Acronyms

Have you ever wondered what people mean when they say "I've bought an Intel cpu, its a LGA775 socket, along with 2 1GB DIMMS of DDR2 6400 RAM running at 800mhz, also got a PCI-E GPU with DDR3 RAM running at 1400mhz effective and a GPU running at 550mhz"
You can search such sites as Wikipedia to get an understanding but why do that when i've done all the hard work for you, and its all in one place!
I've put as many as i could think of, if you think i've missed any feel free to send me a p.m (as you can't post on here) and I'll include it/them). Hopefully you'll find it useful.
They're all listed alphabetically to aid in viewing.

AA - 'Anti-Aliasing', artificially removing the jagged edges from graphics rendered (or drawn) in 3D rendering.
ACPI - 'Advanced Configuration and Power Interface'. The standard by which motherboard & peripheral devices are configured,recognised and, more importantly, their power usage managed.
ADSL - 'Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line'. A DSL connection where the upstream connection runs at a different speed to the downstream.
AF - 'Anisotropic Filtering'. A method of improving 3D texture sharpness.
AGP - 'Accelerated Graphics Port'. A graphics card interface. Now pretty much phased out by the PCI-E interface.
AMB - 'Advanced Memory Buffer'. A part of the FBDIMM architecture.
AMD - 'Advanced Micro Devices'. Manufacturer of CPU's and now graphics cards after purchasing ATI.
API - 'Application Programming Interface'. Software drivers that allow one piece of software to "talk to another", or to the PC's hardware.
ASIC - 'Application Specific Integrated Circuit'. A chip designed to run one specific task. Such as running a calculator. You also find them on motherboards.
ATA - 'Advanced Technology Attachment'. Standard interface connection for connecting storage devices to your PC. You'll see S-ATA (Serial) and also P-ATA (Parallel).
ATX - 'Advanced Technology Extended'. The standard formfactor for motherboards and cases.
BIOS - 'Basic Input Output System'. A piece of code, kept on the motherboard, which loads all the controls for a PC's components and peripherals.
BSOD - 'Blue Screen Of Death'. Blue screen that appears on your monitor when theres a fault or faults with a PC, rather serious ones if this appears.
CoDec - 'Compression Decompression Algorithm', A video or audio compression code. MPEG4 or MP3 are examples.
CPU - 'Central Processing Unit', the primary part of your PC, which interprets and executes the instructions contained within software.
dBA - 'Decibels, A-weighted', an expression of acoustical volume using the 'A' weighting, which emphasises the frequencies most psycho-acoustically important to the human perception of loudness.
DDR - 'Double data rate', a RAM system that transfers data on the rising and falling edge of the clock signal.
DIMM - 'Dual in-line memory module', a RAM module configuration with a 64-bit data path.
DOS - 'Disk operating system', the last Microsoft software to require less than 2GB of RAM for smooth operation.
DRAM - 'Dynamic random access memory', a type of RAM that uses capacitors for storage. Since capacitors are inherently volatile, the data fades unless regularly refreshed.
DSL - 'Digital subscriber line', a broadband system whereby the signal is encoded across a wide frequency spectrum and sent down the twisted copper pair wiring used by your telephone service.
DSP - 'Digital signal processor', a specialised microprocessor aimed at processing digital signals, as its name suggests.
D-SUB - 'D-subminiature', a D-shaped electrical connector amalgamating multiple pins or sockets. This usually refers to VGA video connections.
DVI - 'Digital visual interface', a video connector that passes the graphics signal digitally in order to maximise image quality.
ECC - 'Error-correcting code', a data encoding method which conforms to specific rules, so that deviations can be detected as errors and corrected automatically. Used in some RAM.
EDO - Extended Data Out DRAM
EDO DRAM is similar to Fast Page Mode DRAM with the additional feature that a new access cycle can be started while keeping the data output of the previous cycle active. This allows a certain amount of overlap in operation (pipelining), allowing somewhat improved speed. It was 5% faster than Fast Page Mode DRAM, which it began to replace in 1993.
EEPROM - 'Electronically erasable programmable read-only memory', a type of ROM which can be erased and rewritten, but normally holds its data without needing an external power supply.
EIDE - 'Extended integrated drive electronics', the predecessor to ATA, supporting drives up to 8.4GB.
EPS12V - 'Enhanced power supply 12V', an extended ATX power supply connection with a 24-pin primary and an 8-pin secondary plug.
FAT - 'File allocation table', a disk partition format introduced in the late 70's.
FBDIMM - 'Fully buffered DIMM', a new type of serial memory using an AMB to increase the amount of addressable RAM.
FSB - 'Front side bus', the high-speed connection between a CPU and the Northbridge chipset, which then steers requests to peripheral devices and memory.
FTP - 'File transfer protocol', a standard system for transferring files over the Internet.
FPU - 'Floating point unit', a part of the CPU for calculating operations on floating-point numbers (those containing decimal points).
GPU - 'Graphics processing unit', a specialised graphics processor that forms the basis of your PC's 3D display processing.
