Uplink Port An uplink port is a port on a router or switch designed to connect to another router or switch or an Internet access device. Most home routers include an uplink port for connecting a cable or DSL modem. An uplink port looks like a standard Ethernet port, which is a female jack for …
USB-C Stands for “Universal Serial Bus Type-C.” USB-C is a type of USB connector that was introduced in 2015. It supports USB 3.1, which means a USB-C connection can transfer data up to 10 Gbps and send or receive up to 20 volts or 100 watts of power. Unlike the previous USB Type-A and USB …
Video Card A video card is a hardware component responsible for rendering graphics and sending them to the computer’s monitor. It includes a GPU, video memory, and at least one physical port for connecting an external monitor. A video card typically fits into a computer’s PCIe x16 slot, although some low-end cards use an x8 …
Volatile Memory Volatile memory is memory that requires electric current to retain data. When the power is turned off, all data is erased. Volatile memory is often contrasted with non-volatile memory, which does not require power to maintain the data storage state. The most common type of volatile memory is random-access memory, or RAM. Computers …
Volume The word “volume” has several different meanings. In physics, it measures both sound and three-dimensional space. Audio volume defines the intensity of soundwaves, or how loud a sound is. Spacial volume describes how much space a three-dimensional object takes up. In the computer world, “volume” has an entirely different definition related to data storage. …
Webcam A webcam is a small digital video camera that connects to a computer to capture video and audio for online video calls. Laptop computers often include a thin built-in webcam integrated into the lid, just above the screen. Separate webcams that connect to a computer over a USB connection and clip to the top …
Workstation A workstation is a high-performance computer configured to perform specific computationally-intensive tasks, such as scientific research, 3D modeling/animation, or audio/video production. They typically have more powerful processors than a home desktop computer and large amounts of storage and memory. Workstations in a workplace are often set up for use by a single user and …
x64 x64 is shorthand for 64-bit processor architecture. It is often contrasted with x86 architecture, which refers to 32-bit Intel processors, including the 386, 486, and 586 series. However, x64 refers to all 64-bit processors, regardless of the manufacturer. The “x86-64” label specifies a 64-bit x86 processor. The primary difference between a 32-bit and 64-bit …
x86 x86 is the name of Intel’s family of processors and the instruction set architecture that they share. It has been the most popular processor architecture since the 1980s, powering most personal computers running Microsoft Windows and servers running Unix and Linux. The x86 family has previously included 16-bit and 32-bit processors, and the most …
x86-64 x86-64 is a 64-bit version of the x86 processor architecture, which Windows PCs have used for several decades. It is similar to x64, but refers specifically to processors that use the x86 instruction set. CPUs with the x86-64 architecture run in 64-bit mode by default, but are also backward-compatible with 32-bit and 16-bit applications. …