Computer Hardware

When using a device that requires electricity, the first step is often to plug it in. Different types of electrical devices require different plugs that meet the electrical needs of the device....

A graphics adapter, also known as a video card, is a piece of computer hardware that allows your computer to display better-quality graphics at a faster rate than it normally would be able to....

A graphics adapter (display adapter) is computer hardware that allows you to view images on your computer. It can vary in speed, performance and resolution depending on what you are using it for....

Simply put, output is anything that comes out of a computer. It is what the computer returns after processing information. Output can be visual or audible and does not need to be meaningful.

The word Ethernet is often spoken alongside words such as LAN and high-speed Internet. Ethernet cables connect data storage systems such as computers and laptops to a network. The Ethernet cable...

Not too long ago installing a printer, scanner or other piece of computer hardware was a time consuming and confusing process. Owners of these devices would have to make sure a free parallel port...

Custom screensavers and images may be removed from the Kindle device by connecting the Kindle to a computer via a USB connection and simply deleting the files. Note that only custom screensavers...

In a computer, every hardware device that is installed requires a device driver--a piece of software code that essentially "explains" to the computer how to control the device. Hardware...

Manufactured and marketed by Research In Motion, the BlackBerry is a "smartphone," a mobile communications device providing the user with a combination of services including e-mail and telephone...

Many musicians who record at home make use of mixer devices, also known as "control surfaces," to interface with their recording software. A mixer device is equipped with several knobs and faders,...

Memory (RAM) upgrade is probably the most common solution to slow responsive computer. But sometimes finding and installing the right memory can be difficult especially if you are not...

A memory stick is a type of storage device. It holds different types of data, such as documents, pictures and music files, and can be shared between computers. Memory Stick also refers to a brand...

An HP Pavilion Mx75 can be an excellent choice for those who need a steady and reliable computer, but when something goes wrong it is important to know what steps to take. Fortunately, there are...

There are thousands of audio devices available for a computer. Some are built into the motherboard, and some are add-on cards that can be installed in a machine. Still more plug into a USB port....

Modern technology offers a vast array of small handheld, battery-operated devices. Many of these gadgets, such as such as TV remote controls, digital voice recorders, or flashlights, require...

There are several different forms of memory sticks available on the market. Some range from a USB thumb drive, while others are inserted into digital equipment, such as a camera. Over time, the...

Computer keyboards are an integral part of the machine. The keyboard was the very first input device for a computer. Although it's been replaced with a mouse, keyboards can still be used to...

Microsoft introduced true plug-and-play support for USB devices such as flash drives, also known as memory sticks, starting with Windows 2000. Depending on your computer, with a little effort you...

Adding a sound device to your computer can be beneficial for a number of reasons. You could add a high quality speaker system to improve sound, or a microphone to use for voice conferencing. You...

Hewlett-Packard all-in-one printers combine a variety of functions, such as printing, faxing, copying and scanning, eliminating the need for separate devices. All-in-one printers have become...

Using your computer monitor as a display device for DVD or VHS playback can save you space and money. Provided your monitor has the correct inputs, you don't even need a computer to display your...

Sound that has suddenly gone missing on a computer can be frustrating. Generally, the sound disappears either because of corrupted sound drivers or because another application has damaged or...

In some cases, a problem with a phone line or with the computer can cause an internal dial-up modem to become unresponsive. Generally, this can be resolved by restarting the computer. However,...

About the size of a dime, the microSD is the smallest flash memory form factor. Although some devices specifically require the microSD, it can be used in other consumer electronics devices or...

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard interface found on every computer today, and it is compatible with every platform. It is used to connect peripherals including input devices, printers,...

Like any other computer component, keyboards can encounter problems. Learning how to fix common keyboard problems can be very beneficial to all computer users. Note that if your problem is a loose...

SanDisk memory devices allow you to save and store files of different formats such as audio, word processing, photos and video. The devices range from memory cards to USB flash drives and vary in...

If you use portable electronic devices, you have probably encountered an SD memory card of some sort. SD cards are made by several manufacturers and are used as removable memory sticks for digital...

Device drivers are crucial to the proper operation of a computer, though many users never interact with the majority of them. A device driver is a set of instructions used by the computer to...

Universal Serial Bus, or USB for short, is a computer standard that is used for connecting other devices to a personal computing device, such as a computer, a tablet PC or a personal digital...

If your dial-up modem or other external serial device seems to be performing poorly, it may not be communicating with the computer as quickly as it can. Windows gives users the ability to alter...

In computers memory represents the amount of data storage available. Two terms that are most frequently used relating to computers are RAM (random access memory) and ROM (read only memory). When...

CompactFlash cards are among the most versatile of all memory cards, owing to their speed and compatibility with a wide variety of digital cameras and other digital devices. Although it is...

A mouse is one of the most used pieces of computer hardware. Because of the constant use, a mouse can wear out, break and stop working, making replacement necessary. Sometimes, a user may want to...

The MAC address on a computer is a globally unique address that is hard-coded into the hardware of any sort of network interface device. This is done at the time of manufacture, though Tech...

A PCI multimedia device is computer hardware that enhances the ability of your computer to deliver a more complete audio and visual experience with features, such as animation, TV, video, audio...

The SD card has become the standard removable media device for digital cameras, video cameras, and a wide range of cell phones. It has made it possible to take digital photos and transfer them...

Secure digital cards are a popular type of removable storage for computers. For smaller devices such as PDAs and cell phones, a type of SD card called a miniSD card allows users to put data from a...

An audio device can be an ideal upgrade for a gaming or entertainment computer. It can increase the speed of the computer in some applications and provide greatly upgraded sound quality over the...

An Uninterruptible Power Supply, or UPS, is a backup power device used to prevent electrical power outages, surges and other electrical issues from adversely affecting a computer. Power issues can...

When you download songs from a computer, you are copying the files to a different device, whether it be a flash driver or an external hard drive. Typically, it takes only a few moments to download...

According to TechTerms.com, a computer is any programmable device that is able to respond to commands. There are a few firsts when it comes to the question of what is considered the first computer.

A USB drive is a storage device that can be connected to a PC and is used to store files. Files can be transferred from the user's PC to the device. These types of devices are very convenient to...

Adding an external hard drive can serve a variety of purposes. Extra storage, backup data, easy/quick file transfers, portability options. The list goes on!

The Palm Centro is a personal digital assistant (PDA) designed and developed by Palm. Originally released in 2007, the device sports a touchscreen, multimedia capabilities such as video playback,...

The Sony PSP is an excellent gaming device, but it can be much more than that. With a few simple steps, you can transform your Sony PSP to a powerful internet surfing tool. One of the best...

A flash drive is a digital storage device about the size of a finger. Due to the small size, flash drives are ideal for storing files you need to carry with you at all times. They are simple to...

The Motorola PC850 is a popular Bluetooth adapter due to its low price and multitude of features. Although these handy dongles can add Bluetooth capability to your computer, they can also easily...

Every computer user experiences system problems on occasion. Luckily, PCs have a built-in diagnostics tool that can help. Use the Device Manager to quickly check if you are having any hardware...

A Network Interface Card, commonly referred to as a "NIC," is needed in order to connect to broadband high speed Internet service. If your card is not functioning properly, you will experience...