HDD - 'Hard disk drive', Permanent storage unit within a pc for the O.S, software etc.
HDCP - 'High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection', an encryption system to stop you pirating HD content through DVI and HDMI connections.
HDMI - 'High-definition multimedia interface', a new digital connection based on DVI or dual-link DVI, but with additional wiring for audio and control signals.
HSF - 'Heatsink and fan', a cooling assembly providing radiator fins and forced airflow over a CPU or other heat-producing components.
HT - 'Hyper-Transport' (AMD processors, also called HTT) or 'Hyper-Threading' (Intel processors), a serial bus for connecting peripherals other than memory, and a way of running two threads concurrently on a single NetBurst core .
ISP - 'Internet service provider', a firm that provides Internet connections.
JPEG - 'Joint Photographic Experts Group', used to refer to the image compression format created by this group.
LAN - 'Local area network', a locally wired networking system.
MCE - 'Media Center Edition', the version of Windows XP that's optimised for recording TV and uses a remote control.
MIMO - 'Multiple input, multiple output', a method of increasing bandwidth on a WLAN by using multiple aerials so reflections and interference can contribute to signal quality rather than reduce it.
NTFS - 'New technology file system', the hard disk partition format introduced with Windows NT onwards.
OS - 'Operating system', such as Windows or Linux
P2P - 'Peer to peer', a form of file sharing where no data is centrally held, and clients contribute upstream bandwidth as they download.
PCB - 'Printed circuitboard', a board made of layers of insulator and conductive circuitry laminated together in order to electrically connect components mounted on the surface of the board.
PCI - 'Peripheral component interconnect', the standard connection for supplementary adaptors.
PCI-E - 'PCI Express', PCI's high-bandwidth serial replacement.
POST - 'Power On Self Test', the routine PCs go through to check that core components are working prior to booting up the OS.
PPU - 'Physics processing unit', a new processor pioneered by Ageia in Sony's Cell CPU.
PRML - 'Partial response maximum likelihood', a hard disk coding technology that increases the ability to read weak data signals, thereby increasing the possible data densities of hard disks.
PSU - 'Power supply unit', the big silver brick in the top of your case that supplies power to your PC.
RAM - 'Random access memory', a data storage format using integrated circuits. The data can be accessed in any order rather than in sequence, unlike tape storage.
RAID - 'Redundant array of inexpensive disks', a system whereby multiple hard disks are striped with a single data structure. This can increase performance by reading and writing in parallel , increase fault tolerance by holding data in more than one place, or both.
RGB - 'Red, green, blue', an additive colour model based on the three primary colours of light, which together create pure white.
RISC - 'Reduced instruction set computer', a CPU that uses a limited set of simple operations, such as the IBM PowerPC.
ROM - 'Read-only memory', different to RAM in that it's preprogrammed with data. You can read but can't write over it.
ROP - 'Raster operation' or 'Render output unit', the former is the final part of the 3D rendering process performed by your GPU. The latter is the part of the GPU which performs this operation.
SDRAM - 'Synchronous dynamic random access memory', a type of RAM. Unlike regular DRAM, which is asynchronous, SDRAM reads and writes data in synchronisation with the clock signal.
SLI - 'Scan-line interleave' (3dfx) or 'Scalable link interface' (Nvidia), whereby multiple graphics cards process 3D rendering in parallel.
SM - 'Shader Model', a collection of pixel and vertex shader instructions included as part of the DirectX graphics API.
SIMM - 'Single in-line memory module', a RAM module configuration with a 32-bit data path.
SODIMM - 'Small outline dual in-line memory module', the standard form factor for laptop memory.
SRAM - 'Static random access memory', a type of RAM that holds data as long as power is supplied without regular refreshing.
T&L - 'Transform & Lighting', a 3D rendering system that calculates the 3D position and dynamic illumination of polygons, which was a precursor to pixel and vertex shading.
TFT - 'Thin-film transistor', a transistor deposited on a substrate (usually glass) to create an active matrix of switching pixels in flat-screen displays.
TIM - 'Thermal interface material', A paste-like (or pad) substance used to ensure good thermal conductivity between a chip and its HSF.
USB - 'Universal serial bus', a serial connection for external peripherals
VGA - 'Video graphics array', an analogue PC display standard,
VIVO - 'Video input, video output', denotes a graphics card that has a video input and a video output.
VoIP - 'Voice over IP', a system for converting telephony into data packets for sending over the Internet.
VPN - 'Virtual Private Network', a security system used to protect remote connections to business networks over the Internet.
VRM - 'Voltage regulator module', a motherboard chip that regulates the voltage supplied to the CPU.
WLAN - 'Wireless Local Area Network', Same as a LAN but without wires. Uses one of the 802.11 protocols for communication.

