Computer glossary

A resolution 4 times sharper than Full HD. The image is very crisp, especially on large screens (27" and above). Useful for photographers, video editors, and anyone who wants the best possible display.

Ex: 27" 4K monitor, MacBook Pro Retina

The brain of the computer. It executes all program instructions. The faster it is (measured in GHz) and the more cores it has, the more things the computer can do simultaneously and quickly.

Ex: Intel Core i5-1335U, AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, Apple M3

Intel's processor tiers. The i3 is entry-level, the i5 is mid-range (excellent value for money), the i7 is high-end for demanding tasks, and the i9 is for professionals. The number after (e.g., i5-1235U) indicates the generation.

Ex: Intel Core i5-1335U, Core i7-1355U

A standard screen resolution offering 1,920 pixels in width and 1,080 in height (also called 1080p). It is the minimum recommended resolution for a computer in 2024. Sufficient for screens up to 24–27 inches.

Ex: 15" Full HD display, 24" 1080p monitor

The component that handles display, graphics, and video. For everyday use, the GPU integrated into the processor is sufficient. For gaming or professional video editing, a dedicated graphics card is recommended.

Ex: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, AMD Radeon RX 7600

The unit of measurement for processor speed. A 3.5 GHz processor performs 3.5 billion operations per second. The higher the number, the faster the processor — but the generation matters a lot too.

Ex: 2.4 GHz, 3.5 GHz, 5.0 GHz

A unit of measurement for memory and storage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. An MP3 song takes about 5 MB (0.005 GB), an HD movie about 4 GB, a photo 3–10 MB. Not to be confused with Gb (gigabit), which is 8 times smaller.

Ex: 16 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage

The older type of storage with a mechanically spinning platter. Cheaper than SSDs for the same capacity, but much slower. Still found in some desktop computers for storing large amounts of data.

Ex: HDD 1 TB, HDD 2 TB

Processors designed by Apple for its Mac computers. Remarkable for their energy efficiency (long battery life), performance, and quiet operation. Each new generation (M1, M2, M3, M4) brings significant improvements.

Ex: MacBook Air M3, MacBook Pro M4 Pro

Units that measure a battery's capacity. The higher the number, the longer the battery lasts in theory. Wh is more accurate for comparing batteries. A good laptop battery offers 50–70 Wh.

Ex: 70 Wh, 6000 mAh

A connection type for SSDs that makes them even faster. An NVMe SSD is 5 to 7 times faster than a standard (SATA) SSD. It is the standard on recent mid-range and high-end computers.

Ex: NVMe M.2 SSD 512 GB

The fundamental software that runs the computer and allows you to use all other programs. The three main ones are Windows (Microsoft), macOS (Apple), and Linux (free and open source).

Ex: Windows 11, macOS Sonoma, Ubuntu

The computer's working memory. It temporarily stores data from programs currently in use. When you close a program, the data disappears from RAM. The more you have, the more programs you can open at the same time.

Ex: 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB

AMD's processor line, a direct competitor to Intel. Ryzen 3 = entry-level, Ryzen 5 = mid-range, Ryzen 7 = high-end, Ryzen 9 = professional. Often more competitive in terms of performance per dollar.

Ex: AMD Ryzen 5 7530U, Ryzen 7 7735U

A storage drive with no moving parts, much faster than a traditional hard drive. Your computer boots in seconds and programs open almost instantly. Recommended for any computer purchased in 2024.

Ex: SSD 512 GB, SSD NVMe 1 TB

1 TB = 1,000 GB. Large-capacity hard drives are often measured in terabytes. One TB can hold approximately 250,000 photos, 250 hours of HD video, or 200,000 songs.

Ex: SSD 1 TB, HDD 2 TB

A USB-C port with additional capabilities: very fast data transfer, connection to multiple 4K displays, and fast charging. Developed by Intel in partnership with Apple. All recent MacBooks have it. Identified by a lightning bolt logo.

Ex: Thunderbolt 4, identified by ⚡

A modern, small, and reversible connector (you can't plug it in the wrong way!). It can transfer data, charge the device, and send a video signal to an external display — all through the same cable. Increasingly standard on recent laptops.

Ex: Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2

The latest generation of Wi-Fi, faster and more stable, especially in environments with many connected devices. Most recent computers include it. Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band for even more performance.

Ex: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 6E