – Advanced Configuration Protocol Interface
APM – Advanced Power Management
CMOS- Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
DFS- Distributed File System
DHCP- Dynamic Host Control Protocol
DLC- Data Link Control
DNS- Domain Naming System
EFS- Encrypting File System
FAT- File Allocation Table
FTP- File Transport Protocol
FQDN- Fully Qualified Domain Name
GPC- Group Policy Container
GPO- Group Policy Object
GUI- Graphical User Interface
HAL- Hardware Abstraction Layer
HCL- Hardware Compatibility List
IIS- Internet Information Service
ICS- Internet Connection Sharing
IPX- Internet Packet exchange
IPSec- Internet Protocol Security
L2TP- Layer 2 tunneling Protocol
MAC- Media Access Control
MAN- Metropolitan Area Network
MFT- Master File Table
MMC- Microsoft Management Console
NAT- Network Address Translation
NetBEUI- Network Basic Input/Output System Extended User Interface
NetBIOS- Network Basic Input/Output System
NDS- Netware Directory Services
NOS- Network Operating System
NTFS- New Technology File System
OSPF- Open Shortest Path First
OU- Organizational Unit
POST- Power On Self-Test
PnP- Plug and Play
PPP- Point-to-Point Protocol
PPTP-Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol
QoS- Quality of Service
RAID- Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks
RAS- Remote Access Service
RDP- Remote Desk Protocol
RIPrep-Remote Installation Preparation
RIS- Remote Installation Service
SAM- Security Accounts Manager
SAN- Storage Area Network
SPX- Sequenced Packet exchange
SLIP- Serial Line Interface Protocol
SOHO- Small Office/Home Office
UDF- Unique Database File
UNC-Universal Naming Convention
UDP- User Datagram Protocol
VPN- Virtual Private Network
WINS- Windows Internet Naming Service

Just thought I’d add a few, but I thought DMA was Direct Memory Access.
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Old 09-07-2002, 01:24 AM   #6
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Not trying to stir the coffee, but doesn't an acronym have to actually spell a word? (S.W.A.T., S.C.U.B.A., R.A.D.A.R.)

O.K. I've stirred the coffee. Food for thought.
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Old 09-07-2002, 01:27 AM   #7
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RAM would work!
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Old 09-07-2002, 02:48 AM   #8
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Quote:
Not trying to stir the coffee, but doesn't an acronym have to actually spell a word?
yes, but it can also just be a word formed from the initial letters of a name
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Old 09-07-2002, 06:44 AM   #9
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Yep, Jimmie you're right. I went ahead and changed it.
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Old 09-07-2002, 10:58 PM   #10
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Outstandingly helpful and informative post, Floppyman. Might I suggest a 'Hall of Fame' nomination?
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Old 09-07-2002, 11:23 PM   #11
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Excellent source of info, indeed!
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Old 09-08-2002, 08:25 AM   #12
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here's another site for acronym's

http://www.geocities.com/ikind_babel/babel/babel.html

wolfie
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Old 09-08-2002, 08:55 AM   #13
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glc just turned me onto what PPPoE and PPPoA stand for, and I didn't see them above:

PPPoE = Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet
PPPoA = Point-to-Point Protocol over ATM
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Old 09-08-2002, 01:45 PM   #14
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All of these seem to be correct(NOT like i'm an expert) BUT!!!

ASCII= American Standard Code for Information INTERCHANGE!!

HEHE

AD
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Old 09-08-2002, 02:06 PM   #15
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And now for something compleately different:
*** and NFW.
What The F, and No F(ing) Way..
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Old 09-08-2002, 02:40 PM   #16
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Along the same line is one of my favorites:

BFMFI

Brute Force and MFing Ignorance
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Old 09-08-2002, 03:58 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally posted by Andrew Downie
All of these seem to be correct(NOT like i'm an expert) BUT!!!

ASCII= American Standard Code for Information INTERCHANGE!!

HEHE

AD
Yep you're right there, I must have not copied it down right when I looked it up. If one of the mods could edit my post to reflect the change that would be great (I can't edit it anymore).
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Old 09-08-2002, 07:58 PM   #18
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Lets keep the acronyms PG-13 please, folks.
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Old 09-08-2002, 08:03 PM   #19
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Yo G, w3rd...
Bro!
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Old 09-08-2002, 08:12 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally posted by glc
Lets keep the acronyms PG-13 please, folks.
Sorry, got caught up in the frenzy..... oppps

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Old 09-08-2002, 08:54 PM   #21
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Jimmie I beleive NetBEUI is NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface.
MCA - micro channel architecture
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Old 09-08-2002, 09:08 PM   #22
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Just a few more:

AT = Advanced technology

TCP/IP = transmition control protocol / internet protocol

RTC = real time clock

ISO = International Organization for Standardization

LPT = Line printer teminal

MCA = micro channel architecture

HPFS = High performance file system

BNC = British Navel connector

ZIF = zero insertion force

DIN = Deutsches Insitut für Normung

Last edited by Streams; 09-08-2002 at 09:16 PM.
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Old 09-08-2002, 09:20 PM   #23
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Have to regain my PG13 standing !!

TWAIN = Technology Without An Interesting Name !!

GW Basic = Gates, William Basic,

a.k.a:

GW Basic = Gee Wiz Basic..... nah, has to be Gates, William!
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Old 09-08-2002, 09:28 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally posted by UncleS
Jimmie I beleive NetBEUI is NetBIOS Enhanced User Interface.
I think you are correct, but 2 of 4 books that I have show it to be "Extended"
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Old 09-08-2002, 09:52 PM   #25
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NetBEUI NetBIOS Extended User Interface [IBM]
yep, thats what the one i found shows.

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Old 09-09-2002, 12:17 AM   #26
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Question What is POS?

Quote:
Originally posted by Tuf
Looks like a good list!

Of course there are all the ones that apply to email. And the one most used in Computer repair and diagnosis...POS!
Tuf, I've worked in Tech Support for a while,but don't know what POS is.......could you enlighten us?


Let's add another error message.
PEBKAC - Probable Error Between Keyboard And Chair
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Old 09-09-2002, 12:21 AM   #27
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POS = Piece of $h!7
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Old 09-09-2002, 12:49 AM   #28
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ahem - in here its Point of Sale.........
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Old 09-09-2002, 12:52 AM   #29
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Oh, I got that one wrong as well.......sorry
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Old 09-09-2002, 01:27 AM   #30
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AMD = Advanced Micro devices

MPEG = Multimedia picture experts group

PCM = pulse code modulation

WDM = windows driver model

got this from webopedia: *According to TWAIN.org, TWAIN is not an acronym for "Technology Without An Interesting Name."
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