OpenGL
Short for “Open Graphics Library,” this is an industry standard for cross-platform
3D graphics development. It consists of a large number of functions that can be
called upon in various programs, such as games, CAD, and virtual-reality systems,
to produce complex 3D objects from simpler, more "primitive" building blocks.
Implementations currently exist under Windows®, Mac OS® X, and various forms
of Unix, including Linux®.
Output Locking
Output locking is the ability to synchronize the display output of a GPU to a
controlling signal, rather than allowing the display to refresh according to the state
that a GPU finds itself in after being turned on. This controlling signal may be
internally or externally generated, and alone or in conjunction with other GPUs.
PCI
Acronym for “Peripheral Component Interconnect,” which is the specification for
a type of computer bus used for attaching computer peripherals to a computer’s
motherboard. PCI encompasses both integrated motherboard components (such
as built-in graphical processors) and peripherals that fit into an expansion card slot,
such as a separate graphics card. PCI replaced the older ISA and VESA bus
standards, and was itself superseded by the AGP standard for the main graphics
card bus.
PCI Express® (PCIe®)
The successor standard to the PCI and AGP bus standards, with a significantly faster
serial communications system, further opening up bandwidth for more
communications between such peripherals as graphics cards and the computer’s
CPU. PCIe® cards can come in several physical configurations, the fastest currently
being X16, which is typically used for graphic cards, and X1, typically used for other
peripherals, such as separate multimedia cards.
Pipeline
In relation to computer graphic processors, refers to the number of separate
arithmetic units available for rendering the output on a display. In general, more
pipelines available on a graphical processor means there are more 3D rendering
capabilities available, increasing overall 3D performance.
Pixel
All computer images are made up of tiny dots. Each individual dot is called a pixel,
a word created from the term “picture element.” A pixel is the smallest indivisible
unit of a digital image and can be only a single color. The size of the pixel depends
on how the display resolution has been set. The smallest size a pixel can be is
determined by the display’s dot pitch, which is measured in millimeters (mm).
Refresh Rate
Also referred to as “vertical refresh rate.” This is the rate at which a monitor or
television can redraw the screen from top to bottom. NTSC television systems have
a refresh rate of approximately 60 Hz whereas computer displays typically have
refresh rates of 75 Hz or more. At refresh rates of 70 Hz and lower, screen flicker
is often noticeable.
Rendering
Rendering refers to the final drawing stages where the 2D image that appears on a
display is derived from its 3D descriptions. What appears on the display may look
three dimensional, but it is really just a 2D grid of pixels designed to appear that
way.
28 Glossary - Synchronization
ATI FirePro™ S400 Syncronization Module
©
2009
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Summary of Contents for ATI FirePro S400
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