Asus A7N266-VM - Manual (Page 105)

ASUS A7N266-VM motherboard user guide 85
1394
1394 is the IEEE designation for a high performance serial bus tht offers data transfers
at 100/200/400 Mbps. This serial bus defines both a back plane physical layer and a
point-to-point cable-connected virtual bus. The primary application of the cable version
is the integration of I/O connectivity at the back panel of personal computers using a
low-cost, scalable, high-speed serial interface. The 1394 standard also provides new
services such as live connect/disconnect capability for external devices including disk
drives, printers and hand-held peripherals such as scanners and cameras. This is a
new standard to complement the slower USB interface and to compete with the more
expensive SCSI interface.
AC97 (Audio Codec '97)
AC '97 is the next step in enabling PCs with audio quality comparable to consumer
electronics devices. The specification defines new cost-effective options to help
integrate the components necessary to support next-generation auto-intensive PC
applications such as DVD, 3-D multiplayer gaming and interactive music. The
specification also defines new extensions supporting modem and docking to help both
desktop and mobile manufacturers adopt these new technologies more quickly and
cost-effectively. This specification uses software emulation to compete with the PCI
SoundBlaster specification.
ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface)
The ACPI specification defines a cross-platform interface designed to support many
operating systems. ACPI defines a flexible and abstract hardware interface that
provides a standard way to integrate power management features throughout a PC
system, including hardware, operating system and application software. This enables
the system to automatically turn ON and OFF peripherals such as CD-ROMs, network
cards, hard disk drives, and printers, as well as consumer devices connected to the PC
such as VCRs, TVs, phones, and stereos. With this technology, peripherals will also be
able to activate the PC. For example, inserting a tape into a VCR can turn on the PC,
which could then activate a large-screen TV and high-fidelity sound system.
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port)
An interface specification that enables high-performance 3D graphics on mainstream
PCs. AGP was designed to offer the necessary bandwidth and latency to perform
texture mapping directly from system memory.
Bus Bus Frequency Bandwidth Data Transfer Rate
PCI 33MHz 33MHz 133MByte/sec
AGP 1X 66MHz 66MHz 266MByte/sec
AGP 2X 66MHz 133MHz 512MByte/sec
AGP 4X 66MHz 266MHz 1024MByte/sec
Backup. A copy of a file, directory, or volume on a separate storage device from the
original. This copy is for the purpose of data retrieval in case the original is accidentally
erased, damaged, or destroyed.
BIOS (Basic Input/Output System)
BIOS is a set of routines that affect how the computer transfers data between computer
components, such as memory, disks, and the display adapter. The BIOS instructions
are built into the computer’s read-only memory. BIOS parameters can be configured by
the user through the BIOS Setup program. The BIOS can be updated using the
provided utility to copy a new BIOS file into the EEPROM.
Bit (Binary Digit)
A bit is he basic unit of digital data used by the computer. A bit equals either: 0 or 1.
Boot
Boot means to start the computer operating system by loading it into system memory.
When the manual instructs you to “boot” your system (or computer), it means to turn ON
your computer. “Reboot” means to restart your computer. When using Windows 95 or
later, selecting “Restart” from “Start | Shut Down...” will reboot your computer.
6.1 Glossary