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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Vocabulary

Board vs card

Hello, I am a Russian translator (technical texts mainly). And these two words confuse me each time I have to coose between them. When it is a printed circuit board, I found it possible to use either word. But in other cases I still fail to understand what to choose. May be, there's any clear difference between them.
TIA
  

Top answer

I'm not sure how broad your definitions are. I can't imagine using "card" for a PCB, unless it's the size of your hand, or smaller, and is intended to be removable, or insertable. " I suppose ATM cards could have circuits on them.

— Avangi

  • I'm not sure how broad your definitions are.
  • I can't imagine using "card" for a PCB, unless it's the size of your hand, or smaller, and is intended to be removable, or insertable.
  • " I suppose ATM cards could have circuits on them.
  • I recall in the 60's before PLC's became popular, some industrial controllers used what they called "card logic," in which basic logic functions were pre-programed on cards (about the size of your hand).
  • These could be inserted into a rack and then interconnected by hard wiring.
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5 Answers
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I'm not sure how broad your definitions are. I can't imagine using "card" for a PCB, unless it's the size of your hand, or smaller, and is intended to be removable, or insertable. I've never heard the expression "printed circuit card."
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AnonymousWhen it is a printed circuit board, I found it possible to use either word.
True.
AnonymousBut in other cases I still fail to understand what to choose. May be, there's any clear difference between them
As far as a technical context, nothing comes to mind. Could you give an example or two of something you find confu
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Anon:
A board and a card have the same shape - flat and relatively thin. But there are big differences.

A card is much thinner and lighter than a board.
A card is made of plastic (credit card), or rather thick paper.
A board is made of very thick plastic or wood.
In between is cardboard.

Otherwise there are set terms - we say card reader, never board reader,
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AlpheccaStars we say card reader, never board reader,
Right. This brings to mind other old fashioned technical uses where "cards" are used to interface with machines, or computers. Hourly employees often use "time cards" to "punch in and out" or "clock in and out" when beginning and ending their shifts.
And the old pneumatic card readers were often seen
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I think The circle card is kind of circuit board. The size usually not big, might have golden finger ot some kind connector to attach to another circuit board.
Remember the add on card in computer? Such as video card, sound card, debug card, and so on...
They all are circuit board. circuit card just one of them, it describes that circuit board are not very big, can be insert, slide in, or
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