Plug and Play The Plug and Play (PnP) standards were developed by Microsoft, Intel, and other industry leaders to simplify the process of adding hardware to PCs. The standard's intention is to conceal unpleasant details, such as IRQ and DMA channels, from people who just want to add a new board, drive, or other chunk of hardware to their system. Some devices that don't seem that difficult to install also take advantage of PnP standards. A Plug and Play monitor, for example, can communicate with both Windows 95 and the graphics adapter to automatically set itself at the maximum refresh rate supported for a chosen resolution. PnP also ensures that the monitor will not be driven beyond its capabilities. See also: DMA, IRQ, refresh rate