There's so many, learnt a few new ones myself.

wow..nice one. i just learnt "dpi" and it means 'dots per inch' ..commonly use for the sensitivity of a mice ..right?

Yeah, and printer quality.

And scanner resolution, don't forget that! =P

A few regarding networks:

DAN - Desk Area Network - a multimedia workstation based around an ATM interconnect.
PAN - Personal Area Network - a computer network organized around an individual person, covering usually less than 10 metres.
SAN - Storage Area Network, System Area Network, Server Area Network, or sometimes Small Area Network - links high-performance computers with high-speed connections in a cluster configuration. Also known as Cluster Area Network.
CAN - Campus Area Network, Controller Area Network, or sometimes Cluster Area Network - a network spanning multiple LANs but smaller than a MAN, such as on a university or local business campus.
MAN - Metropolitan Area Network - a network spanning a physical area larger than a LAN but smaller than a WAN, such as a city.
WAN - Wide Area Network - geographically-dispersed collection of LANs, eg, the internet.

And after reading all this, my favourite acronym springs to mind:

PCMCIA: People Can't Memorize Computer Industy Acronyms...

(lol... no seriously, PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association)

or theres always
vista - viruses intruders spyware trojens and adware!

Hmmm....

Microsoft: Most Intelligent Customers Realise Our Software Only Fools Teenagers
Windows: Will Install Needless Data On Whole System
Macintosh: Most Applications Crash, If Not, The Operating System Hangs
Pentium: Produces Erronous Numbers Trough Incorrect Understanding of Mathematics

VDU (Visual Display Unit) Monitor. This Acronym not used very often these days, but thought I'd add it to the list.

How about RTFM :)
When in critical situations :)

There's also PEBCAK - Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard.

That's usually when they didn't RTFM...

not used much i dont think but

GAN: Global Area Network.

FLOP: Floating Point Operations (per) Second

CDFS: Compact Disk File System

ALU: Arithmatic Logic Unit

CU: Control Unit

Here some more techie words we come across....


BLUETOOTH
Bluetooth allows wireless connection to other Bluetooth-enabled devices (such as printers, scanners, phones etc) within a relatively short distance - say, 10 meters. As the technology works via RF, there is no need for line of sight to enable connection. This has the potential to be quite a useful tool in, let's say, an office environment where you would be able to walk in, open up your laptop and instantly be connected to your office network - immediately able to fax out documents, or send documents to the local office printer - and all without those horrible bits of wire sticking out of your machine.


BIT - Binary DigIT
This refers to a binary digit i.e it would either be a 1 or a 0, 8 bits make a Byte. It refers to information stored or processed in a digital system.


DIGITAL CAMERA
A portable camera that captures the photo not on film, but in an electronic imaging sensor that takes the place of film.


DOMAIN NAME
The unique name that identifies an Internet site. South24.co.uk and south24.com are domain names.


GIGABYTE
GB - Computer memory. A unit of measurement approximately equal to 1 billion bytes. One thousand megabytes.


INTERNET
a.k.a. the Net
A network of connected networks with hundreds of thousands of individual computers connected to one another. Developed originally by the United States (U.S.) military, during the Cold War, to assist communications in the event of a nuclear attack, the technology was then adopted by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and various U.S. universities to exchange knowledge. The general public started using the Internet in the 1980s. During the 1990s, the Internet grew to become a world-wide phenomenon.


JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group
This is a way of encoding the large amount of information that makes up a picture into a small (ish) computer file.


KILOBYTE
KB - A unit of measurement equivalent to one thousand bytes of computer memory or disk capacity.


LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
A form of display which is popular in laptop computers due to its lightweight design and low power consumption.


MEGABYTE
MB - One thousand kilobytes. Computer memory.


MHz
Megahertz
This unit is typically used to measure the processor speeds of computers. The higher the number the faster a computer will be.


MP3 - MPeg-1 audio layer 3
Refers to an audio file which has been compressed using the MPEG compression standard. Using this standard greatly reduces the physical size of the audio file with little or no loss of sound quality. A standard for storing and transmitting music in digital format across the Net.


Operating System
Your computers main program. This program controls the remainder of the software on your P.C.


Peripheral
A device of any kind attached to your P.C.


PDA
Personal Digital Assistant.
A handheld portable computer.


PIXEL
The smallest unit of a picture on a computer screen. Individual pixels are too small to notice, but together they make up a whole image.


RESOLUTION
On a computer monitor, it is the number of pixels (horizontally) and lines (vertically) on the screen. For printers, resolution is a measurement expressed in dpi that describes the sharpness of a printed image.


WI-FI
Short for wireless fidelity. Wi-Fi is another name for the 802.11 standard used for wireless networking devices.


WWW
World Wide Web
Another name for the internet.

Also theres this:
MOSIBTW: Mac OS Is Better Than Windows