Encyclopedia > Accelerator (computing)

  Article Content

Accelerator (computing)

1. In computing, an accelerator is an additional unit of hardware to perform some function faster than is possible in software running on the normal CPU. Examples include graphics accelerators[?] and floating-point accelerators[?].

The term is outdated and has been replaced with more descriptive terms like video card or graphics card.

2. In computing, the term accelerator is used for the shortcut key which produces the same effect as a pull-down menu entry, for example using CTRL-S instead of the menu "File" and the contained entry "Save".

This article was originally based on material from FOLDOC, used with permission. Update as needed.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
Grateful Dead

... band of Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters[?], with the early sound heavily influenced by Kesey's LSD-soaked Trips Festivals[?]. This early period is covered in Tom Wolfe's ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 53.3 ms